Abbey In Years Gone By

Memories of another era through old photographs

Photographs are credited individually

Holohan’s Shop, Abbey in 1915

Holihan110

Photograph Left to Right: Bridget McManus (Holohan cousin), Joe Holohan (seated) who later emigrated to Australia, Lil Holohan (later Mrs Whelan, Lisheeny), Winfred Holohan (later Mrs Murray, Portumna), Jack Holohan, Ciss Holohan (later Mrs Clarke, Portumna).  Photo courtesy John Holohan.

 

Hanrahan’s Central Bar Abbey in 1922Smokey Joes 1

Can you identify the three people in the photograph?  Possibly Tom Joe Hanrahan with his wife Mary and a third person.  Photo courtesy Mrs Nora Hynes.

 

Abbey National School in 1923

Abbey School was built in 1922 by Johnnie Murray, Portumna.  This photograph, courtesy John Ryan, taken in 1923 shows Master Power with the students one year later.  We don’t have all the names and show a question mark (?) where there are gaps.  Some of those we have may be incorrect so we will be delighted if you can fill us in and we will update and correct the record.

Abbey school 1923

Back Row left to right: Harry Donnelly, Pete Ryan, Annie Abberton, Mary E Kelly, ?, Ellen Finnegan, Bridie Abberton, Bertie Donnelly, Jacko Ryan.  Next Row l to r: Master Power, Gretta Abberton, Mary Frances Sullivan, Ned Larkin, Tommie Abberton, Connie Donnelly, Tom Joe Conroy, Pakie Callanan, John Coughlan, Joe Hynes, Mary Anne Watson, Rose Martin. Next Row l to r: ?, Tommy Watson, Katie Madden, Mary Anne Fahy, May Burke, Bab Donnelly, Michael Fahy, ?.  Front Row seated l to r: ??? We have four names: Sonny Callinan, Larry Collins, Teresa (Tessie) Sullivan ??? Bridget Kelly and Kathleen Kelly.  Photo courtesy John Ryan.

 

Abbey Post Office in 1934

Hynes PO 1934

This was the original Post Office building and was modernised by the Hynes family in the 1950s.  Photo courtesy Hynes family.  See article: http://abbey.galwaycommunityheritage.org/content/topics/a-brief-history-…bbey-post-office

 

 Abbey Church in the 1930s

Abbey Church

Old Roman Catholic Church, Abbey prior to renovations.  When the gate was removed it was re-erected in St Feichin’s Cemetery in Lacken.  Photo courtesy Bernard Hodgins.  

 

Annie and Kate Martin’s House, Abbey c1950

Martin's Cottage2This house was situated in Abbey Village next door to Michael Lynch’s home.  Kate and Annie Martin acted as caretakers of Abbey Church, opening and closing the Church and looking after the cleaning.  Photo courtesy Des Lynch was probably taken around 1950.

 

This page was added on 27/01/2015.

Comments about this page

  • I was very excited when my cousin pointed out this site, as our Auntie May (Mary Frances Sullivan) is on it and possibly my mother Teresa (Tessie) Sullivan the girl in the centre left of the photo with the bushy hair and tartan skirt. It’s so interesting to see how were things nearly a 100 year’s ago.

    By 's (21/11/2019)
  • I was very excited when my cousin pointed out this site, as our Auntie May (Mary Frances Sullivan) is on it and possibly my mother Teresa (Tessie) Sullivan the girl in the centre left of the photo with the bushy hair and tartan skirt. It’s so interesting to see how were things nearly a 100 year’s ago.

    By Fr Kevin Clark (18/11/2019)
  • Thank you Fr Clark – great to get another name!

    By Frances Holohan (18/11/2019)
  • Thomas Joseph Hanrahan may have been a cousin of my grandmother.

    By Robert White (24/12/2017)
  • Thomas Joseph Hanrahan was, I think, a cousin of my grandmother; she was the daughter of John Hanrahan, who may have been the older brother of Thomas Hanrahan. John emigrated to the US, with and/followed by sisters and brothers Mary, Margaret, Anthony, and Peter. Peter married a woman named Jennings, from the Marble Hill area. I wonder if there are any remaining cousins in the area.

    By Robert White (24/12/2017)
  • I have really enjoyed looking at the photos of Abbey. My Great Grandfather Michael Madden born in the 1860s lived there with his family. Also my Great Great Grandfather Michael Quinn lived nearby in Lisheeny town land. Thankyou Christine

    By Christine Knight (28/02/2017)
  • What a delight to see Abbey as it was in the past. I remember delivering The Messenger to Kate and Annie Martins home, and the warm welcome I received from them.

    Abbey is the nicest village in Ireland.

    By Teresa Craughwell (10/10/2016)
  • Love these photos. What a great record to have of years gone by. I e specially like the one of Hanrahan’s Central Bar. There is something iconic about it.

    Bernadette Forde

    By killererin (22/06/2016)
  • Bridget Hanrahan was living in Garrynoglogh in 1901 & 1911 with son Thomas J Hanrahan. Her maiden name was Bridget Carroll from Annagh, Lorrha, Tipperary, she married Thomas Hanrahan in 1876 and they had one son Thomas J Hanrahan b 1877. Bridget was a sister of my great-grandmother! Great to see picture of the Habrahan family bar ! Thanks

    By Paula Reid (05/01/2016)
  • Thanks a lot has brought back memories from 80 yrs ago to someone from Abbey now across the water eastwards from Eire.

    By Anne Patricia Larkin (31/08/2015)
  • It’s lovely to see Abbey in the olden days. Keep up the good work and looking forward to seeing more photos.

    By maeve lynch (28/05/2015)
  • Love these images, very precious to have.

    By Pauline (22/04/2015)

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