Search Results for 'Hugh Duffy'

St Nicholas of Myra is the patron saint of archers, sailors, merchants, repentant thieves, brewers, pawnbrokers, unmarried people, students, and children. He is also the patron saint of Galway, and our oldest church, St Nicholas' Collegiate, is named after him. He was a legendary giver of gifts, particularly to the poor. He would hand coins in through windows or open doors, and if they were closed, sometimes he would put them down the chimney. This was the origin of the tradition of Santa coming down the chimney bearing gifts. The tradition was good for business for chimney sweeps, it would be difficult to explain soot marks on the floor on Christmas morning.

The late Hugh Duffy, of the famous fishing and shooting shop at Mainguard Street, Galway, will be sorely missed by his sporting friends from all over Ireland and from Europe. It was not the biggest shop in Galway but it was made infinitely smaller throughout the summer as it was stuffed with fishing rods, nets and reels, spools of fishing lines; while along the wall were glass cases of Swiss army knives, fire lighters, and beautifully engineered gadgets which had to be taken out and admired.