Residents of the West side of Camp Street (Fough West) Oughterard in the 1960s

Egan’s Lake Hotel was at the top of the street. It was owned by Jim Egan and his wife Sheila. They had three daughters in family namely Valerie, Aileen, and Carol RIP. Carol lost her life due to a tragic accident.

Next door was Richard (Rick) Faherty who ran Faherty’s pub.

After that was Joe Lydon’s pub – now Kelly’s Bar and Restaurant. Both Joe and his wife Eileen were local people, Eileen being a member of the Ferris family. They had four in family namely Anne, Paul, Patricia and Shane.

My parents, my brothers and I lived in the next house. My parents had bought the site from Mrs Julia Cleggett and my father built a two-storey house on his site. We had moved into the village between 1961 and 1962 from Aughnanure. I was born on the 24th of July 1958. Very sadly my twin brother Ignatius passed away at just four days of age. Naturally I pray to and think of my brother every single day.

Next door was Dr O’Farrell and his family. His son Peter was married to Bridie Faherty whose brother Richard and Edward also lived on Camp Street. They had five in family namely Ann, Elizabeth (RIP), Paddy, Joan and Peter (Junior). This is where Dessie Walsh has his Camp Street café.

Next was Tommy and Peg O’Connor’s Butcher shop (now McGeough’s shop). Tommy was born and bred in that house; the butcher shop was founded by his parents Laurence and Bridget in 1922 (the house was formerly the RIC barracks). Peggy O’Connor was a member of the Earnor family from Gurthreevagh. They had six in family namely Mary, Peggy, Larry, John (R.I.P.) Frank and Freddie.

Next door was Edward (Ned) and Winifred Faherty. Ned was a gardener by trade. Winnie was a sister of Tommy O’Connor who lived next door. Ned and Winnie had three in family namely Mary, Padraig, and Laurence (Lal) R.I.P.

Next door in a thatched cottage was Mrs Maria Walsh who was an aunt of my mother, being a sister of my grandfather Matt Tierney. Maria was affectionately known as Auntie Maria (pronounced Mariah). I visited her every week to do the household chores: firstly, to empty two buckets of turf. Auntie Maria baked the most wonderful soda bread. My reward was two slices of the bread, butter and Bopeep Jam made by Lairds of Drumshambo, Co. Leitrim which featured a picture of newly born lambs on the front of the jar, and of course a mug of tea to quench my thirst. Auntie Maria’s first cousin Maggie lived next door in another thatched cottage. Karl Verbruggen’s Veterinary Clinic is
now on the site of these two cottages.

Next door was Mattie Hanley who was an uncle of mother, being a brother of my grandmother Katie Tierney. Mattie was a shopkeeper, an astute businessman, and small in stature, who did not suffer fools gladly. He was the first secretary of the Pioneer movement when it was founded in Oughterard in 1944. Ironically it is a position which I have held for many years, being secretary of the Killannin/Oughterard Centre.

Next door was Tom and Kate Ann Coyne and family. Kate was a member of the Fahy family of New Village. They had six in family namely Sean, Mary, Peadar, Nora, Tom and Ann.

Next door was Paddy Harris Senior and his wife Kate. Next door to that was Paddy Harris Junior and his wife Maisie. Maisie’s maiden surname was Clancy. They had five in family: Cathy, Padraic, Olivia, Declan and Adrian.

Next was John and Mary Conneely. Mary was a native of Killawalla near Westport in County Mayo. She was a sister of Mrs Delia Conneely, Lemonfield, who was the wife of Joe Conneely, a case of two brothers married to two sisters. They had one daughter Mary Margaret who is the wife of Mickie Maloney. Mickie Maloney originally was a native of Shrue, Rossacahill, and spent many of his early years with his uncle Michael and his wife Kathleen in Gurterwulla, Glann.

Next was a two-storey house which was built for Michael and Annie Collins by my father. Michael Collins was a native of Kerry and a brother of Mrs Maeve Mallon who also lived on Camp Street. Annie was a member of the O Connor family from Larragan, Rosscahill.

Next was Jim McQuinn and his wife Helen. Jim was a native of Portacarron whereas Helen was a member of the Mons family from Ballygally, Glann. They had five in family namely Margaret, Tony, Christina, Patrick and Kevin RIP.

Next door was Paddy and Mary Molloy. Paddy was a native of Eighterard whereas Mary was a native of Gowlan, Glann, being a member of the Joyce family. They had eight in family namely Nora, Mattie, Tommie, Pakie, Mary, Cyril, Dolores and Bernard.

Next door was Paddy Tom Joe Walsh and his wife Julia. Paddy Tom Joe was known as the “An Gabha” meaning he was the local blacksmith. He was a Fianna Fail stalwart and was a very prominent member of the local Defence Forces, the F.C.A.

Next was Johnny Bartley Walsh and his wife Kate. Their son was married to Kitty who was a sister of Mrs Peggie Monahan of Main Street. They had three in family namely Geraldine, Michael (Junior) and Claire.

Next door was John and Agnes Gill. John was native of Eighterard whereas Agnes was a member of the Walsh family of Magherarbeg. They had three in family Patrica, (RIP) Maura and John (Junior) RIP.
Next to this was Eoin Conneely and his wife Nellie. Their son Patrick was married to the late Nora who was a member of the Conneely family from Glengowla. They had six in family namely Ann, Pat, Gerry, Colette, Christopher and Michael.

Tommy Faherty lived alone in the family home, and he was a brother of Rose Molloy, Eighterard. This is now the home of Robert Webb and family.

Next door was Tommie Jack Kinnevey. Jack was a native of Inchagoill Island. Like his brother Paddy, he was a boat builder by trade. He was a gifted musician playing the accordion, violin and the mouth organ.

At the end of the street was the site of the old R.I.C. Barrack Camp. At that time, it was owned by Tommie & Peggy O’Connor and prior to the 60’s was used by them as land to graze cattle. In the early 60’s the buildings of the barracks were deemed derelict by the council, the bricks and stone were sold off and used in the building of the N59 at Maam Cross. The high walls are still intact on what is now the site of Owenriff park.