Joe Doyle became the new
landlord in 1998 and previous to that the premises had various uses.
The premises was originally built as a parochial house for Father Keogh
c. 1870's. He lived in it briefly but found the area too noisy and subsequently
took up residence in Rathoe.
The premises was kept by the parish and rented out to the Farrells and
then to E.J.Doyle of Wexford c. 1870. Mr. Doyle made a great success of
running a business. It traded in hardware, groceries, coal, timber, gates,
drapery. It also provided the services of an undertaker, coffin maker
and dispensary.
It was subsequently bought from the parish by Jim Brennan of Old Kilcullen,
Co Kildare who in turn sold it as a going concern to Bill Nolan of Ballon
in 1958. The cost then was £2,400. Bill owned the pub next door (now Nolan's
garage) and continued to trade in both disciplines but he died at an early
age in 1971 and the premises was sold in 1972. The new owner was Dinny
Donohoe of Ballylinan, Co. Laois. He changed it into a pub and it changed
hands again to Doyle and Lambert and then Joe Kirwan of Castledermot.
He separated the two premises in 1979 and John Nolan bought the original
premises with the petrol pumps. The main premises changed hands again
to Tim Radford, then Brian McHenry and then to Joe Doyle.
 |
Narrated
by Billy Nolan, Ballon. 11/01 |
This photo taken from "Ballon & Rathoe" by Peadar Mac Suihhne and supplied by Michael Kealy. Can anyone put a date on it? c. 1840? Is the car a clue?
The resourceful Bozi writes (18/3/02):
The Hunting scene photo is more positive although we would have like a clearer/bigger photo of the car. There seems to be agreement that the car is probably a Ford Model T of approx 1926 (1923 - 1927). Only slight doubt is the rake of the windscreen which we cannot see clearly. The T is probably of American origin rather than English. Pity the left horse is hiding the other car!
Attached modded photos if you want to use them. Not sure if the hunting coats were red?
What colour were the hunting coats?