Tom Sands Remembers
Thomas Sands was a primary teacher who taught in the Abbey School and later in Scoil Phádraig, Celbridge from 1930 to 1977. The following are some of his memories from that period.
Employment
Apart from Celbridge Mills, which were sometimes closed for long periods, there were few industries to provide employment. Most of the big estates were self-supporting as each had its own dairy, bakery, laundry and brewery. Large numbers of workers were employed but working hours were long and wages low. Women and girls were required for domestic duties in the house. Men and boys worked on the farm land, in the stables and in the extensive walled gardens and orchards. Back-up services were provided by maintenance men, blacksmiths, stonemasons and handymen.
Housing
Although most of the old mud walled thatched cottages which had been a feature of roadsides around Celbridge in earlier times, had disappeared, some still remained and were occupied right up to the outbreak of World War 2. The walls and floors of these small one or two roomed cottages were made of yellow clay, which is to be found almost everywhere in the Celbridge area. Each cottage had a couple of small windows and a little chimney.
A public domestic water supply in Celbridge was provided by manually operated pumps situated at Maynooth Road, Main Street and Tea Lane. A piped water supply was not provided until 1940 and this was followed some years later by a mains sewerage system. Up until then dry toilets were in general use.
In 1941 Kildare County Council embarked on a major re-housing programme and the first new houses in Celbridge for many years were erected at Ballyoulster. Further council houses were built at Oldtown and Maynooth road and some years later came the development of St. Patrick's Park.
Entertainment
Entertainment was provided by dances and card playing which were held regularly in the Hall (old Courthouse, now Celbridge Carper Centre). Pictures were also shown there and concerts were frequently staged by local troupes.
The Fair Day
In the period to the outbreak of World War 2, a fair was held twice yearly in Celbridge. The Fair Day was always an exciting and colourful occasion when cattle, sheep, horses, donkeys and pigs were bought and sold.
The proximity to the Dublin Cattle Mart and the increasing use of lorries to transport animals to larger fairs led to the demise of Celbridge fair.
Cattle Night
For many years prior to 1941 Wednesday night was known to Celbridge people as "Cattle Night". On that night cattle were driven by road from the farms to the Dublin Cattle Market. Large droves of cattle from the area were to be encountered by late night travellers on the Celbridge - Dublin Road which resulted in long delays and many complaints.
Turf Carts
A feature of life in Celbridge for many years prior to the outbreak of World War 2 in 1939 was the sight of long rows of carts heavily laden with turf or hay passing through on their way to Dublin. They came from Prosperous, Robertstown, and Allenwood. As Celbridge was roughly the half way point on their journey it became a favourite resting place. Horses were unyoked, fed and rested for a couple of hours. The drivers adjourned to a local restaurant where they ate, drank and chatted before resuming their long night journey. Their aim was to arrive in the city early in the morning where they sold their turf going from door to door, usually for a few pence per dozen sods.
Jaunting Cars
Before the outbreak of World War 1 in 1914 road transport in Ireland was by horse drawn car. Motor cars and buses had not yet come into common use nor had suitable roads been built. Travel to and from Celbridge for those without some means of private transport was by railway train. As the railway station at Hazelhatch was more than a mile from Celbridge a service of horse drawn side cars or "Jaunting Cars" was provided.
Buses
The first Dublin - Celbridge bus service was provided about 1920. The buses were ex-British army lorries, which were no longer required after world War 1 and were converted by the addition of wooden bodies and seats.
Between 1929 and 1939 there was a two hourly bus service between Dublin and Celbridge. Return fare for the full journey was one shilling and four pence. There were no designated bus stops so passengers could board or alight at any point on route.
The same two drivers manned the Celbridge bus for many years and a friendly relationship developed between them and the travelling public.
During the war years, 1939 - 1945, bus services were restricted. In the absence of petrol supplies for private vehicles, most people depended on public transport.
Employment
Apart from Celbridge Mills, which were sometimes closed for long periods, there were few industries to provide employment. Most of the big estates were self-supporting as each had its own dairy, bakery, laundry and brewery. Large numbers of workers were employed but working hours were long and wages low. Women and girls were required for domestic duties in the house. Men and boys worked on the farm land, in the stables and in the extensive walled gardens and orchards. Back-up services were provided by maintenance men, blacksmiths, stonemasons and handymen.
Housing
Although most of the old mud walled thatched cottages which had been a feature of roadsides around Celbridge in earlier times, had disappeared, some still remained and were occupied right up to the outbreak of World War 2. The walls and floors of these small one or two roomed cottages were made of yellow clay, which is to be found almost everywhere in the Celbridge area. Each cottage had a couple of small windows and a little chimney.
A public domestic water supply in Celbridge was provided by manually operated pumps situated at Maynooth Road, Main Street and Tea Lane. A piped water supply was not provided until 1940 and this was followed some years later by a mains sewerage system. Up until then dry toilets were in general use.
In 1941 Kildare County Council embarked on a major re-housing programme and the first new houses in Celbridge for many years were erected at Ballyoulster. Further council houses were built at Oldtown and Maynooth road and some years later came the development of St. Patrick's Park.
Entertainment
Entertainment was provided by dances and card playing which were held regularly in the Hall (old Courthouse, now Celbridge Carper Centre). Pictures were also shown there and concerts were frequently staged by local troupes.
The Fair Day
In the period to the outbreak of World War 2, a fair was held twice yearly in Celbridge. The Fair Day was always an exciting and colourful occasion when cattle, sheep, horses, donkeys and pigs were bought and sold.
The proximity to the Dublin Cattle Mart and the increasing use of lorries to transport animals to larger fairs led to the demise of Celbridge fair.
Cattle Night
For many years prior to 1941 Wednesday night was known to Celbridge people as "Cattle Night". On that night cattle were driven by road from the farms to the Dublin Cattle Market. Large droves of cattle from the area were to be encountered by late night travellers on the Celbridge - Dublin Road which resulted in long delays and many complaints.
Turf Carts
A feature of life in Celbridge for many years prior to the outbreak of World War 2 in 1939 was the sight of long rows of carts heavily laden with turf or hay passing through on their way to Dublin. They came from Prosperous, Robertstown, and Allenwood. As Celbridge was roughly the half way point on their journey it became a favourite resting place. Horses were unyoked, fed and rested for a couple of hours. The drivers adjourned to a local restaurant where they ate, drank and chatted before resuming their long night journey. Their aim was to arrive in the city early in the morning where they sold their turf going from door to door, usually for a few pence per dozen sods.
Jaunting Cars
Before the outbreak of World War 1 in 1914 road transport in Ireland was by horse drawn car. Motor cars and buses had not yet come into common use nor had suitable roads been built. Travel to and from Celbridge for those without some means of private transport was by railway train. As the railway station at Hazelhatch was more than a mile from Celbridge a service of horse drawn side cars or "Jaunting Cars" was provided.
Buses
The first Dublin - Celbridge bus service was provided about 1920. The buses were ex-British army lorries, which were no longer required after world War 1 and were converted by the addition of wooden bodies and seats.
Between 1929 and 1939 there was a two hourly bus service between Dublin and Celbridge. Return fare for the full journey was one shilling and four pence. There were no designated bus stops so passengers could board or alight at any point on route.
The same two drivers manned the Celbridge bus for many years and a friendly relationship developed between them and the travelling public.
During the war years, 1939 - 1945, bus services were restricted. In the absence of petrol supplies for private vehicles, most people depended on public transport.