Aine Art,Killashee

He is one of the best known publicans in the Midlands, but in Killashee he is a legend, pure and simple.This week Willie Donlon celebrated his 81st birthday and was looking back on a life well lived.In 1957 the Killashee man was serving an apprenticeship in the bar trade in an establishement in Longford town when John Magan walked in and asked Willie if he would work for him in Magans Pub in Killashee.Willie jumped at the chance and in 1960 he took over the business and ran it till 2005 when ill health forced him to take life a bit easier.Willie recalls some great memories from that time.Racing festivals and Football games always brought a crowd to Magans.Albert Reynolds visit to Killashee was a great occassion bringing crowds to Magans.Cheltenham and The Grand National were big days in the pub,the customers betting among themselves and having great craic.People came to the pub on foot or by bicycle as there were very few cars then,and it was a safer return home after closing than it...

On Saturday I attended the new weekly Butter Market in Granard. I was interested to find out the History of this lovely space and here it is. The Butter and Egg Market was erected in Market Street beside the Ulster Bank in Granard. Granard was always a Market town and indeed was at the height of its commercial strength when the Market was opened.It was chiefly of agricultural products from the hinterland coming into town.It was on a small and local scale.Farms were still mixed and family run and farmers brought their surplus to town for sale.They set up stalls within the building and sold their wares.Each butter producer/farmer had his own identification seal and this was his mark of quality, a standard he was compelled to maintain.The names and the locations of the then officials who administered the Butter Market towards the end of The Second World War are in the archives.It was food shortages of that time and the food rationing that followed into the early fifties that dealth a de...