Stan appeals for old photos of Kilbeggan for history project
By Stan McCormack
At the moment Kilbeggan seems like a miniature war zone with the county council working on the Renew Kilbeggan programme to improve facilities into the future including water pipes, broadband, parking, and the layout of the street.
It will carry on up to the end of the year and hopefully have a positive impact into the future.
Unfortunately, one of the recent effects was the cancelling of Kilbeggan races (when a large crowd was expected) on the bank holiday Sunday, when a water main pipe burst in the area. The virtue of patience will be required through no one’s fault for the next few months.
In the midst of it all, it was wonderful to see the success of the Kilbeggan Cycling Festival hosted by the Esker Cycling Club on the same weekend, which supported the Kilbeggan Soccer Club (celebrating its 50th anniversary this year) and Our Lady’s Children Hospital, Crumlin.
It brought family fun back on to the Green and with the opening of the new coffee shop, Cafe MoKa, in The Square things are beginning to happen again.
One of the highlights of the year was the golden jubilee of the Kilbeggan Pitch and Putt Club. The Club officially commenced in 1968 on the Coola Lawn provided by Gus Marshall on the Mullingar Road. Since then, multiple All Ireland Champions have come out of the club, which is one of the most successful in the history of pitch and putt.
It was a wonderful occasion bringing back memories and some legendary stories.
The process
One of the great advantages of Kilbeggan is that most of its history took place on the main street, including the 1798 rebellion, Kilbeggan Distillery, the knighthood story, the market, famous visitors like Michael Collins, Daniel O’Connell, Hannah Sheehy Skeffington, local artists, in the midst of 18th and 19th century buildings.
In the last year some 1,200 people with local connections have enjoyed the Kilbeggan Past Facebook site, where almost 900 old photos have been put up.
Arising from this I have decided to produce a new book of Kilbeggan photos. One of the highlights of the book next year will be the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Kilbeggan winning their first Westmeath Senior Football Championship in 1919 (they won seven titles between 1919 and 1935, even when some of the players were on the run!).
I am going public with the book of photos and starting the process of gathering photos, contacting people about articles, between now and Christmas.
The intention is (1) to launch the book of photographs in April/May 2019 in Kilbeggan Hall; (2) on Cemetery Sunday weekend in July 2019, present the history of Kilbeggan in the windows and buildings along the street; and (3) a long-term project to use all the information from many sources to show the history through possibly a walking history video; hard copies in libraries; and use it online to help families trace their history and genealogy.
I will be asking people to help out around the time of the events (as many great people have in the past).
I believe that these projects can help improve the town and create the possibility that the county council support the erection of some historic plaques, help design some tours (which I could help with) and produce a map and leaflet for visitors.
Who knows, some day we might have a little museum in Kilbeggan.
Photos: You can contact me at home, by phone, email, by post, messenger, regarding photos or anything else. You can also drop items at SWEETS (beside the post office), where I can collect them.
All photos will be recorded and returned (if you have a good copy it will do).
Include your name, address, phone number, if handing in photos. Include the names of people in photo and any other details or story related to it, such as year or place. If it’s a group photo write names left to right and by row.
Contact Details
Stan McCormack, 4 St Beccan’s Terrace, (Tullamore Road) Kilbeggan, County Westmeath.
Phone: 087 7499857; 057 9332683.
Email: florandstan@eircom.net.