Bawnboy and Templeport
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At a symposium on the E.E.C. and the Mansholt Plan organised by Templeport, Co. Cavan , N.F.A. are some of the organisers. From left:- John P. Dolan, John Devine, Bennie Donoghue, Eamon Dolan, Michael Galligan, and Martin McGowan. |
Templeport Co-operative Society beside Bawnboy Road Railway Station came into being in 1924, after a few false starts. There was a creamery in Ballymagauran run by the Lonsdale family which the newly formed Templeport Co-op society purchased. A few days before it was due to open under new management the creamery was mysteriously burned to the ground. A malicious burning claim brought by the new committee (Sec. Francis McKiernan, Killymoriarity) resulted in an award of £100, but their solicitor felt his expenses were greater than the award and the Creamery Committee got nothing.
A site for a creamery beside O’Donnells of Kilsob was then selected but it was turned down due to the difficulty of providing a water supply. It was then decided to build a creamery on the northern shore of Bellaboy Lake in the townland of Mullaghmore and a large two-storey building was raised on the site. Once again the location was condemned because of the poor outflow of water from the lake and the danger of pollution.
The third attempt at building was successful and Templeport Co-op. Society started business in the townland of Cloneary. Some members of that first Co-op Committee were, Bernard O’Reilly, Port, Chairman; the Manager was Secretary; The Duffy Family, Port; Pee McCaffrey, Cloncurkna; Hugh Donohoe, Derrycassan; Michael McGovern, Owengallees; James Dolan, Roscoo; Pat Heavey, Tirnawannagh; Francie McKiernan, Killywaum.
In the early years, Templeport Co-op sent its cream to Kinawley creamery and for a short time afterwards to Ballyconnell. Pee Lunny, Kilsob provided the transport with his horse and cart. Eventually Killeshandra accepted the cream from Templeport Co-op and Frank Duffy provided the transport with his lorry. Later on, the Duffy brothers, Frank and Jimmy exchanged roles, Jimmy as lorry driver and Frank on the farm.
ID 3886 - Jimmy Duffy, Port, and his creamery lorry.
The first creamery manager was John O’Reilly, Kildoagh for a short time. Manager McGorrin from the West of Ireland then took over. During his time as Manager the Co-op started an egg store on the premises. Duffy’s lorry was employed to collect eggs around the countryside. Tommy Galligan, Camagh was manager of the egg store with help from Charlie Brady, Kildoagh and later from John Joe O’Reilly, Kildoagh. After some five years the egg store was not paying its way and was closed down.
In the early 1930s Manager McGorrin transferred westward and was replaced by Manager Cox, who did not stay very long in the job. Joe McManus, a Monaghan man replaced him and took up residence in Bawnboy. He was Manager for 27 years and was followed in the post by Jim Clune and Michael Rooney. Finally, under Killeshandra control the last Managers were, Gerry Brady, Arva, Michael Kivlehan and Ben McHugh, Swanlinbar, 1970-1988, when the creamery closed.
In the hey-day of the Co-op a number of workers were always needed to look after the services provided, skim milk, crushed oats, loading and unloading of vehicles and checking and recording. In the early days Tommy Gallagher, Hugh Dolan, Hugh Creamer, Michael McGovern and Hugh McGovern worked there. Later on, Sean O’Reilly, Jim Martin, Frank McGovern, Bennie Maguire, Swanlinbar and Joe Shannon were employees. In the office Mary Brady, Peggy McGovern, Rita Darcy, Kathleen Gallagher, Dolores Martin, Nora Dolan and Marie McBarron were employed as bookkeepers.