Streets

Main Street, Roscommon c. 1900

Very delicately colour tinted photo postcard of a crowded Main Street, Roscommon town on a fair day at the turn of the 20th century. The limestone obelisk-like monument, to the foreground of the image, was erected in the memory of Luke Hayden M.P. around 1900. He was Chairman of the Roscommon Town Commissioners. It remains to this day in a prominent position in the town square. The Bank of Ireland is the pleasing cut stone three storey building on the front right. Miss Igoe's corset making shop is one of the shops on the right as is Melia's Bakery. To the left foreground is Smith's undertakers and hackney cars, next, after the laneway is Dowdall's Drapers and next door to that is James O'Connor's business house.

Main Street, Roscommon c. 1900

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The streets of Roscommon town first get mentioned in Francis Plunkett's map of 1736.

With the development of the road and rail network, came the rise of the general merchant and the development of the trading streets of the town.

Gallery

Church Street, Roscommon c. 1900

This postcard of Church Street, Roscommon looking towards St. Vincent Street was taken in the early 1900's. The street is a mix of residences, business houses and hotel. The second shop, three storeys high, with the Lipton's sign, was McNamara's grocery and publican. The empty Guinness barrels are out on the street, waiting to be delivered to the train station. Frank Judge's general merchant is next door and M. J. Farrell's Souvenir House is the shop with the sun blind. Everything from postcards to Easter eggs was sold here. The youth looking at the photographer is possibly a messenger boy. Matt Hopkins and Mrs. Mullen lived just before Grealy's Hotel on the corner, striking because of it's oriel windows. On the right of the postcard, the thatched house was eventually built into a two storey house, Jack Naughton carried on his sadliery business beside that and further down the street was J.P.Dolan's butcher shop. As there were no gardens attached to these business homes, the flower filled window boxes were common place.

Church Street, Roscommon c. 1900 -

Roscommon - St. Vincent's Street

This, as the card states on the back is "a real photograph" sepia in colour, and is taken to get full advantage of the expanse of the road to the County Home and Mote Park, as it fades into the distance. The building in the left foreground, is rather interestingly using every inch of wall space, to advertize it's wares. Johnston & O'Reilly's formerly owned by McDonnell's supplied spirits, cigarettes, jewellery, and hardware. O'Reilly lived in the last part of the house, with railings. The entrance to the bar is out of view on Chapel Lane. Reddington's house was next after the lane way and McGibney's had a coach builder's workshop along here also. The car on the road is possibly a hackney car. On the other side of the street, is Campbell's Pork Store.

Copyright managed by the Library Council

Roscommon - St. Vincent's Street - Copyright managed by the Library Council

The Walk, Roscommon

This sepia coloured photo postcard of The Walk, Roscommon was sold by Johnny Coyle's Fancy Stores in the town. The Walk, just outside the town, near the Castle, is said to be so named, as it was used by the garrisons in the Castle to exercise their horses. The fine house at right angles to the road, was that of J.P. Mulligan's. The stables attached to this house are in the right foreground. These are no longer in existence, but the house itself still stands on the same spot.

The Walk, Roscommon -

Abbey Street, Roscommon c.1910

Abbey Street, Roscommon taken by John Valentine is a colour tinted photo showing the middle portion of this street. In the background is the detached, gable fronted Methodist Church, built c. 1860, it's stained glass rose window clearly visible over the door, as well as the stone piers with wrought iron gate. The ivy clad terrace on the right, housed doctors and solicitors. The square porch jutting out at the end of this block, was possibly the entrance to the National Bank. Albert Healy, the Roscommon born musician of note, was born in the "White House", Abbey Street, beside the church. His father was manager of the National Bank across the road.

Copyright managed by the Library Council

Abbey Street, Roscommon c.1910 - Copyright managed by the Library Council

Abbey Street, Roscommon c. 1935

Posted from Roscommon in 1944, the sender notes that this "is the road up from the station" and that there are "3 churches, a courthouse and a library on the way". B. F. McLoughlin's hardware, general merchant's and spirit and tobacco supplier is the interesting shop, laden with baskets, buckets and brooms. He certainly seemed to embrace the new fashion of advertizing with the fine aluminium piece of street furniture for Walnut Plug & St. Bruno Flake tobaccos. The next terrace of houses, Georgian in style, sweep down towards the entrance to the Sacred Heart Church, just where the three people are chatting on the street, in the middle distance. The Masonic Lodge had its home on this street also. The second one storey house on the top right, was Curley's shop, and further along the street, where the break comes in the terrace was a stone mason's business house.

Abbey Street, Roscommon c. 1935 -

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