The changing face of Athlone

Jean's Journal with Jean Farrell

Recently, I wrote about how busy Pearse Street was in the 1950s. Readers named the postman in the picture, as Mr Cahill. He called to our houses twice a day back then. Readers also commented on the lovely old doorway of The Bank of Ireland. They lamented that this was demolished to make way for a much more modern building.

However, one man thought otherwise, at the time. He wrote, "I remember when the new Bank of Ireland opened. We were fiercely impressed by the marble panels and by the open plan design of the counter. There were no metal grilles in front of the staff. I loved looking at the big walk-in safe on the back wall. The National Bank, a few doors up the street, suddenly looked very old-fashioned by comparison. This was called progress."

The changes that took place in Pearse Street, by the 1990s, can be seen in this photograph. How sad it looks!

Lyster’s hardware shop is on the right of the photograph. We can also see what became of the lovely town houses, where many families lived.

Here is a short social history (which we lived through). When I was young, townspeople lived in town. Farmers lived out in the country. Few had cars. Husbands walked or cycled to their place of work. They could do this because their offices, shops, factories and army barracks were all in the middle of town.

Wives stayed at home and reared the children. Every morning, with their prams, they walked from shop to shop to buy what was needed. Few homes had fridges, so perishable goods had to be bought fresh daily. The main streets of all towns were full of busy shops.

In the 1960s and 1970s, living standards improved greatly in Ireland. Cars were purchased. Many families, who had lived upstairs over their shops, now moved to new houses, out of town. Other families, with money, followed.

If you drive around the outskirts of Athlone numerous detached houses can be seen everywhere. I think of Coosan as one example. Folk, older than me, would tell you that there was nothing there long ago.

The town houses, left behind, were then converted into flats. These flat, in old houses, deteriorated quickly without proper maintenance. Eventually, the old buildings were demolished.

What changed towns for good, I think, is the fact that most people have cars nowadays. Parking is their main concern when they are going shopping. Town streets have limited parking spaces. Out of town shopping centres have numerous ones. Hence their appeal. And hence the decline of small shops, on main streets in towns. This is the situation all over the world.

In every city and town, attempts are now being made to reverse this trend. Planners are trying to bring people, not cars, back into the main streets of towns. They would like to see folk living there, beside welcoming cafes and small exclusive shops.

For this reason, main streets in towns are being made pedestrian friendly, as we see happening in Athlone.

There has been a lot of discussion online, blaming the new traffic arrangements for the decline of business in Church Street.

Shopping centres are the cause, I think. Shopping centres (as well as providing easy parking) are also warm and safe for children. They provide a variety of shops and cafes, all together. People go there and stay there. This is how we now live our lives.

How different life was long ago! In last week’s column I wrote about an interesting old book called ‘Housewifery.’ I hadn’t realised just how old this school book was until I saw an example of what one’s weekly wage would be. £5 was the sum mentioned. The book suggested that half of this should be spent on food for the family, for the week, that is £2 and 10 shillings. You wouldn’t buy much for that, in our shiny new shopping centres!

Would any of you have any idea in what year an adult man was paid £5 for a week’s work? Let me know, please.

I have been busy spring cleaning all week. However, I must confess that I am not an ideal housekeeper. A picture, on my kitchen wall, reads, "Don't let your pans shine brighter than you do. Don't take house cleaning too seriously. Life is short, have fun!’ I heed its advice and agree wholeheartedly!

On the same theme of feeling good, I heard a lovely song in the musical ‘Hello Dolly.’ It says, ‘Put on your Sunday clothes when you feel down and out. Dressed like a dream your spirits seem to turn about.’

I bet, like me, you have ‘good’ jumpers and tops galore in your wardrobe. You’re keeping these to wear on special occasions. However, you are discovering that not a lot of special occasions are happening anymore.

Let’s cheer up a dull miserable Monday by putting on our loveliest jumper. Let’s wear the good matching jewellery too. Who cares if no one sees us. Who cares if it gets dirty? Won’t we feel good in our Sunday best (on a Monday) and as the song says, ‘Dressed like a dream, your spirits seem to turn about.’ I intend wearing all my ‘good’ jumpers, from now on!

I’m thinking that few modern children would understand the phrase ‘Sunday Best’. My grandchildren spend all weekend playing sport, wearing tracksuits.

And to make you smile. ‘How to fall asleep in your living room. 1. Be old. 2. Sit in an armchair (wearing your best jumper!)