Arthur Guinness began producing porter in 1778. The dark beer was brewed using roasted barley. This 1721 innovation - attributed to Ralph Harwood - gave the cocktail its characteristic colour and intense aroma.
Today, the Guinness brand is synonymous with Ireland, and the dark elixir is enjoyed in hotels, pubs, and beachfront bars around the globe. The number of pints of Guinness poured in Castlebar over the many generations is anyone's guess. There was, however, a moment in time when things might have been different; a time when Saturday night revellers in Castlebar may have asked the landlady in Geevy's or one of the public houses on Market Street or Castle Street, for a 'Pint of Gildea.'
In 1812, Thomas Gildea opened a porter brewery in Castlebar. The brewery occupied a large site at the end of, what is today, Cavendish Lane and on to Hopkins Road. In December 1817, Gildea sought to lease the enterprise. A detailed description and history of the brewery and the opportunity it presented was published.
The business was described as an extensive brewhouse with two large dome coppers; a vat-house with eight large vats; a horse mill, with metal rollers, stones, and elevators working all the pumps at the same time; a malt house with patent kiln; malt and barley stores; cart houses and stables; and offices. The announcement noted that the brewing concern was 'one of the most complete in Ireland'. Proximity to two seaports, Castlebar's status as the largest and most central town in Mayo, and the availability of cheap barley locally, were emphasised. Gildea also offered 'valuable' cart horses, drays, carts, and hundreds of barrels at a valuation to be agreed. There was also a 'good dwelling house' on several acres adjoining the brewery.
In the mid-1850s, the brewery was recorded in the Ellison Street section of Griffith's Valuation. It is described as 'the Old Brewery, offices, yard and orchard'. The owner is shown as the 'Representatives of Thomas Gildea'. What happened to this great enterprise between 1817 and the rateable valuation in the mid-1850s? Records for the period suggest that the brewery was not a great success. There were likely several reasons for this. Economic decline followed the Napoleonic Wars, and there is evidence that the impact was felt in Castlebar.
Perhaps also, the enterprise was too large for the local market. Castlebar was a sizeable town, but it was not a major centre. The number of drunk and disorderly cases at petty sessions and soldiers flogged for drunkenness in the military barracks, suggest a market for alcohol in the town.
Guinness had demonstrated the importance of exports across the Irish sea to Britain. There was, however, no rail connection to Castlebar before 1862, and sea transport from the west coast would have been expensive and subject to weather constraints. Galway and Westport had their breweries. The latter had two ale breweries on Bridge Street – Livingstons and Farrells. Over and above competition from breweries and established distilleries, illicit distilling was widespread. Hotels and coach-houses enticed guests with promises of imported fine wines and spirits. Government taxation and the price of grain may also have been factors. The Father Mathew Temperance Society was noted as a reason for the lack of interest in Joyce's Distillery in Galway in 1840.
Though the brewery changed hands several times, Gildea held on to the head-lease. In 1848, George Bingham, 3rd Earl of Lucan, took the brewery in another direction when he evicted thousands of people. A flood of starving and homeless humanity descended on Castlebar. The workhouse did not have room for them. Auxiliary workhouses were established, including one at the brewery. In December 1848, the brewery (then known as Walsh's Brewery ) was leased to the poor law guardians. Even after modifications to accommodate hundreds of people, the brewery was not suited for the new purpose. Hundreds died of dysentery and other diseases at the brewery and other makeshift workhouses.
Recent infrastructure works have revealed what was likely the malting floor and some of the brewery's wooden vats. An archaeological investigation and report by Mayo County Council followed. For images, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gH1bVog2sNI.
