History of Tigh Phaidi (Teach Kate Mór) written by Mae (Mc Ging) Lally Derryveeney www.tourmakeady.com
A way back in 1879 a young girl named Kate Morrin from Churchfield was supposed to marry a young eligible man from the Cross/Cong area, right across the lake from Churchfield. She already had two sister’s married in Cross and they were well settled in good homes and farms. Their father who was known locally as Riocard O Muirrin, Richard Morrin, was in a position to give his daughters good dowries, or fortunes and in those days of hunger and famine most parents tried to have fortunes for their daughters and get them settled on the land. The more fortunes they had the more security they had, it was either that or take the long dreaded voyage to America.
Kate Morrin however didn’t want any matchmaking or fortune. She had a fine young man whom she loved dearly and they planned to marry, come what may. His name was Martin Walsh. Her father wasn’t pleased as this young fella had no land or no security for his daughter.
One fine Sunday morning the "young eligible man from Cross" and his friend came across the lake by boat to make the final arrangements for his marriage to Kate. Meanwhile Kate was going to Mass with here mother, pretending everything was fine as they walked along the two miles to the Church. Just as they were entering the Church Kate made some excuse and turned out again. After mass was over and everyone was gone home Kate married Martin Walsh. His brother was best man and her friend and neighbour Bridget Boyle was her bridesmaid. In the meantime the boatmen had come ashore in Churchfield and in no time at all the news spread that the couple had married and fled. The men from Cross were dumbfounded and so were her parents.
After a short time her parents forgave her and sent for them. At the time her older sister Penelope, who was my grandmother and her husband, my grandfather Philip Mc Ging who hailed from the Aughagower area, and their young children lived in the old home in Churchfield. They couldn’t all live in the same house so they decided to build a pub on the lakeshore.
In those days a lot of trading and business was carried on back and over between Tourmakeady and Ballinrobe by boat. People from all around the area brought any farm produce they had to spare to the market in Ballinrobe and brought home other necessities of life if they could afford it. A lot of wool was taken by boat and many other products of wool, such as socks and flannel etc.
So Kate’s father along with his two sons in law went to work and built the pub in the ideal location of business. That was 1879. I think it has stood the test of time, as it hadn’t changed at all since it was build until recently. Kevin and Cathy O Toole, the new owners have blended in the new with the old and the place known locally for many years as Teach Kate Mór is still in business.
Martin and Kate had three daughters and had a happy life, but unfortunately Martin passed away when he was still a young man and it wasn’t easy for a woman to carry on the business and rear her children. After some years she married Richard Feeney. He was a very nice man and she had a son and daughter by Feeney.
When I was growing up it was Feeney that was there and his name was over the door but it didn’t matter what name was over the door, the old people always called it Teach Kate Mór, especially the Irish speakers. I went there almost every evening after school for paraffin oil, tobacco or a loaf of bread. Kate Mór was long gone then but her daughter Bridge Walsh and her stepfather Feeney managed the place as best they could. He was an old man then and Bridge was also in poor health so they compensated Feeney’s son and Leo Duffy a grandson of Kate and Martin took over the pub. That didn’t last long as Leo Duffy got killed in Northern Ireland. Then Paddy Walsh a grand nephew of Martin Walsh bought the place and the younger generation called it Paddy’s. The older generation think it should be called what it was originally called – Teach Kate Mór. Teach Máire Luke in Gortmore and Teach Kate Mór in Churchfield were some of the first licensed pubs in the area.
Kate Morrin however didn’t want any matchmaking or fortune. She had a fine young man whom she loved dearly and they planned to marry, come what may. His name was Martin Walsh. Her father wasn’t pleased as this young fella had no land or no security for his daughter.
One fine Sunday morning the "young eligible man from Cross" and his friend came across the lake by boat to make the final arrangements for his marriage to Kate. Meanwhile Kate was going to Mass with here mother, pretending everything was fine as they walked along the two miles to the Church. Just as they were entering the Church Kate made some excuse and turned out again. After mass was over and everyone was gone home Kate married Martin Walsh. His brother was best man and her friend and neighbour Bridget Boyle was her bridesmaid. In the meantime the boatmen had come ashore in Churchfield and in no time at all the news spread that the couple had married and fled. The men from Cross were dumbfounded and so were her parents.
After a short time her parents forgave her and sent for them. At the time her older sister Penelope, who was my grandmother and her husband, my grandfather Philip Mc Ging who hailed from the Aughagower area, and their young children lived in the old home in Churchfield. They couldn’t all live in the same house so they decided to build a pub on the lakeshore.
In those days a lot of trading and business was carried on back and over between Tourmakeady and Ballinrobe by boat. People from all around the area brought any farm produce they had to spare to the market in Ballinrobe and brought home other necessities of life if they could afford it. A lot of wool was taken by boat and many other products of wool, such as socks and flannel etc.
So Kate’s father along with his two sons in law went to work and built the pub in the ideal location of business. That was 1879. I think it has stood the test of time, as it hadn’t changed at all since it was build until recently. Kevin and Cathy O Toole, the new owners have blended in the new with the old and the place known locally for many years as Teach Kate Mór is still in business.
Martin and Kate had three daughters and had a happy life, but unfortunately Martin passed away when he was still a young man and it wasn’t easy for a woman to carry on the business and rear her children. After some years she married Richard Feeney. He was a very nice man and she had a son and daughter by Feeney.
When I was growing up it was Feeney that was there and his name was over the door but it didn’t matter what name was over the door, the old people always called it Teach Kate Mór, especially the Irish speakers. I went there almost every evening after school for paraffin oil, tobacco or a loaf of bread. Kate Mór was long gone then but her daughter Bridge Walsh and her stepfather Feeney managed the place as best they could. He was an old man then and Bridge was also in poor health so they compensated Feeney’s son and Leo Duffy a grandson of Kate and Martin took over the pub. That didn’t last long as Leo Duffy got killed in Northern Ireland. Then Paddy Walsh a grand nephew of Martin Walsh bought the place and the younger generation called it Paddy’s. The older generation think it should be called what it was originally called – Teach Kate Mór. Teach Máire Luke in Gortmore and Teach Kate Mór in Churchfield were some of the first licensed pubs in the area.
