The Story of Blarney T.A. Hall
Blarney Temperance Festival at Inchicummane near Blarney – Nov 1842
The members of the Inchicummane Total Abstinence Society gave their annual soiree on Sunday evening the 30th ultimo. Besides the teetotallers residing in the hamlet and its vicinity, some gentlemen from Cork, who took a prominent part in the proceedings of the society, were invited to meet the respected and beloved parish priest, the Rev. Matthew Horgan, who honoured them by presiding at the entertainment. The excellent band of the St. Patrick’s Temperance Hall, Mallow Lane (now Shandon Street), was also invited, and by their superior performance of many popular airs, waltzes’, etc., contributed greatly to the enjoyment of all present. As the Temperance Room was not sufficiently large to accommodate the guests and members, an extensive barn, belonging to Mr. Sheehan, the active local president of the Society was fitted out by the stewards in the most tasteful manner for the occasion. After ample justice had been done to the good fare so plentifully supplied to about three hundred persons, one third of whom were respectfully attired and interesting looking females, the cloth was removed and the following toasts were given with appropriate observations by the Rev. Chairman – “The People,” “Father Mathew and the Temperance Movement,” which was eloquently responded to by Mr. S. R. Quinn. “The Independent Press of Ireland and J.F. Maguire, Esq.” “The Ladies,” which was spoken to by Mr. T.F. Looney, the Vice-President, in the happiest style. At the request of the Chairman, Mr. Quinn gave, after some prefatory remarks, “Prosperity to the Inchicummane Society,” to which Mr. Sheehan replied in a manner that would reflect credit on a practised speaker. Greatly to the regret of all assembled, the Chairman was obliged to leave at nine o’clock, to attend a parishioner who was taken dangerously ill. The chair was subsequently filled by Mr. Quinn, who with Mr. Looney, addressed the meeting several times during the evening. Many admired songs were sung, and dancing was kept up until midnight dispersed as happy a group as ever assembled on any festive occasion. The above item appeared in the Cork Examiner of 7th November 1842.
During my research for this article, I have been unable to source any other reference to the Inchicummane Total Abstinence Association other than the above.
The Cork Examiner of Saturday 15th February 1913 noted that the Tenders for the laying of foundations for the Blarney Temperance Hall would be opened this day and the plans for the building could be seen at Mr. John Cremen’s Shop, Blarney.
The construction must have been completed in a very short time because The Cork Examiner of Saturday 13th April 1913 informed that the building of the new Hall was completed during that particular week and was a credit to promoters and contractors alike. It also reminded people that a fund-raising Grand Bazaar would be held on Wednesday 30th April and Thursday 1st May and should prove a marked success as Wednesday was a half-day in the city and Thursday was a country holiday, Ascension Thursday.
The Cork Examiner of Monday 28th April advised that all arrangements for the Grand Bazaar were now complete, thanks to the Ladies Committee. Lady Colthurst agreed to open the event on Wednesday 30th April at 3.00 p.m. while Mrs. F.W. Mahony performed the ceremony on Thursday 1st May at 1.00 p.m.
New Hall Opened
The new hall, erected by the Blarney Total Abstinence Athletic Club was formally declared open at three o’clock, by Lady Colthurst. The building was located at the end of the Station Road at Shean Lower, adjacent to the village and prettily situated. It measured forty feet by thirty feet and contained a dressing-room in addition to the hall proper. The site was generously provided by Sir George Colthurst, free of cost but at a yearly rent of £1 which was immediately returned to the committee in the form of a subscription. The structure was an imposing one, but a modest building of corrugated iron, laid on a concrete foundation at a total cost of £220. Sheets of corrugated iron were often used for entire buildings such as parish halls, creameries and small factories. In Blarney, for instance, the T.A. Hall, the Boys Club, which in its lifetime had been a Presbyterian church, bands room, club-house, school-house, ending its life as a small factory before a disastrous fire burnt it to the ground, and a private house near the school playground on St. Ann’s Road were all built using this relatively inexpensive lightweight material and when tastefully painted with carefully chosen colours looked quite attractive. It was also used as roofing on cottages, farm buildings and outbuildings.
In parishes and villages people are very often dis-heartened owing to the want of a centre where they, their friends and their associates can meet but the opening of the Temperance Hall in Blarney was the beginning of a new era in the life of the village. It allowed social gatherings and kept the members together. There was a large and representative gathering at the interesting little ceremony and in conjunction with the events, a bazaar and fancy fête continued both days.
Rev. Dr. Dineen, C.C., who presided, commended the committee and particularly, Mr. David Ross, who he said had been the pace-maker from start to finish. Calling on Lady Colthurst, who was cordially received, she said she had great pleasure in declaring the Bazaar and Hall open. She hoped that they would spend many a happy evening there, as it was indeed a most comfortable hall and she wished it a very prosperous future.
Sir George Colthurst said that he would like to express the feeling with regard to the committee as mentioned by Fr. Dineen. He mentioned when the matter was first brought before him, he thought it was almost impossible, but the earnestness and determination of the committee brought them over all their difficulties which ended in the erection of that fine hall. Wishing them many happy evenings and many happy gatherings, he said it was a result that they could all be proud of. Rev. Mr. Mountford proposed a vote of thanks to Lady Colthurst and Mr. T. Smith seconded. Mr. David Ross’s young daughter presented Lady Colthurst with a beautiful bouquet and the proceedings closed.
Cork Examiner of 19th April 1913 First Advertisement for the T.A. Hall
Blarney Total Abstinence Club: Grand Bazaar (In aid of Building Fund)Will be held in THE NEW HALL, BLARNEY On Wednesday, 30th April, and Thursday 1st May 6 Well-equipped Stalls, Cake competitions, Shooting Competitions, Guessing Competitions And numerous other attractions. B. Kelleher, J.D. Boland Hon. Sec. for Bazaar.
Bazaar and Fête
The Blarney Bazaar in aid of the new Temperance Hall, which sought to amass funds to clear off a small remaining debt, was an outstanding success. Costing £220 to build the Hall, it was hoped that at the end of the Bazaar, it would be clear of debt and the committee would have a few three-penny-pieces left to play with due to generosity on the part of close friends and well-wishers, and of its benefactors Sir George and Lady Colthurst. Mrs. F.W. Mahony said it gave her great pleasure to be of service to the committee. She said that the new hall was a credit to the hard-working committee and she was sure it would be of great benefit to the parish, as they had worked so hard for the cause of total abstinence. Mrs. Mahony was presented with a beautiful bouquet by a young girl, after which Rev. Dineen C.C. proposed a vote of thanks, seconded by Mr. Ross and Mr Haigh. The people connected with the bazaar worked non-stop to make the function the great success it was, as all day long day large crowds visited the event, and enjoyed themselves thoroughly with the various amusements and a nice musical selection by the Dun String Orchestra. A special word of praise was due to Mr. Ross, J.P., who spared no efforts to see that everything was properly attended to.
The opening of the new Hall must have caused great interest to draw such big crowds because the weather report for 1st May 1913 was not very conducive to going out. The day began bright and warm but soon, foreboding, black rain clouds began to gather and heavy showers fell in the late morning and especially between one and two o’clock, thunderous downpours at very short intervals was the norm. After lunch-time, enormous heavy peals of thunder and vivid flashes of lightning accompanied the rain storm which passed slowly over the southern part of the country. When the weather allowed, a motor car owned by Jack Desmond, Killard, took people on excursions costing two pence per passenger, from the T.A. Hall via the Hedge Road, around Blarney village and returning to the T.A. Hall. Cars were relatively rare in the area at the time and a trip in one would have been classed as an exciting experience. The car was kept going constantly for both days. The 11.10 p.m. Great Southern and Western Railway main-line train stopped both nights at Blarney specially to pick up visitors returning to Cork city while the Cork and Muskerry Light Railway issued return tickets for a single fare price on the Muskerry Tram for those coming to the Bazaar. At the end of the two days of huge crowds and untold excitement, the Blarney Bazaar and Fête in aid of the new Temperance Hall was brought to a successful conclusion and proclaimed an enormous success.
The above excerpt was taken from a much larger article titled ‘The Story of Blarney T.A. Hall, by Brian Gabriel, published in Issue No 14 ‘Old Blarney’ Journal.
Limited Editions of back issues of ‘Old Blarney’ Journals and Photo-journals are available at monthly lectures, at www.blarneyhistory.ie or from 087 215 3216
