In Reply to: Oldest firm in Castlebar posted by Royal on April 11, 2010 at 19:02:11:

a cara......wiily gibbons premises....on main street was as you say a magnifecent stone structur......the name was fastened to the front in the centre and under the bedroom windows....in cast iron bold letters painted in gold.......william p gibbons....est.1780....stood out elegantly and distiguished.....
the hoban brothers eventually bought it.....but prior to that a dublin based cinema chain had tendered bids on the property.....these were rejected....and the hoban brothers paddy and jimmy bought it.....later jimmy branched out on his own....and operated a bar and grocery near the bridge.....both brothers were very active in greyhounds.....and sadly one of jimmies prize hounds was killed at spencer park.....this caused alot of sorrow for jimmy.....they were also very active in the land and cattle business......both brothers were gentlmen.....and when i lived in castlebar....during my "lost weekend"....paddy hoban...was one of the kindest and most generous men....i ever met....as was his wife.....
.....that reminder from royal....brought back many memories of old main street.....and some of the old established businesses....
...la eile faoi an sceil sin......right now i am on my way to the balrooms of romance
....slan.......agus.......
....tog go bog e......