What's to be seen in an old Ballyshannon photograph?

 

What’s to be seen  in an Old Ballyshannon Photograph?

1.       The photograph was taken before 1903 as that was the year that the Stubbs family of Danby House and Portnason House presented the clock to St. Anne’s Church. It was set going on 2^nd October 1903. The Town Clock in the centre of town was set going in 1878.

2.       This is where the Paupers’ Graveyard is located where many Famine victims from the workhouse were buried in unmarked graves. A plaque to the memory of those who are buried here was erected on the site in 1995 thanks to the assistance of the Donegal Association in New York. The bush in the photograph still exists and still points in the same direction!

3.       Ballyshannon Courthouse was built in the 1880s by local contractor James Monaghan who also built the tower on St. Joseph’s church 1886 and the Rock Hall 1892. Prior to that the courthouse was in the Market House opposite O'Reilly's Fish Shop. The new  Courthouse is located at Portnason.

4.       The doorway leading into the Mall Bakery of J. Potter and Co. which operated in the building behind the Courthouse.The town had a tradition of bakeries including The Mall Bakery, Grimes, Burkes, O'Donnells and others.

5.       The location of Ballyshannon Technical School opened in 1914 in this warehouse building. This was the first technical school in County Donegal. The new technical school was built in College street in 1952.

6.       The Inspector Martin Memorial gravestone erected in 1889 to remember an R.I.C policeman who died in Derrybeg,  Gweedore in 1888. There is a plaque to his memory and detailing how he died inside the church.The building to the right covered in ivy was the sexton's house remnants of which survives today

  7.       The Methodist Church designed by Thomas Elliott an Enniskillen architect in 1899. Today it is a veterinary surgeon premises. Ballyshannon had 6 churches at one time including another Methodist Church at the top of Main street, a Presbyterian Church on the Mall, St. Anne's Church of Ireland, St. Patrick's and St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Churches.

  8.       Part of the Kelly property and the building in the right hand corner of the photograph is part of the Ballyshannon Brewery  owned by the Kellys.  Edward Kelly of this family was a Home Rule M.P. in1918.The property was later purchased by the Condon family. The shell of the original house called Mall House is still visible today and is called Condons by most locals.Today most of  the site is occupied by the Nirvana restaurant and apartment complexes.

9. The laneway which leads to the Assaroe footbridge today. The ground on the left is occupied by Garda property today. The laneway in 1900 led down to the brewery and the Assaroe waterfall. Those were the days!

 

A  Local History Book suitable for those at Home and Away
"Ballyshannon. Genealogy and History" reveals newly researched history and genealogy of the town, extending as far as the Rossnowlagh, Cashelard, Corlea, Clyhore, Higginstown and Finner areas. Includes the parishes of Kilbarron and Magh Ene. It contains the full story of  The Green Lady which  was recently performed in Ballyshannon  to great acclaim. The genealogy material provides detailed guidelines for anyone tracing their roots in the area or anywhere in County Donegal or Ireland. The book contains 500 pages and is richly illustrated with stunning colour, aerial photography, original illustrations and rare photographs of the area not seen before.
Also available from Anthony Begley for postal enquiries email anthonyrbegley@hotmail.com