Granny's Kitchen. Coolvuck.

snapper2

I understand that there was a pub of the name Granny's Kitchen in Coolvuck in the 1970s/80s. I also understand that there was a resident"Granny" who enertained the clientel. I am looking for any information about "Granny" or Photos of either "Granny" or the pub, anything at all will be of interest. Of course,if this was a vocal "Granny" and there are any recordings, film or video that would be exceptional.
I post, more in hope than expectation!
Thanks to anyone who is able to supply any info, or to point me in the right direction.
Thanks for reading.
snapper2

AckwelFoley

That pub closed in the late 90's. It had been open intermittendly previous to that. Its a large house that dates back to times of when the english occupied the farms here, there was a bar downstairs in the main house and "grannies kitchen" was essentially a shed outside to the right of the house

Seerys were the last to run the bar there before it closed

http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/news/people/articles/2010/09/15/4000093-a-civil-war-baby/print

A Civil War Baby
by David Flynn
From her infant days during the Civil War to her 60 years spent in Altown, Kathleen Devery talks to DAVID FLYNN about her memories of Athlone over the past nine decades.

Kathleen was born the week the Michael Collins was shot dead, and she was asleep in her cot when Civil War fighters searched around her for her father's gun.

She is the oldest resident of Altown, Garrycastle, and has memories of the past nine decades, going back to when she lived in Rath and Kilkenny West as a child. She was born Kathleen Kilduff when the Civil War was at its peak, in Rath on August 13, 1922, nine days before Free State founder, Michael Collins was shot.

"I was told that some searched the house because they knew my father had a gun, and they even lifted the mattress that I was lying on as an infant, but he had it hidden away," she laughed. "My mother wouldn't have a gun in the house, so there was no way they were going to find it there."

Kathleen is the daughter of John and Mary (nee Coffey) Kilduff, and there were three girls and three boys in the family. Three members of the Kilduff family are still living. Ninety-two year old Mary is living in England, and Kathleen lives in Altown, and Frank lives in the family home.

Frank was known as the 'granny' in the Coolvuck pub, 'Granny's Kitchen', several years ago, when he dressed up in the garb which gave the pub its famous name

Saint_Mel

Conroys ran it for a while too before moving to London to run a pub or 2 over there. could have been around 1989/90

Ticktactoe

Twas a great pub. We had some great craic in it!
It was attached to the house. When ownership changed it was then moved to the shed across from the house.

snapper2

Thank yous are due,

to Snyper, I had actually seen the article in the Independent, and it roused my interest. Although I have visited Athlone on a number of occasions years ago (50s & 60s) this was something I didn't have the pleasure of.Did the house have a name, or any historical significance?

to Saint Mel, I did get a message to say about the publican going to London, but the name I was given was Conolly, not Conroy, so I will persue the alternative name.

to Ticktactoe, I am so pleased that you enjoyed the craic, what sort of an act was it.

While greatly appreciating the help given, I would dearly love to find any sort of pictures, Video or sound recordings so continue to live in hope. I can't think no one ever took a photo

Thanks to all, and I look forward to any further contributions.

Snapper2

L

Saint_Mel

snapper2 wrote: »

to Saint Mel, I did get a message to say about the publican going to London, but the name I was given was Conolly, not Conroy, so I will persue the alternative name.

Apologies snapper2 you are correct with Connolly.
Their son played for the same GAA team as me. I was mixing him up with a lad called Conroy who has the same first name.

It was funny though as after they moved I heard nothing of them until 2005 when I bumped into father and son in a pub in Cyprus! Cant remember the name of the pubs in London they run/ran.

cml387

snapper2 wrote: »

I understand that there was a pub of the name Granny's Kitchen in Coolvuck in the 1970s/80s. I also understand that there was a resident"Granny" who enertained the clientel. I am looking for any information about "Granny" or Photos of either "Granny" or the pub, anything at all will be of interest. Of course,if this was a vocal "Granny" and there are any recordings, film or video that would be exceptional.
I post, more in hope than expectation!
Thanks to anyone who is able to supply any info, or to point me in the right direction.
Thanks for reading.
snapper2

I'm afraid I can't supply a photo but...

I used to go there sometimes during the mid eighties (I suppose 1985 to be precise).
One night there were a large amount of people, some with Belfast accents, and many rebel songs were sung.I remember the spot prizes were wooden artwork made by prisoners in Long Kesh. The winners had their photos taken for "Republican News".

snapper2

cml387, many thanks for your input, I have emailed "Republican News" to see if they have pictures on file, or if they can point me at their Photographer. I hope they can help.
But thanks for that suggestion.
Snapper2

Ticktactoe

I would have known it when the Conolly's owned it. I was friends with the daughter at the time. This is around the late 80's early 90's. I was with the Glasson Farmers hunt back then and that was the pub we socialised in. The old spot was like an old kitchen that was renovated into a pub. Off that there was a room (which was prob a living/sitting room before hand) and this is where the 'big screen' was. The owners were lovely people.

snapper2

Thanks Ticktactoe, are you suggesting that the "Granny" was Television act? I had the impression it was "live".

Snapper2

tubos

OP, what exactly do you mean when you say that Granny "enertained the clientel".

I think the previous poster is only mentioning that there was a tv in the pub.

All these quotes around words are making me uneasy!!

"Granny"
"entertained the clientele"
"big screen"
"live"

Do all these words have double meanings or something!!!?


Anyway, whereabouts would this pub have been? Garrycastle somewhere?

Saint_Mel

tubos wrote: »

Anyway, whereabouts would this pub have been? Garrycastle somewhere?

Coolvuck, out the Mullingar Road from Athlone.
Also accessible from the Balyin/Mount Temple direction. Actually there used to be a football team out that way called Coolvuck Celtic, possibly sponsored by the pub

snapper2

Tubos, Thank you for your input.Let's put things straight, no hidden meanings, no inuendo, nothing untoward, all above board.

My understanding is Granny's Kitchen was a pub. "Granny" is in quotes because my understanding is that it was an actor dressed as a granny who in some way interacted with the patrons of the pub, but I am trying to get a handle on it.

I didn't expect that my posting was open to misunderstanding, my apologies to anyone offended.
Snapper2:o

Ticktactoe

snapper2 wrote: »

Thanks Ticktactoe, are you suggesting that the "Granny" was Television act? I had the impression it was "live".

Snapper2

tubos wrote: »

I think the previous poster is only mentioning that there was a tv in the pub.

Exactly what tubos said. Big tvs back then were rare so it was the highlight of the week to watch something on it!

tubos

snapper2 wrote: »

Tubos, Thank you for your input.Let's put things straight, no hidden meanings, no inuendo, nothing untoward, all above board.

My understanding is Granny's Kitchen was a pub. "Granny" is in quotes because my understanding is that it was an actor dressed as a granny who in some way interacted with the patrons of the pub, but I am trying to get a handle on it.

I didn't expect that my posting was open to misunderstanding, my apologies to anyone offended.
Snapper2:o

Ah I see, I re-read the comments and saw the article which mentioned...

- Frank was known as the 'granny' in the Coolvuck pub, 'Granny's Kitchen', several years ago, when he dressed up in the garb which gave the pub its famous name

- it's all very interesting!!!

AckwelFoley

http://maps.google.ie/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=53.45197,-7.840472&spn=0,0.003573&z=19&layer=c&cbll=53.451923,-7.840548&panoid=MixPQ11Ar5EhXnd_jsd1Rg&cbp=12,161.52,,0,10.47


Thats the link to the google street view to the entrance of it. Still has the name on the wall at the entrance

snapper2

Thanks for that Snyper. My guess is that the house is behind the hedge on the left. I have bookmarked the page.
Its a start...sort of!

Snapper2:)

Ticktactoe

snapper2 wrote: »

Thanks for that Snyper. My guess is that the house is behind the hedge on the left. I have bookmarked the page.
Its a start...sort of!

Snapper2:)

No, you go down that road over the small hill and keep going for about 400 yards. This brings you into the grounds of Coolvuck. The house is in front of you and the shed is to the right.

snapper2

Ticktactoe,
Thanks for that, it a long time since I was in the area, but I hope to visit eventually.
Snapper2

120_Minutes

one of my first gigs as a bassist was at a biker rally out there, it would have been 1994.....cant remember much else as we were paid in beer!