Athenry News & Views Winter 2025

Winter 2025

Athenry Local History – Christmas Special By Ronan Killeen

This month, in the spirit of the season, I’m delighted to bring a lighter and more festive note to Athenry Local History. Northgate Street today is lined with shops, pubs, and the familiar bustle of daily life but here’s a surprise for many: it was once home to a spacious public hall. I’ll admit, I didn’t know that myself until recently. And so, we begin… On 10 January 1902, The Tuam News reported on a two-night concert held on the 26th and 27th of December 1901. It was an annual event staged in aid of charity though, frustratingly, the reporter never says which charity benefited. The article paints a vivid scene: “The very spacious hall at Northgate Street was suitably prepared for the occasion, and as a variety entertainment as well as a concert was part of the programme, stage and scenery were tastefully arranged.” The evening opened on a patriotic and cultural note. In support of the growing movement to preserve the Irish language, the boys of Athenry National School performed “An Chruit re Scar” (The Harp) in Irish. Their clear Gaelic diction and harmonious singing astonished and delighted the audience, who showed their appreciation with repeated encores. Miss Dolan followed with a sweet rendition of “Through the Last Glimpse of Erin.” Mr. P. Kelly gave a stirring performance of “Bantry Bay,” while Miss Ryan well known on the local concert scene, sang “Killarney” with admirable style. Mr. T. Higgins was loudly applauded for his performance of the then-new favourite, “When Shall Day Break in Erin.”

Comedy was also in plentiful supply. John F. Kelly’s “Galway Militia,” a local comic sketch, and W. P. Higgins’s “Crockery Ware” kept the crowd laughing. Musical contributions by Miss Barbra Leonard, Miss Delia McDonagh, and Miss Alice Nolan were warmly received, and duets by the Misses Mahon and Nolan, and Mr. and Mrs. Graham, added charm. A glee by the female schoolchildren was described as “very taking” indeed. The variety programme continued with a stump speech from John F. Kellyan entertainer Athenry audiences already knew as inimitable in this role. His humorous take on “local monstrosities” reportedly had the hall in stitches. Another highlight of the evening was the step dancing of W. P. Higgins, T. Monaghan and P. Keane. Their Irish jig was performed in a style “worthy of the highest praise.” The entertainment concluded with the farce “The Irish Doctor,” performed by Messrs. Kelly, Mahon, Lardner and Nolan to great success. Throughout the night, the piano accompaniments were tastefully provided by Miss May Kelly, Mrs. Broderick and Miss Dolan. Altogether, the 1901 Christmas concert at Northgate Street’s long-forgotten hall sounds like a joyous celebration of music, humour, community spirit and Irish culture one that must have warmed many hearts on those winter nights. A festive reminder that Athenry’s streets hold more stories than meet the eye.

Northgate Street as it migh have looked in 1902 (AIG)