The Royal Oak Tavern is a pub steeped in history. Now owned my Matty Byrne, of course the locals just call it Matty's. As far back as 1812 there are references to the pub in a book on an archeologist study of limestone areas in Ireland. William Fitzpatrick was born in 1879 - 1935. IM not sure how he got to own the pub, what I do know is that he was a carpenter by trade (who used the hotel across the road as his workplace. More on that later), and was evicted from his home in heath, currenree (a local area). As Far as we know he was an alcoholic and in turn it was left to Mary Brennan in 1904 ( 1880 - ? ). She cleaned the place up a little and did a good trade. Then she married ,in 1912, a man called Thomas Byrne. He was born in what was then known as Kings Street in Kilkenny, and grew up was in an area called Frynes town, and owned a small piece of land in that area. This land was sold in 1927/8.There are also two petrol pumps across the road from the pub, which were put into operation in 1931, which sold petrol at 8.5 pence a gallon !
(as they are in 1999)
(as they were !)1950s/early 60s..
This was serviced by a petrol company called MEX. A man called Mc. Mullen founded this company in 1894. He started off selling oil from door to door. Harry Ewing, a rep for MEX, looked after this our petrol station in the Royal Oak. There was also a hotel built in 1740 just across from the current pub, which was knocked in 1974. This was then owned by Thomas Byrne (Matty's Father),and used to serve as a coach stop (Run by a man called Bianconi, who was a stowaway on a ship bound for Ireland, and later made his fortune with his coach service. He Retired in Co.Clare) , to feed and rest horses.Charles Bianconi ( coach service - pic sent to me by dutchy! http://www.waterfordwildlife.com ) Thanks!! Some other interesting facts about the Royal Oak. The Prime Minister of Canada Mr. Brian Mulroney 's father was born here.
As the story goes, he escaped from the English and somehow ended up in the Royal Oak, having being bound in chains and in very bad health.Unfortunately his injuries were fatal and he died. He is now buried in Mayo.
(The Hotel, as it was, just accross the road from the pub. Which is now a car park). Also a man called William Makepiece Tackery, a writer slept at the hotel as did Daniel O'Connell (around 1800). True story or not, the Royal Oak gets its name when King James hid in a tree. There was also a school and town hall here in the royal oak.
The Following information was sent to me by M O Meara(thanks!)
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William Makepeace Thackery (1811-1863) vsited Ireland in 1843 and wrote a book about his travels. I can't find the name of the book yet but as he wrote under two pen-names as well as his own - Michael Angelo Titmarsh and Theophile Wagstaff; it can be found. Given that he stayed at the Royal Oak as claimed, he would have written about it ( he wrote about everywhere else and it would be important for you to know what he wrote! Try http://malvm1.mala.bc.ca/~mcneil/thack.htm. or links. ------DETAILS ON THE HOTEL... The village of Royal Oak lies between Carlow and Kilkenny. Prior to construction of the by-pass in the 1980s it was on the main road for many centuries. The village has seen many changes of fortune in that time. On the site occupied by a car park opposite the Royal Oak Tavern, once stood a three storey building. Built in 1740 as a coach inn or hotel, it was ' L; shaped in plan. One might well ask as to what purpose?. Possible reasons could be to cater for the passengers then traveling by canal barge, (the River Barrow flows nearby) or to cater for mail coach passengers. Passengers traveling by road would have increased considerably in the early 19th c, when it became a stop for the Bianconi Cars traveling between Dublin and main towns further south. This traffic transferred to rail when the station opened in Bagenalstown in 1848. This would have sounded the death knell for the coach inn. The English writer Thakeray stopped here briefly on his journey from Carlow to Waterford in 1842. Even then the building was well past its best evidenced by the extract below. THE IRISH SKETCHBOOK 1842. WILLIAM. MAKEPEACE. THACKERAY Here stands a dilapidated hotel and posting-house: and indeed on every road, as yet, I have been astonished at the great movement and stir; - the old coaches being invariably crammed, cars jingling about equally full, and no want of gentlemen's carriages to exercise the horses of the Royal 0ak and similar establishments. In the time of the rebellion (1798), the landlord of this Royal Oak, a great character in those parts was a fierce United Irishman. One day it happened that John. Andersen came to the inn, and was eager for horses. The landlord who knew Sir John to be a Tory, vowed and swore he had no horses; that the judges had the last going to Kilkenny (Assizes) that the yeomanry had carried off the best of them, that he could not give a horse for love or money. 'Poor Lord Edward!' said Sir John, sinking down in a chair, and clasping his hands, 'my poor dear misguided friend, and must you die for the loss of a few hours and the want of a pair of horses? 'Lord what?' says the landlord. 'Lord Edward Fitzgerald,' replied Sir John; 'the Government has seized his papers, and got scent of his hiding-place; if I can't get to him before two hours, Sirr will have him.' "My dear Sir John,' cried the landlord; 'it's not two horses but it's eight I'll give you, and may the judges go hang for me!. Here Larry !,. Tim ! First and second pair for Sir John Anderson . and long life to you, Sir John, and the Lord reward you I your deed .this day. ' -Sir John, my-informant told me, had invented this predicament of 'Lord Edward's in order to get the horses; and by way of corroborating; the whole story, pointed out an old chaise, which stood-at the inn-door with its window broken, a great crevice in .the: panel, some little wretches crawling underneath the wheels, and two huge blackguards lolling against the pole, - 'and that,' says he, 'is no doubt the post-chaise Sir John Anderson had.' It certainly looked ancient enough! On a wall close to where the inn once stood is a plaque stating that it was the 'ancestral birthplace' of Brian Mulroney Prime Minister of Canada (1984-1992). His family had once owned the inn here. Bibliography; http://www.grannygrouse.com/ (matty byrne's) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Canadian ABOVE quote taken from Joseph.M.Feeley (upcomming book) ------------------------------------- Things have changed since then! ------------------------------------- Charlas Biancone established his coaching business in what is now Hearnes Hotel, Clonmel. He was 'banished' from Italy to Ireland when he was 16 yers old to avoid a scandal as he was considered to be too friendly with a local girl who was betrothed to a nobleman since her childhood. In 1815, his carriages were covering 1870 miles a day and by 1857, 4,244 miles a day in 22 countries! For that time - he was BIG!!! His headquarters was at Hearnes in Clonmel and he lived there from 1826 to 1834 when he handed the building over to his friend and assistant David Hearne who converted it into a hotel. Biancony was a close fried of Danial O'Connell.He contributed generously to the funds of the struggle for Catholic Emancipation and became the third Catholic Mayor of Clonmel. He was mayor of Clonmel twice. He died on the 22 September 1875 aged 89 years. If O'Connell stayded there, it is likely that he was at least in a Bianconi coach and possibly with the man himself. If so, it is reported someplace as both of these are VERY HEAVY DUDES.
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Here is a picture I just got from Joe Brennan. He was over in Austraila for a few weeks and found this over there! From Right to Left.. Matty Byrne - Ted Mc Cormac - (and his 2 friends)
Its a Bag for Tea. Bought from a larger bag!
Here is a old guinness label. You see, back then you could either bottle the beer your self (which means more profit), or just buy it bottled all ready. ------- updated 2006... 2. BAGENALSTOWN / MUINE BHEAG - This is a medium sized important and picturesque town on the River Barrow. Its founder William Bagenal, attempted to build a town of great architectural importance. His task was never completed, although the many fine streetscapes of his original plan delight the visitor. Other places of interest are Dunleckney Manor, which is one of Carlow's most magnificent country houses located 2km north east of Bagenalstown. Incorporating the original manor dating to 1612. The present manor was erected in 1845 in Tudor Gothic style by Daniel Robertson. The manor was home to the Bagenal family for almost three centuries from 1585 onwards. Hillview Museum, Corries - Household artefacts and vintage farm machinery. Carrigbeg Equestrian Centre, Fennagh. The ruins of the early 14th century Ballymoon Castle, near Bagenalstown enjoys public access from the road. Wells Church Bagenalstown. Preserved ruin of a church dating back to 1262. The present remains consist of the east and most of the south wall, and the reconstructed north wall of the nave All this is Royal Oak History, and I have only begun to uncover. I hope you come back soon to check whats happening in the royal oak !If you have any information, please e-mail it to me at matt@grannygrouse.com Thanks For Reading!!