Athlone streetscape a century ago colourised in new book

A scene showing local people going about their business in Church Street, Athlone more than a century ago has been brought to life in full colour as part of the latest book in a best-selling series.

'Old Ireland in Colour 3' by John Breslin and Sarah Anne Buckley, features two images of interest to Westmeath, with the Athlone street of 1909 featured alongside a colourised shot of the historic Locke's Distillery in Kilbeggan in 1937.

In the case of the Athlone entry, the main street and thoroughfare is a vibrant and busy place with several cars and a horse and cart in shot as people gather to chat and presumably, do some business. Some prominent old shops are clearly to be seen in the colourised photo including Parson's advertising the sale of boots and shoes, Lipton's Market, close to present-day Burgess department store, and Campbells.

In contrast, the Kilbeggan photo is a much more rural scene despite the focus being on a major industry of the time – distilling and brewing – with livestock captured in field beside the oldest licensed distillery in Ireland, first opened in 1757 by Matthew McManus. A water mill and chimney stack bearing the name whiskey can be clearly seen in the atmospheric photo in the newly published book, the third of a best-selling series which is beloved at home and abroad for uncovering photographic gems and breathing new life into them in glorious colour.

The Locke family whose name is still associated with Kilbeggan whiskey became involved in 1843, according to the book, and just prior to this John Locke had married Jane Smithwich from the well known brewing family in Kilkenny.

'Old Ireland in Colour 3' details that family ran the distillery until production ceased in 1953. In 1963, the distillery was bought by a German, Karl Heinz Mellor, who sold off the remaining stock of whiskey and turned the building into a pigsty.

Thankfully, in 1982 the Kilbeggan Preservation and Development Association was formed by the townspeople and acquired a caretaker’s lease. They began fundraising for renovations and the distillery is once again back of the thriving whiskey business with tours of the distillery available all year round.

All facets of Irish life are included in 'Old Ireland In Colour 3' with snapshots from all corners of the island bringing to life the Ireland of yesteryear. Some of most captivating include an eviction scene in Clare in 1888, another moving photo depicts devastating floods in Strabane. Famous faces from politics and the arts appear alongside hard-working labourers and farmers, and mischievous children lighting up in rainbow colour in country and town scenes countrywide.

Old Ireland In Colour 3 by John Breslin and Sarah-Anne Buckley is published by Merrion Press.