MARKET CROSS
The original Market House is no longer in existence. It stood on the corner of Castle St and Barrack St but unfortunately progress dictated that such a prime location be put to other uses. It was demolished in 1812 and three houses built on the footprint.
Looking up Barrack St towards the Market Cross. Notice the square edge on the Bank.
Stopping a vehicle in the middle of the street for a chat never seemed to leave Nenagh
Always time for a chat and a natter
Hope me next trousers have longer legs
Theres a woman in a hurry......!
The MarketCross - a few years later
A photographer intrigues the locals. The Bank building has changed and the surrounding railings have been reduced making for a more welcoming building
The Corner Boys - waiting for the Council to build the Bars
Separation Allowance
This dates the photo to post 1915. This cash incentive would encourage many from the town to leave and fight in WW1 sure that their families would have a guaranteed income whilst they were fighting. For some it would be a costly price to pay. However there was also the fact that the local curate and the Nenagh Guardian condemned the rise in alcoholic bad behaviour amongst some of the woman who had been exhibiting "unchristian conduct" whilst their drinking was funded by the allowance.
Group of young lads stop to watch.
Horse manure clearly visible in Queen St. waiting for someones roses
Close-up
Separation Allowance rates - 1915
Shure thats not a proper job!
Wonder if he needs an apprentice?
The Wee Shawlie.....
The Corner Boys
The Market Cross Naked without the Bars
Another viewpoint
The rooms above P Hayes Drapers, in which Margaret Melody resided were to play a significant part in the Battle of Nenagh in July of 1922. They commanded views down Castle St and were held by the IRA against Free State forces, Eventually an armoured car named Moneygall was brought in from Roscrea to remove the occupiers
Galvins Menswear and original upstairs building design
Trying to capture his soul...
Produce from Maryborough
When a stick was a sword or a gun. Some games never age
The shy Onlooker
O'Briens Butchers later halloran's Undertakers
New Years Eve at the Market Cross
The Fleadh at the Market Cross looking down Barrack St
Seamie Cleary and Patrick Connolly
Outside O'Briens Butchers
Canary in the window. People used to hang the cages outside the front door
What is that contraption...?
A dog's gotta do.......
An earlier version of the Bank
Compare the straight edge to the angled entrance below, also the shapes of the Pediments around the windows
Gathering outside the bank - no bars yet
McCormacks at the Market Cross
The Market Cross Bars
..a place to meet, congregate, comment, gossip and idly muse while watching the world go by
"Standin' on the Corner, watchin' all the girls go by....." or in Nayna, The Market Cross, somewhere to stand and lean on the bars and watch the world go by, plan conspiracies and offer a sotto voce opinion to a companion.
The Market Cross.....in my youth, the central hub of Nenagh, where men and Corner Boys went to offer opinions (gossip), discuss the latest politics or have post-mortems on yesterdays match, scene of New Years party bonfires, and after school meeting place. It's amazing....stood at the bars you always looked busy. Every discussion was a business meeting and important.
The bars are gone, as are that other famous debating place, The Steps in Castle St.....where do men go now....?
Sharing dark secrets sotto voce or maybe discussing the price of pigs
The observers
The lads on the Bars
Watching the Watcher
Every 6th year class took their turn on the Bars
Centre of the known Universe and a chance to catch up with the news
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