Sean Collins has done much in-depth research into the history of Drogheda’s pubs. This week he brings us the story of the Railway Bar on the Dublin Road and the many colourful characters who have quenched their thirsts there over the years.
In a summation to a court case in Drogheda in 1849, it was explained by the barrister that Thomas Devine owned four licensed premises in the town, one being a house on the Dublin Road. In 1864 it was leased to Michael Collins from the Bullring and became the Railway Bar.
The steps that lead from the side of the premises down to Marsh Road called the Quarry Well Steps became popularly known as “Collins Steps”.
Michael Collins died in 1886 and the bar licence was transferred to his wife. The pub began the 1900s as the premises of Matthew McCullen of the Beamore farming family.
In 1923 McCullen decided to move to the USA, and local auctioneer Luke J. Elcock offered for sale the Railway Bar. It was acquired at auction by Thomas Callan, “the Barber” of Duleek Street who was already established in the town as a publican.
It was something of an inauspicious start to the new business though because on his first Saturday night of business, in January 1923, Callan’s new premises was surrounded by soldiers of the new Free State Army, and five of his customers were arrested!
The five were Tommy and Patsy Grogan of the Mornington Road, Christopher “Kit” Fairtlough of St. Mary’s Cottages, Patrick Cluskey, Duleek Street, and Richard Lambe of Mary Street. The papers reported that they had all recently escaped from Dundalk Jail. Talk about a lively Saturday night out!
In 1930 Thomas Eustace and his wife a member of the Callan family from Ardee, leased the Railway Bar from her Uncle, Thomas Callan. Sadly Mr. Eustace died but his wife continued to run the premises until 1954. Cyril Bellew told me she was a friend of his mother’s and was famed far and wide for her skill at “reading the tea leaves”.
Before the days of teabags, tea was distributed loose, and Mrs. Eustace could read your fortune from the tea leaves. It would be a great novelty if you could bring her back. George Blake the bookie from Slane purchased the premises in 1954.
In 1913 on his return from Australia Tom Flanagan and his wife Augusta purchased Hamills Bar at 80 Trinity St. [now Little’s Properties] and sowed the seeds to establish somewhat of a publican dynasty in the town.
In seeking his licence through the courts the R.I.C. officer said they had no objection, but noted they did not know Flanagan as he had only recently returned from Australia. He later acquired the Fair Green Bar [no.78], managed by his daughter Josie, and in 1956 his son Benny purchased the Central Bar on the North Quay.
In 1962 an advert in the Drogheda Independent advised that Mr. Kevin Flanagan of Trinity Street had taken ownership of the Railway Bar and would open for customers on Friday the 12th of July [the 272nd anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne]. Kevin soon settled in to establish a welcoming local known both North and South of the border.
The Editor of the Irish Press, Tim Pat Coogan, told me that when he was a young journalist doing research for his noted tome “The I.R.A.” [published 1970] he was advised to come to Drogheda and interview Mr. Larry Grogan.
His source suggested he should take the train and in the Railway Bar nearby he might find Mr. Grogan who was known to be a customer there. Tim Pat described taking the train, finding the pub and ordering a pint. He enquired from the tall fair-haired barman, Kevin, where Larry Grogan lived.
A silence descended over the bar as all eyes focused on him, an “Omertà” moment. No answer was forthcoming until it was established after an interrogation by Kevin, he was not a Special Branch man. He was given directions to Larry’s house, but it was to no avail, Larry would not engage, the real omertà moment.
The Railway Bar had the 7am licence because of it’s proximity to the quays and Pa Keogh a permanent night shift worker was usually the first to arrive each morning.
Pa was joined by a mixture of workers coming from night shifts or going to morning shifts in local factories. Drogheda’s industries were much more labour intensive then.
A rings team was established under the management of Tommy Donnelly with John Everitt [now on transfer to Barney Macs], Pat Kearney, Nicky McCullen and in the picture Joe Smith my Mother’s coalman, a gentleman taken much too soon but his son Donal carries on the business at Mornington, he plays a mean guitar, I don’t know if he can play rings or not.
Mayor Paddy Buckley presenting the prizes, Sean ‘Buttsir” Finnegan made Kevin’s the headquarters of Delvin R.F.C., a mean scrum-half in his day I am told.
Seamie Briscoe, Jim Walker, Cash Monaghan and many Delvin stalwarts including the younger players, all “oul fellas” now, Noel “Lep” Dunne, Declan McCullen, Kieran “Scotch” Matthews and Tony McKeown made Kevin’s their base. Tony’s late father Paddy taught Joey Maher how to play handball, Tony obviously didn’t pay attention.
Uniquely for a bar in Drogheda, Kevin’s, also had a cricket team. Started by Dickie Quinn who had made Drogheda his home, Kevin’s Eleven fielded on four occasions with Dave Doherty as fast bowler and even Seamie Briscoe putting on the whites.
Added to all this fun were the locals like Christy “the Gow’ Everett, Peter Murray, Gerry Byrne and Tom Grogan from the railway, his sister Renee, Patsy Byrne from the Oilcake, Paddy Moroney the plumber, Dave McCarthy from the bank. All ably served by Cora McGuffin who worked the day shift at Kevin’s.
Nicola Flanagan outside howling in her pram, she only howls now, a la Francais. Bill Hickey from Madames, Aidan McKenna from the Mount, the irrepressible Joe Keogh all added to the mix, and Kevin king of them all.
In the 1970s it was said Ruairi O’Bradaigh and Sean McStiofain would often come there to meet Larry Grogan and Paddy Devlin the Belfast M.P. and founder of the S.D.L.P. with John Hume would drop in on the journey home.
Kevin’s other great love, apart of course, from his glamorous wife Jenny, was the odd race meeting with his good friend Tom Garvey. A good day at the races would guarantee a sing song on Kevin’s return and a lock-in with Kevin leading the choir.
I only remember being there on one occasion, the aftermath of my father’s funeral. Kevin and my father Paddy had met in London in 1956, when like many other Drogheda men they were forced to seek work due to the high level of unemployment in Ireland.
Kevin recalled a kindness shown to him by my father at that time and generously reciprocated. Kevin called it a day and served his last pint at the Railway Bar in November 1992. The last of the Flanagan family from Trinity Street to engage in the pub trade.
Today the Railway Bar, now popularly known as Barlow’s, is going strong run by a genial Drogheda man Brendan Moore. Awards are the order of the day and thankfully the pub retains a traditional local feeling.
Under the terms of Drogheda’s Good Friday Agreement, Delvin R.F.C. and Drogheda R.F.C. amalgamated as Boyne R.F.C. Jim Prendergast and my old neighbour Billy Gavin sit at the bar among veterans of the Delvin era moaning about sore knees, hips and ham strings.
Even Scotch complains about an injury to his wrist, I heard he got it playing 110 very badly. Shirley the poor bar lady has to listen to it all, and it should be noted Shirley once donned the No.15 jersey playing for St. Oliver’s College at Basketball bringing honour and glory to her alma mater. Unlike so many of the moaners she got the tee-shirt.
A regular talking to me at the start of the covid restrictions said he didn’t care that he couldn’t get a pint, he didn’t need one, and he couldn’t understand people complaining. He would survive pints or no pints.
I so admired his will power. Imagine my surprise when restrictions were eased he was so glad his son ordered and had six pints delivered from Barlow’s. “What did you do” I said ,” I immediately ordered six more he said ” and Barlow delivered, will-power my Liam.
Thanks to Liam for the impetus, Christine, Tom and Seamus for the pics, Kevin for his kindness, and Bonjour Nicola. The covid era has ended hopefully, and “Barlow’s” has re-emerged busy as ever.
