On this page:-

Shops, Cinemas & Other Businesses   including those in    Main St.,  West,   The Diamond,   Main St., East,   Townyard Lane,   The Green,   Strand St.,  New St.,   Church Rd.,    Old St.,   Railway Av.,   Seabank,   The Hill     and     Sammy Wells Sweet Shop

Shops, Cinemas and other Businesses in Malahide

Malahide Historical Society would like to gather information, photos and anecdotes about businesses that are no longer operating in Malahide. It is an objective of the Society to find out, record and preserve the history of the Malahide area. To jog memories we have compiled a list of shops and shopkeepers and some residents. The sources for this information have included reminiscences of Society members and non-members (and please bear with us as, inevitably, recollections vary and may have lost some veracity over time), the 1901 and 1911 census returns and advertisements in programmes such as for the 1937 Malahide Regatta . However, there were undoubtedly many others that traded and even in the last decade many have gone out of business or changed hands.

The thatched house on the left was a pub in the 19th century. Purchased and demolished by Bissetts about 1901 to create the yard to rear of the New Street hardware shop. The public water pump in front of the pub and protected by the four stone bollards was a favourite spot for "pitch and toss".

There are other obvious sources such as Thoms and other street directories, Rate Books and Registers of Electors that we have not yet had an opportunity to consult. No doubt, there are people still living in Malahide with family connections to these businesses.

We would very much like to hear from you.

• Photos, programmes, etc. can be copied and returned within a few days.
• Perhaps you can add to or correct details.
• Maybe you would consider becoming involved in perusing some of the above sources or adding to/correcting the information below.

Please respond to: Roger Greene, 121 Millview Lawns, Malahide. Tel. 8451967   or

And a few statistics and facts:

What were the businesses of Reeds, Watsons and Williams and where were their premises ?

• A taxi service was provided by Rook Dunne, father of Napper Dunne.
• Heeley view aparments (2007) replaced Heeley's Garage established in late 1950's or early 1960's.
• The block of apartments over the shops in Strand Street were built in 2007 replacing McGowans furniture store and terraces of single storey houses some of which has been converted to shops.
• Bissetts Loft in Strand Street, built in 2006, replaced Bissetts builders yard and lofted store, hence the name.
• The Mall and the Rise were built between 1952 and 1954 on what was known as the town field.
• Houses on Grove Road were built in 1915, 1931 and 1951/1952
• Windsor Terrace was built between 1850 and 1853.
• Killeen Terrace dates from 1842/1850.
• Ard na Mara was built mainly during the 1960's
• Chalfont dates from late 1960's.
• Millview dates from early 1970's
• Parnell Cottages and The Bawn appear on an Ordnance Survey Map dated c.1900. A house in The Bawn has the date 1910 on the gable.
• St. Sylvesters Villas date from the 1960s

Let us know if you disagree with any of the information above or below.

Main Street (West):
(See picture postcard in Fingal Libraries collection)

• Ridgeway’s sweet shop and barbers.
  Previously a sweet and cigarette shop run by Ernie Wynott. Later Coughlan’s cake shop run by Kitty Coughlan who married Tony McSwiggan. Sold very high quality cakes that may have been "Homemade ". It was said that they were made in a premises at their house , which was situated up the avenue that runs in front of "Monks Meadow", on the Coast Rd. near the Martello Tower in Portmamock. Later they expanded to a chain under the name KC Confectionery, starting with a large premises in Moore St., Dublin. They later closed their Malahide outlet.
  Later Billy Meagher’s fruit and vegetable shop and currently (2006) vacant. He was the first to introduce unusual and exotic fruit and vegetables. In the early days the family lived over the shop.
  
• There was a dwelling between Meaghers and Hogans. Left portion of current Duffys. Was occupied by the Murray family. Paddy was a carpenter and his son Donal lives in Malahide. Some of Hogans/Duffys staff may have lodged there.
  

• • Hogan’s. Family grocers, tea, wine, spirit and provision store and public house (the ‘top’ shop). Phone Malahide 33 (in 1937) William Parkinson or Patterson had a shop and pub per 1901 census, probably on this site. In the 1911 census Joseph Hogan, described as “Grocer’s Manager” was occupant. He had a book-keeper, a grocer’s assistant and a grocer’s apprentice living in his premises so he was probably the owner at this time. • Maurice Mahon started selling newspapers with his mother inside the door of Hogans Grocers. • Mace. Formerly Lawless Bros. "Harmony House" from 1956was earlier occupied by Mrs. Carrig and/or Don Carrig after Miss Hall.

  Photo courtesy Pat Hickey

  
  
• Mrs McNamee, where Malahide florist now trades, sold ice cream and chocolate as well as groceries and hers was a very popular little shop. Before that Miss Mulvanney ran a Drapery & Haberdashery here. She wore a hat and carried an attaché case.
  
• The Malahide Pharmacy , Proprietor B. Bassett, L.P.S.I., Pharmaceutical Chemist.
  “The only Chemist in Malahide”.
  Approximately under present M.P. Black, Solicitors.
  His daughter Patricia or 'Prish', also a pharmacist, worked there. Her married name was Pat Hemmens, wife of Walter, and they lived in the bungalow on the corner of Church Rd. and St. Margaret's Ave., recently (2006) demolished, and two new houses being built on the site.
  Mr. Bassett and family lived in No. 8 in Carlisle Terrace, opposite St. Andrew’s N.S. Bill Mullen, who was a very good hockey player, and his family lived over the pharmacy.
  

• • Nugent’s , Butchers, were adjacent to the side garden of No.4 Killeen Terrace Harveys Butchers succeeded them. The new buildings built in the side garden of No. 4 are clearly identifiable. • George F. Taylor had a butcher’s shop with dwelling per 1901 and 1911 census returns – perhaps it was on this site.   Photo courtesy Michael Howard

  
  
• Maurice Mahon first opened his shop in O'Connors house at the comer of New Street and Ross Cottages. Later he traded in the first premises (at Killeen Tce. end) before moving to the former Grove Cleaners site adjacent to the Diamond. Later he acquired and developed the shop on the actual Diamond. It closed in about 2003 and they traded for a year or so in Billy Meagher’s former shop on the corner of Old St. The Diamond site was re-built in 2004.
  
• Lock-up shop. The Wolfe family lived in a private residence between McNamees shop and Bassetts pharmacy. The son ran a coal business — "Wolfe and O'Brien". He had two sisters — Georgie and Louise. Martha Wolfe may have been their mother and may have operated the small shop later run by Mrs. NcNamee. Martha Wolfe described as a shop-keeper lived next door per 1911 census.
  
• Dwelling at No.1 Castle Terrace was occupied by Christopher McCabe. His son Terry lives in Wexford and his daughter Beulah lives in Canada (2008).

The Diamond

(The four corner buildings were probably originally similar in appearance and design). It is believed that all four houses on the Diamond had railings round them and the McGregors and Miss Gillespie had little gardens in front. (See picture postcard in Fingal Libraries collection)

• Where the Ulster Bank now operates. Originally a similar house to the other two but it’s front room (on the New Street side) was the Post Office. Mary Holton, per 1911 census, was sub-postmistress and had two shop assistants and a P.O. assistant living on the premises. Miss Holton was postmistress in 1932 when on August 18th. Jim Mollison, husband of an equally famous woman pilot, Amy Johnson, left the Velvet Strand at Portmarnock in his De Havilland Puss Moth aircraft, The Heart's Content, to make the first solo, non-stop East to West crossing of the Atlantic. Miss Walsh was her sometime assitant. Each Fridays and Tuesdays ( ? ) a sub-office of the Northern Bank, Swords was established for a few hours, at end of the counter in the Post Office. This was then ( ? date) the only banking service in the village. The room on the Findlater's side remained part of the private residence, as did the private hall door. There were two adjacent front doors, the house, and the post office. After the Post Office moved to Church Road, a Mr. Hannon, an artist himself, opened a artist supplies and model shop, specialising in model railways, and selling his own paintings.
  

  • Miss Hall 's. Miss Hall's drapery shop was where the Taxi Cab firm now operate from in New Street (name is visible over shopfront in photo to the right). She may have lived in the small house between Hogans Public House (the top shop) and the house on the Diamond occupied by the McGregor family. In photo note gas lamp standard and absence of electricity poles. Said to have always worn a hat and may have sold newspapers also. • McGregors took paying guests in the 1930’s. in the main building facing on to the Diamond where Nathin's (now McCabe's) Pharmacy replaced one front room and the jeweller (closed 2006, re-opened late 2007) replaced the other. The hall door still remains. Anne Hall recorded in 1901 census as keeping a lodging house.

  Photo courtesy Michael Howard

  
  
  
• A similar house diagonally opposite, formerly occupied by Miss Gillespie, was demolished to make way for Maurice Mahon’s fourth retail outlet and this in turn was replaced by the current range in 2004.
  
• Where Tony Byrne’s man shop operates with the EBS building society next door.
  Location of the Royal Irish Constabulary Barracks (R.I.C.). J. Boulger was Constable-in-Charge in 1855 per Thoms Directory. It was rented for £28:18:0 a year. It was burned down about 1920. In January 1924 the Garda Siochána looked for new permanent station and the old R.LC. Barracks which was now re-built as a shop and owned by Lord Talbot de Malahide was looked at as a possibility. Lord Talbot de Malahide was willing to rent the building as a Garda Barracks for the annual rent of £150. This sum was more than An Garda Siochána were willing to pay. In December 1924 a letter from Chief Superintendent Leahy to The Commissioner stated that the old R.I.C. Barracks was sold by Lord Talbot de Malahide to a local business man named Michael Wright. Mr. Wright at first was inclined to rent the premises to An Garda Siochána but decided to "furnish the place and let it to the best tenant".
  Tommy Wright and family (including Mary, John & GV) lived over and operated a fish shop and added a delicatessen later changing to a fruit and vegetable shop. Sold newspapers on Sundays only.
  May have had railings in front at one time, similar to Ulster Bank site opposite.

Main Street (East):
(See picture postcard in Fingal Libraries collection)
 

Farrell Holton may have been superceded by Findlaters.
Findlaters, with headquarters in O’Connell Street, had a branch of their family grocery and wines chain sited between "Diamond House" now Ulster Bank and Sammy’s Sweet Factory. It was reputedly largest shop in Malahide. Mr. Cecil White managed Findlaters shop and a Mr. Perkins, lan McGregor and a Mr. Smith were his assistants. Mr. and Mrs. White lived in "Estoril", St. Margarets Road.

• Sammy Wells operated a sweet factory and sweet shop from about 1948 near the present X-traVision.
Factory and Office door on Main St. He made the sweets with all of his own recipes he brought from England. The most popular sweets were his fruit bon bons, butter bon bons, liquorice, fruit drops, nougat bars, lung healers and the most popular of all were his penny bars. The penny bars are said to have been his speciality. In those days the children of Malahide were able to walk safely from school to Sammy Wells sweet shop specially to buy those bars. Everyone used to pop in to buy their sweets on the way to Ma Walshe’s cinema. This was a big treat. To buy your sweets you had to go to the counter in the office and ring the bell for attention and when eventually someone came, the value given for one penny was well worth the delay, the best value in town! Following his death his family closed the business.

Sammy and his family (including daughters Sally and Gwneth) lived at The Haven on Upper Strand Street at the corner of Texas Lane and the Back Strand (now Broadmeadows). He became famous for his pigeon loft and was said to have been the first person to have pigeons in the area. He built the narrow concrete landing stage opposite his house, which is still used today and erected a pole with a disclaimer notice, which was certainly there up to recently.

The very first dinghy race on the Broadmeadows was held, in Enterprise dinghies, from that landing stage. This was possibly in the first or second year of Malahide Sailing Club (The club name was later changed to Malahide Yacht Club). An orange barrel/mark used in sailing races is positioned opposite Texas Lane is still known as "Wells" Mark.

Sammy Wells Senior died in 1967 and his wife - Emily - in 1979 and both are buried in St. Andrews Churchyard. Mrs. Wells was a staunch supporter of the St. Andrews Church Choir. They had two children — Sammy and Gwyneth. Their son - Sammy Junior - emigrated to Australia and it is understood has since passed on. His sister Gwyneth moved to Wales and married there.

 

Ma Walsh’s A purpose built cinema (“The Grand”) on a site on the main street, bounded by Sammy Wells sweet factory and Town Yard Lane, and opposite the Library, and Adam 's house. The rear boundary was the wall of the Town Yard, which still survives as the high wall boundary of the Supermarket car park. The building contained a sweet shop, to left of the main cinema doors, a hotel to the right at the corner, and a dance hall (“The Showboat”) with entry door in Townyard Lane where the current gateway to the supermarket is situated. Subsequently bought by Percy Reynolds who lived in "Abbeyville" Kinsealy at the time. Destroyed by fire in early 1970’s.

Cinema during An Tostal, 1953

Click on above image for enlargement. Click arrow in top left of screen to return to this page.

• Garda Station

The old RIC station at the Diamond having been burned down, the Gardai had to find a new station and opened at 5 St. James Terrace, Malahide owned by a Mrs. Wilson at a rent of £80 a year.

In January 1924 the Garda Siochána looked for new permanent station and the old R.LC. Barracks which was now re-built as a shop and owned by Lord Talbot de Malahide was looked at as a possibility. Lord Talbot de Malahide was willing to rent the building as a Garda Barracks for the annual rent of £150. This sum was more than An Garda Siochána were willing to pay.

In December 1924 a letter from Chief Superintendent Leahy to The Commissioner stated that the old R.I.C. Barracks was sold by Lord Talbot de Malahide to a local business man named Michael Wright. Mr. Wright at first was inclined to rent the premises to An Garda Siochána but decided to "furnish the place and let it to the best tenant".

In September 1925 a letter was sent to the Commissioner stating that the Bord of Works received an offer of premises known as No.1 and 2 St. James Terrace, (see picture no.1) which originally comprised of two houses, but had been converted into a single building. This building was owned by Messrs. Flower & McDonald.

Part of this letter states:-

"It is understood that the objection to the retention of the present barrack as the permanent quarters of the Garda is its location. As the proposed alternative accommodation is situated in the same terrace possibly the same objection will apply to it."

This would lead one to believe that the Gardai were still occupying No.5 St. James Terrace.

The actual price paid for No.1 & 2 St. James Terrace was £2,500 and the premises was handed over to the Bord of Works on the 3 rd January 1927. An Garda Siochána moved into No.1 & 2 St. James Terrace on 14th January 1927. Sergeant Cartright was the 1 st Sergeant to take up duty at this new station. With Sergeant Cartright were Gardai McMahon and McGahon and later Gardai Leheny and Delaney.

From research it would appear that a portion of the ground floor was used by the Customs and Excise Department.

• Library.
  The library was downstairs where Miss Bryan was Librarian. It is said she did not give library tickets to some juniors on the basis that "If she knows you don 't get one. She keeps it for you in case you loose it"
  Upstairs was a community hall. Plays were staged with local actors and actresses. Concerts and dances were held including Irish Dancing classes also cookery, sewing, etc. classes. The Co .Dublin Vocational Education Committee (CDVEC) ran carpentry classes there also. Tim Feary, who was a teacher in the Chapel St. (Old St.) boys school, also acted as librarian at one time (? dates). The ornate brickwork was made at the Plunkett family's Portmarnock brickworks.
  
• "Kincora". A good example of Portmarnock brick. Residence of Mr. & Mrs. Norman Adams.
  
• National Irish Bank formerly Northern Bank
  The Northern Bank was the first bank in Malahide when a sub-0ffice of the Swords branch was opened on two half days a week at the Diamond (on present Ulster Bank site) and later moved across the road to its present site beside "Kincora". A red brick house similar to "Kincora" was demolished to make way for the bank. The house was owned by the Misses White.
  
• Louisa Gee
  Maintained a lodging house on Main St. per 1901 census – where was it?

Townyard Lane

• “ Smokey Joe’s” snooker hall about half way down on right. It was mews carriage "garage" with hayloft above, as were all the premises behind St. James's Terrace. Smokey's was brightly painted with a slot machine section and coffee bar downstairs, and billiard tables upstairs. Smokey, the proprietor, was a Mr. Cassidy who lived with his family in a basement flat in the main house.
  Some years after it closed, Malahide Sailing Club arranged to rent the premises and various members got together and built nine Enterprise dinghies there in the early 1960’s. Alan Lawless, Robin Gilbert, and John Davies were among those that built boats at that time.
  Bissetts used part of the yard as a store and a small residential part was occupied by a Mr. and Mrs. Byme.
• 
  

  Long's cycle shop on bottom left corner of Townyard Lane at The Green. Was there until about 1915. Later became Polly Flynn's sweetshop and dressmaking rooms. (See 'The Green') Original Townyard Lane entrance Photo courtesy Kingsley Long

The Green
(See picture postcard in Fingal Libraries collection)

• When the coastguard were in operation (up until about 1922) there was a flagpole on The Green on which the Union Jack was flown daily. Lt. Irwin, R.N. was the officer in charge in 1855 per Thoms Directory. The area of The Green was somewhat less then and the physical shape slightly different, reclamation in the latter part of the 20 th century being responsible. The side by the water was used by fishermen to dry and mend their nets and there were houses on the other three sides. A low bank ran between the grass and road on the Townyard Lane side. Sailing boats and small coasters carrying coal came up the estuary on the high flooding tide and sat on the hard sand off The Green when the tide later ran out. The coal was unloaded over the side into horse-drawn carts and taken over the hard sand , on to The Green and in to Flower & McDonald’ coalyard where the McGowan development has taken place or onward to Seaver’s gasworks in Gasyard Lane. The roads on two sides of The Green were narrower in those days. The Hatch homes at the eastern or seaward side are about the only features that have remained virtually unchanged over a very long number of years. One of the Hatch's known as "Yaltee" was the pilot for Malahide Estuary. Along with most of Malahide, the freehold of the Green, was owned by the Talbot Estate until taken over by Dublin County Council about ?????
  
• Malahide Regatta – the following is an extract from the report of the regatta that appeared in The Freeman’s Journal on 16 th August, 1865.
  ”From an early hour those astute philosophers who are to be observed in their true element at fairs or races began to arrive with their wheels of fortune, Aunt Sally, nine pins and mobile shooting galleries drawn by ascetic looking donkeys and taking up position for the purpose of enabling marksmen to fire pieces of stick at a target for prizes consisting of rotten nuts. In the motley gallery was to be seen a harper playing all kinds of original music and singing as if he was practising for the coming oyster season with a vehemence and earnestness worthy of a better cause. In the musical department were also to be perceived troubadours, dressed in the most fantastic colours, bearing guitars and banjos, by which they intimidated a number of persons to obtain money, acrobats and tumblers spreading out pieces of carpets after the manner of Eastern dervishes, twisted and turned themselves into all kinds of shapes, much to the delight of the pastoral section of the community. On "the green" rows of cars were drawn up, on which were offered for sale fossil cakes. Apples of stomachic discord, real Cognac brandy, at one and two pence per flask, labels and all, paraffin whiskey and delicate bottled porter; but the great attraction in this section of the scene was a long pole , on the top of which was hoisted a leg of mutton to be won by the adventurous climber that would succeed in reaching it. Many were the aspirants for the much coveted prize, and many were the failures of those who had toiled hard up the well greased pole until near the mutton,, but who had to descend ignominiously to the earth exhausted by their efforts. Loud, long, and hearty was the laughter which the discomfiture of the adventurous spirits caused amongst the gazing crowd, and from time to time it became strikingly apparent that the inexpressibles of some of the climbers should be subjected to an extensive mending process consequent on their ambitious efforts to lower the standard of meat in the market. It was evident that the mutton though not long killed was "too high", and all idea of reaching it had to be abandoned. The estuary and bay presented a most gay and animated appearance. As the time approached for the first race to start, large numbers of craft were to be seen sailing about in the brisk sunny breeze, and Mr. Henry Jameson’s fine yacht, (the flag ship of the day), the vessels in harbour, and the flagstaffs in front of the Coast Guard Station, and on the esplanade were gaily decorated with many coloured bunting. The Green, and the whole line of cliffs overhanging the strand, were crowded, and perhaps on no former occasion was there larger numbers assembled at Malahide. The band of the Constabulary, under the direction of Mr. Harry Hardy, were present, and performed in excellent style during the day.”
  
• Public Water Pump
  A manually operated water pump stood opposite the thatched house where the present day forecourt and gate to Bissett’s Hardware yard is situated. The pump was surrounded by three stone bollards. It is clearly visible on a picture postcard of the Green and New Street (copy in the Fingal Libraries collection). A phone kiosk now stands close to the spot. The Public Water pump remained in position at the comer of the Green for many years and in the evening the local men used to stand under the adjoining lamp standard to play "Pitch and Toss".
  
• Circuses (Duffyy, Fossetts), funfairs and shows (fit-ups) traditionally set up here on The Green, mainly during the Summer months..
  
• Polly Flynn ran a dressmaking business and sweet shop at the corner of Townyard Lane and The Green. The exterior woodwork was painted green and the windows contained jars of boiled sweets and boxes of penny giftie toffee bars, ‘cough no more bars’ and ‘peggy legs’. As you entered one of the double doors to the left were two big tables each with a sewing machine facing each other. With her back to the window facing The Green was Mabel O’Brien and facing her was Polly Flynn. They ran a dressmaking business and did other sewing such as loose covers for armchairs, etc. Both Polly Flynn and her husband, 'Jacko', were very deaf. And when Mabel O’Brien was absent it was not unusual for children to go in to purchase sweets and when asking to silently mouth what they wanted which resulted in either of them having to point to virtually everything in stock to discover what was required. Mr. Flynn, small of stature and with a shock of grey hair, frequently stood at the shop door with his pipe, ever smoking, as he looked up and down the road and up and down again and again. He worked in McAllister’s Garage and drove a taxi.
  

• The property was previously occupied by E.M.Long around 1900-1915 until he moved to the corner of new St. and The Green (now Bissetts). He sold and repaired bicycles. His son, Edward McCutcheon Long later took over the business.

  Viewed from The Geen when entrance was changed to that side from Townyard Lane on left                                                     Photo coutesy Kingsley Long

  
  
• Next door was occupied by Ned Cahill and his wife. They had three sons - Eddie, John and Mattie and one daughter -Kathleen. John lives in Portmamock.
  
• Next door was a very substantial residence with big bay windows and a well-kept front garden occupied by a Miss Neal. She worked in Dublin and travelled there each day by train and always carried a Gladstone bag with her to work.
  
• The next house was, in the mid 1940’s, occupied by a Fr. Tonge, a catholic curate at St. Sylvester’s. He had a passion for sailing and had his own small yacht moored in the bay. After Fr. Tonge moved from Malahide, the house was occupied by a teacher Eddie Crowley. After him T.R. Reilly, married to local girl Bridie Hatch, came to live there. This was the T.R. Reilly who became a legend in the motor trade in Dublin at Killester. The last to move into and reside in the house was Raymond Knott and his family. One other man living alone followed them into the house.
  
• Next door lived Mr. & Mrs. Bertie Boyle and their sons Joseph and Cyril.
  
• The next house was occupied by Mr. & Mrs. Lowe and their daughter Marie. They let their house each August in the 1940’s to a family called Flannery.

                                All above houses no longer exist and have been replaced by apartments and a bar / restaurant.

• Howard’s Corner (Corner of New Street and Strand Street)
  Was the residence of Butcher/Farmer Joseph Howard and his wife Bertha and their family. The Howards' residence and Bertie Boyle's shop comprised one two storey residence. Boyle's shop was on the comer of New Street and Strand Street and the Howards' residence was beside it.
  

• • Bertie Boyles Grocery Shop. The paintwork of the exterior of the shop was white. On entering the shop down the centre was a passage with a counter on each side. The bread was delivered by horse drawn bread vans from Dublin. Kennedys Bread, O’Rourkes, Johnston Mooney & O’Briens (driven by local man Denis Hatch). There was always a lovely smell of warm bread in the shop after the delivery. On the right as you entered was the ice-cream fridge. If Mrs. Boyle was not in the shop then Bertie was generous with the ice-cream wafers which he cut – otherwise they were thin cut under the watchful eye of Mrs. Boyle. During the war years chocolate was rationed but Bertie always managed to put boxes of Clarnico Murray Chocolates away for his favourite customers for Christmas.

  1932. Kathleen Markey at door.      Photo courtesy Michael Howard

  
  
• In the first single story house on the opposite corner (Replaced by the McGowan development/coffee shop and a beauticians until recently (2005), lived Ralph Skinner - a shipwright - and his family for a period in the 1950's. He worked in Tom Skinner's boatyard. A prior occupant was John Mahon, his wife and their daughter Olive. Mrs. Mahon was a dressmaker.
  
• Then in the next house in the early 1940’s were Annie Daniels and her father. He was retired and Annie worked in the office in Seavers coal yard where McGowan’s shop once stood.
  
  
• Next was a two story house which was rented by the Ingoldsbys when they came to live in Malahide shortly after marrying in 1939. That house stood until demolished for the McGowan development in 2005/6. At that time there was a porch on the front of the house which was later removed but the outline of it still remained visible to the end. Michael Ingoldsby now resides on St. Margarets Road (2008)
  
• “The Gem” Cinema came next. (It may also have been know as 'The Sheds')
  In a large yard with a high building running from west to east towards The Green. There was a large gate on runners closing off the yard from The Green. In the yard were two showmens living caravans occupied by Mr. & Mrs. ‘Pops’ O’Brien and their son Jimmy and daughter Maureen. Jimmy later married local girl Marita Wogan (died 2006/7). In the building was housed the Gems Cinema. The O’Briens were travelling showpeople who had a portable cinema. They came to Malahide in the late 30’s/early 40’s pitching their cinema on The Green. They leased the yard and building from Dick Seaver and converted the building into a cinema with tip up seats on the balcony and benches in the pit. The projection box was in another caravan parked at the back wall where an opening had been made through which the films were projected onto the screen. “ The Gems” always had an interval as it only had one movie projector and could not facilitate a reel large enough for a full-length feature, so the reels were changed at the interval. There were two admission prices – 4d and 8d. When the cinema closed Jimmy O'Brien worked in Skinners Boatyard.
  
• The "Chip Wagon"
  Jimmy O'Brien married Marita (Wogan?), who then ran the "Chip Wagon", a caravan that sold fish and chips on the Green for many years. The chips would always be ready for the interval in “The Gems” cinema. (“Flicks and Chips”). The “Chip Wagon” was first brought to the Green circa 1949 and traded for several years by an ex-Navy man (named: ? ) who lived in Killester.
  
• ”The Sheds”
  Any information on this cinema or was this another name for “The Gems”?
  
• Seaver’s Coal Yard and Gasworks
  Moving down towards the sea and next “The Gems2 Cinema was a coal yard and gasometer owned by Dick Seaver. Here was generated coal gas which served many houses in the town of Malahide and had lit the street lights and St. Sylvester’s Church at one time. The 1901 census states the manager of the gasworks lived in Railway Avenue.
  
• Jack Wellington’s House
  Moving further down there was Jack's house which may have been later owned by a Mrs. Yates. She divided the house in two – living in one part herself and an English family, the Wards, lived in the other part. Bill Ward worked at Collinstown Airport on planes and came and went to work on a motor bike.It stood at approximately the entrance to the Marina apartments
  
• Behind this Dan O’Herlihy, Principal Teacher at Donabate National School, lived with his family in an elevated houseboat beside Christy Farrell's boatyard shed.
  
• The boatyard and shed of Christy Farrell were behind Jack Wellington's house. Christy had scrubbing posts or 'cripples' in the estuary.
  
• Caprani’s Printing Works
  Approximately where the entry arch to Marina Village now stands.
  A detached house formerly called “Islandview” and was home of E.M.Long and then his son Edward McCutcheon Long for about 50 years.
  Edward was a keen racing cyclist, with many trophies to his name. He actually manufactured bicycles of various types, which he sold, before mass production. He may also have built motor-cycles. He set up his Bicycle Shop in premises on the comer of Town Yard Lane and The Green (Later to become Polly Flynn's Sweet Shop). After some years his business grew so he purchased the house, shop, and yard on the comer of the same block where Malahide Hardware now stands. Using these premises, he expanded the business, ran a taxi service, and opened a garage and sold petrol. At this time there were very few cars in the area. He died on 3 May 1921. However, his widow, Mrs Charlotte Long (later to become Mrs. Charlotte Talbot), carried on the business until it was sold to Mr Patrick Bissett in l968.
  
• Malahide Hardware (Bissett’s) Yard
  The forecourt to the yard entrance was site of a thatched public house around 1900. The 1901 census records an Anna J. Taylor, Vintner, on Strand St. but as the coastguard are also recorded on Strand St. it is likely that the Townyard Lane side of The Green was treated as Strand St. in the census.

Strand Street

• Seavers ( R.P.Seaver) Coal Yard with Gas Works behind down Gasyard Lane
  Where McGowan’s furniture store traded until 2005.
  In 1901 census coal depot not mentioned but Edward Malone described as its manager.
  
• Marita O’Brien (nee Wogan Died 2006/7)) lived in a cottage opposite Seavers (later McGowans) and it had a nameplate beside the hall door with the name “The Gems”. Her neighbours were Mrs Lynch and the Flynns
  
• Bissett’s Loft
  Built in 1935, demolished in 2004 and Yard. Replaced by “Bissett’s Loft” apartments building.
  
• Site immediately east and south of railway bridge
  Thatched cottage from which Gaffneys sold fish over the front wall.
  Later acquired by Rupert Bissett’s grandfather and his father was born there in 1905 or 1907. Later occupied by Billy Reilly. Demolished about ???? to make way for Railway Court town houses.

New Street
(See picture postcard in Fingal Libraries collection)

• Bissetts Hardware.
  About 1900/01 owned by Mr. Bissett (grandfather of Rupert). A Mrs Gorman owned an adjoining small cottage in New St. that Mr. Bissett persuaded her to trade for a house in Strand St. (now site of laundry). The shop, yard and out buildings were sold to E .M. Long who traded under this name as a cycle shop, hardware and garage. Mr. Bissett (Rupert’s father) later bought the premises and built the present structure on a site that incorporates the former shop and garage , plus two, now demolished, cottages that faced on to the adjoining laneway. (The site of a third cottage was already part of the original garage site). The new Malahide Hardware opened in 1967. There has been a gate to The Green in the present location since Mr. long's days.
  
• No. 2 New Street
  
  Local Garda Sergeant John Ward opened a hairdressers at 2 in the 1960's which was operated by his daughters and also a barber shop run by his son Charlie. (source: his grandson, Paul Mathews, son of Finola Ward. "I remember being wakened every morning by cock crow from Howard's across the road from 2 New Street, who must have had a farmyard of some description. I remember a character called Mattie Cahill who used to chase us to our delight, when we annoyed him as kids. And an old odd job man who helped in the hairdressers called Charlie Wheeler. I remember the milkman delivering the milk on a horse and cart." )
  
  
• Wrights operated a fish shop.
  Where Gibneys off-licence now trades. McCreadys builders had a builders yard behind accessed under an arch between the fish shop and Gibney's premises. This arch still remains. Later 'Pams Fashions'.
  
• Gibneys
  Referred to as “Golden Lion Inn” in the 1740’s. Bought by Henry Barton Cooke on 6 June, 1890 from James O’Hara and the landlord, the Hon. Richard Wogan, Baron Talbot de Malahide. Cooke called it the “Abercorn Tavern” for a period. Later traded as “ Henry Cooke, Dublin House, Family Grocer, Provision, Wine & Spirit Merchant.” Henry F. Cooke, Grocer and Vintner, is occupant per 1911 census with a shop assistant living on the premises.
  In 1937 bought by Jack Gibney when it was a “spit and sawdust pub” with a backyard that contained an apple garden and ‘smelly’ piggery.
  
• A Mrs. Archbold lived below Gibney's premises and McCreadys lived below her. Charlie Ward ran a barbers shop from one of the houses at a later stage.
  
• Ross Terrace – Three or four houses/shops immediately below Gibneys.
  
• New Row - Mentioned in 1901 census but seems to have been incorporated in New St. in 1911 returns. All private dwellings then. No businesses listed. Jimmy Dolan, the cobbler operated from premises in New Row for a time.
  Was/is this lane between Bissetts hardware shop and restaurant?
  
• O’Connor’s house
  Building on corner of New Street and Ross Cottages (?New Row) laneway. Various restaurants have traded here in recent years. Breakers, Tain, ?, ?, ?, etc., etc.
  Maurice Mahon operated from a room here. You entered by the hall door, turned left into the front room, adjacent to the laneway, He had tables for a counter, and some fancy goods and newspapers on display.
  It is said that Maurice delivered newspapers in the area, but someone with a shop in Malahide had applied for a Newsagents Licence; so Maurice had to act quickly to obtain premises, as a licence would not be issued to a "Paper Boy".
  
• Smyths
  Per 1901 census, Patrick Hogan, Grocer, had a pub but in 1911 census described as a lock-up pub with no owner mentioned.
  Later owned by Hogan Brothers (the ‘bottom’ shop). At rear a wall separated this premises from back of Hogans on Main St. When Hogans owned both premises they kept the wall in place so they could retain separate licences for each premises. However, they kept ladders for nipping over the wall. (Per E. Nolan)
  Later bought by Eddie Nolan (an ex employee of Hogans) who subsequently sold to Smyths in 1979.
  
• M. Howard & Sons, Victuallers. Phone Malahide 12 ( now occupied by Denis Drum's auction rooms)
  ”Constantly supplied with Beef, Mutton. Lamb, Pork, etc. as in Season. Pickled Beef and Scarlet Ox Tongues. Special Quotations for Large Customers”
  Michael Howard, Farmer and Victualler, resident per 1901 and 1911 census returns with a victualler living-in in 1911.
  Butchers shop, house, rear yard with slaughterhouse, cow shed and pig sty.
  Later occupied by Mittons also as butchers before Denis Drum.
  
• Below Howards Jem Dunne and his family lived and he ran a dairy from the adjoining yard. His family still reside in the house.
  
• Bertie Boyle.
  Phone Malahide 30.
  
  ”High class groceries and provisions, sweets confectionery, ices, cigarettes and fruit.” (trading in 1937).
  
  The grocery shop, run by Bertie and his wife, was on the corner of New Street and Strand Street in what is now named “Howards Corner” and where “Mario’s Pizza” now trades. It consisted of the dwelling house of Michael Howard (Senior), the upper floor extending over Boyle ’s Shop.
  It is believed that Bertie was a former manager of Findlater's Grocers on Main St. before branching out on his own.
  
• Moira
  
  General Draper – where O'Farrell Cleere now have offices.
  
  
• Mary or Margaret Seaver, Shop-keeper , per 1901 census and in 1911 census she is a resident and 80 yrs. of age.
  Where was the shop located?
  
  
• Dispensary.
  Site of present health offices. Described as lock-up on 1911 census but beside house of Mary Howard, Hospital Nurse. She probably ran the dispensary and lived over. Later Dr. Walsh - husband of Ma Walsh - was the Dispensary doctor and the nurse was Nurse Stroker who lived up St. Margarets Road.

Church Road

• Whites Pork Butchers
  Operated where Café Provence now (2006) trades. There was an abattoir at the rear run by Nugent Butchers of Main Street..
  
• Medical Hall
  Paddy Quinn. The Medical Hall and Whites Pork Butchers was originally a private residential house owned by a family called Perrons and later McDonaghs
  
• Hopkins'/Gilbert's/Duignan’s/Gunnings
  Where phone/kitchen shop recently traded.
  Mr. Gunning leased this shop in 1972 for a few years before Duignan's took it over. 
  Small shop selling sweets and groceries. Mr. Hopkins may have traded as a small hardware shop.
  
• Whites Furniture
  Formerly McSherry's Bakery . Sold bread and cakes but may not have baked themselves.
  
• Post Office where AIB now trades was formerly a Post Office run by Jim and Delia Talbot (nee Markey). Prior to that, it was a private residence known as "Tredagh" and owned by Miss May Crosbie — a garden designer.
  
• Tir na n’Og
  Was an orphanage with 27 female orphans of mainly Irish birth per 1901 census.
  22 female resident orphans, many of English birth, per 1911 census.
  
• St. Andrew’s Grove
  Site of former large St. Andrew's rectory building.
  

Old Street (formerly Back Street and/or Chapel Street)
(See picture postcard in Fingal Libraries collection)

• McGregor,
  Grocery & Provisions (trading in 1937). Probably the McGregors of the Diamond.
  
• Jim ( or Jack) McManus,
  Blacksmith, operated from McAllisters Garage in Railway Avenue.
  
• Jack O’Brien
  Bookmaker. The shop was run by Mrs. O'Brien and the family lived on St. Margarets Road. One of the sons still lives there.
  
• Corner of Railway Avenue and Old street
  Katie O’Brien (sacristan in St. Sylvester’s Church) lived with her sister Mary in a thatched house on this corner.
  
• Wine Bar
  Agatha (Agnes) Tighe (formerly Glynn) lived here with her husband Mick and family. One son - Hilary - is alive and is in a Nursing Home (2007). Gerrard Tighe, perhaps another son, emigrated to Australia and his daughter Anne is resident there (2007).
  
• Jimmy Dolan’s
  ”Boots and Shoes and Repairs Done” (trading in 1937)
  

  Jimmy Dolan the cobbler used premises at the bottom of Old Street on the left side going down the street. Regularly sat in doorway in his leather apron with last mending shoes and dispensing brads (nails) from his mouth.
  

• Shop: James Casey
  In 1901 but not 1911 census returns. No further information.
  
• Shop: Patrick Glynn, Provision Dealer
  Per 1901 census. Denis Glynn, described as Shopkeeper, in 1911 census. May have been father of Mrs Tighe (see Wine Bar above).
  
• Mary Ann Gaffney, Shopkeeper, 1911 census.
  Not clear whether she was just resident or had a shop here.
  
• Dairy behind Billy Meagher's shop / back of Duffy's
  A man (/ Reilly) milked cows in the yard had a milk round. He rented land outside the village in the summer where ever he could get grazing nearest to his home / yard . At one time he had the land around the Casino and the yard at the back of the house .

Railway Avenue ( otherwise known as ? )

• McAllister’s Forge,
  later McAllister’s Garage. Jack Mcmanus operated his forge here.
  
• Edward Owens, farmer, per 1911 census.
  Daughter living in his house described as Shop Assistant.

Seabank

• McGregors Tea Rooms (trading in 1937)
  
• Tram Shop
  Sold sweets and confectionery. Run by Mr. McCormack.
  
• Malahide Sea Baths (immediately beyond the Grand Hotel on far corner of Bath Avenue)
  Two bungalows to front of actual baths were occupied by Mrs. Tighe and Mrs. Murray.
  (See picture postcard in Fingal Libraries collection)
  
• Dr. May’s wooden bungalow, known locally as "The White Bungalow".
  Further along between path and seashore.
  (See picture postcard in Fingal Libraries collection)
  Occupied for a time in late 1940's by the Daly family whose two sons were keen sportsmen(rugby and cricket) and daughter Mary - a keen hockey player.
  
• Spar Shop
  McAuley’s house. Later became shop.

The Hill

• T.Dunne & Sons, Kilmurray Dairy.
  ”Certified Grade “A” Bottled Milk”.
  
• Joe Cahill operated a milk delivery service with Bernie Reilly doing the rounds in a horse drawn trap. John Cahill ran a similar operation from Robbswalls, also using a horse and trap.
  
• Lambe’s
  General Grocery. Dickie Lamberan a shoe repair service from close to the shop.
  (Was this the shop built by Michael Gaffney’s father ?)

Information Required

• The residents around The Green had their milk delivered by either Bernie Reilly or Frankie Flynn. Bernie came with a large metal milk container on the handlebar of his bike. He had a long handled measure and delivered the milk into the customer’s milk jug. Frankie Flynn went from house to house carrying his large milk can delivering the loose milk.
  Where did these gentlemen operate from ? Was it the Hill and Robbswalls?
  
• Who ran the ‘vis-à-vis’ taxi service between the station and the Grand Hotel ?
  
• When was the fountain removed from the Diamond ?
  
• When did ‘Malahide Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club’ get ground in the Band Gardens, presumably from Lord Talbot ?
  
• Dates of building of:    
•     The present Old Street houses    
•     Carlisle Terrace (? Late 1850’s)
•     St. James’s Terrace    
•     Castle Terrace
•     History of the Malahide Coastguards

==============================

Sammy Wells Comes to Malahide

Contribubuted by Victoria Dwyer, Pupil at St. Andrew's School , 2005

A long time ago just after the Second World War ended in mid 1940’s a very special thing happened in Malahide village, especially for the children of Malahide.

A train pulled into the platform at the beautiful village train station just beside St. Sylvester’s Church. A little man stepped off the train with his family and all their belongings in a trunk. They had just arrived from England to come and live in the sleepy town of Malahide.

I am sure you are wondering what was so special about this little man. Well, this man changed the lives of all the children of Malahide when he opened his sweet shop on the main street. The sweet shop was located just where X-tra Vision and the Bank of Ireland are to-day, at the part of the village called The Diamond. It was across the road from the Carnegie Library. On the right side of the shop was Townyard Lane. Once this was the town yard of the Malahide Estate. It was the changing stage for the old stagecoaches and horses were stabled and rested there. When the sweet shop was there this area was a dance hall and the famous Ma Walshe’s cinema or picture house. Now it is where SuperValu is found.

On the other side of the sweet shop was the famous Findlater's shop. Findlaters were a chain of grocery stores around the country.

Sammy Wells had his own sweet factory behind the shop. It became extremely popular. He made the sweets with all of his own recipes he brought from England. His recipes were top class products. The most popular sweets were his fruit bon bons, butter bon bons, liquorice, fruit drops, nougat bars and the most popular of all were his penny bars. The penny bars are said to have been his speciality. In those days the children of Malahide were able to walk safely from school to Sammy Wells sweet shop specially to buy those bars. Everyone used to pop in to buy their sweets on the way to Ma Walshe’s cinema. This was a big treat. To buy your sweets you had to go to the counter and ring the bell for attention.

Malahide was a seaside town where a lot of people came to have their holidays. This brought a lot of business to the sweet shop. He also supplied many other outlets with his wonderful sweets.

He did have a little competition from other sweet makers. They were called “Potters Sweets” and made mostly boiled sweets. Mr. Potter lived in old Portmarnock. The good thing for Sammy Wells was that Mr. Potter had his factory in Dublin.

Sammy Wells had two daughters called Sally and Gwneth. They both went to school at St. Andrew’s across the road from St. Andrew’s Church on Church Road. I wonder did they go to the shop for penny bars on the way home from school?

They lived at the Haven on Upper Strand on the estuary. Sammy became famous for his pigeon loft. He was the first person to have pigeons in the area. It was a very English hobby and became a popular hobby in Malahide too. A local told me that he bred the pigeons for meat to eat.

It was a sad day for Malahide when poor Sammy Wells died as his famous sweet shop closed down. His family moved back to England in the late 50’s or early 60’s. That was the end of his magical sweet shop and those special trips home from school for your penny bars. I’m sure Malahide has never been the same since then.

A typical tuck shop in the 1940's

The above piece was contributed by Victoria Dwyer from 5th class in St. Andrew’s School.
It formed part of her project which won the overall first prize in the
2005 Tom O'Shea Memorial Schools History Competition.

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