Martin Carey, the Prince Merchant of Newport and Benefactor of St. Patrick's Church.

Peter Mullowney

A large amount of the information in this article was researched by the late Gerald Bracken and published in the Mayo News

Fig 1. The late Gerald Bracken (1919 -2005)

Martin Carey, an entrepreneur before his time, was one on six children born to Daniel Carey and Mary Dever, Drimlong, near Newport around 1818. Martin attended the local primary school. At a time when post primary education was not the norm, apart from a few exceptions, farming, trades and business were mostly the way of life and Martin opted for business.

At a young age he commenced selling knick knacks from the window of a small building at Chapel Street, Newport. He subsequently spent some time at the premises of Philip Hastings, Shop Street, Westport. After a few years he decided to go to Australia, but after a visit to his native Newport, where he was struck by the poor people starving in the streets and was moved with sympathy, he changed his mind and instead he purchased the Swaine business premises at Main Street, Newport as well as stores at Georges Street, Newport, The Quay, and the Mills at Castlebar Road.

Having the Midas Touch, Martin Carey soon became one of the leading businessmen in the West of Ireland, employing a number of shop assistants at the Main Street premises as well as outdoor staff. Many of the assistants resided on the premises.

He regularly imported cargoes of cement coal and timber from the continent into Newport Harbour, for sale in his own premises and for retail to hardware businesses all over the county. In the Mayo News of 13th July 1901, he was advertising that he had landed a very Superior Cargo of Deals direct from America to Newport Quay. All those deals are selling at a very low price at his Saw Mills, Newport. All Cuttings, Scantlings, and Boards will be supplied on Shortest Notice. He daily expects per the good ship "Pride of the Dee" (James Joyce, master) a cargo of Best Blue Bangor Slates, which he will sell on moderate terms. Also a very Superior Cargo of Fire Clay Goods from Chester, consisting of Best Quality Fire Bricks, Vents, Sewerage Piping, Stable Pavement, Ridge Tiles, White Oven Tiles, 9 in by 9 in and 12 by 12 in., Blue and Red Flooring Tiles, etc. Also a splendid cargo of English House Coals and a fine Cargo of Malting Coals. In 1873 he expected daily the arrival of the Brig "Annie" with a full Cargo, direct from St. John's , New Brunswick, carrying 16,000 Pieces Bright Spruce Deals, of various lengths, to be discharged at Newport Quay. The port of Newport was flourishing during the lifetime of Martin Carey, but after his death little business was done.

Fig 2. Photo of Martin Carey (PICTURE COURTESY OF CYRIL MOORE)

In 1862, Martin Carey was on the Committee of an organisation set up by the Catholic and Protestant clergymen of Newport to help to alleviate the distress in the area caused by the failure of the potato crop and the inability to save the turf due to very wet weather. Carey subscribed £2 to the fund which was used to purchase a supply of grates from Sheridan's foundry, Dublin, to be distributed among the poor of the district at half price and procure a cargo of good English coals which were to be given to the poor, at very reduced rates.

Agricultural supplies were an important part of the trade of Carey Ltd. In 1871 they were appointed agents for Thomas Bigg's Sheep-Dipping Composition and also for selling the Dipping Apparatus.

In 1899 he ran advertisements in the Mayo News

"Spray ! Spray ! Spray !

Subscriber has received a large consignment of Sulphate of Copper for Spraying Potatoes. He has purchased the material in a pure state from the Alkali Company, Ltd. Farmers attend to spraying when the weather is dry, and don't neglect your crop. To meet the requirements of his customers, subscriber is prepared to supply with the Sulphate of Copper warm Roach Lime for use with it."

He subscribed to many testimonials such as following the retirement of C. G. Wilton as Manager of the National Bank at Claremorris, in 1873, to which he subscribed £2, testimonial to Dr. James Davis, Newport Mayo, in 1874, to which he subscribed £3, address and testimonial to Thomas J. Gibbons, Esq., Solicitor, in 1878, on the occasion of his leaving Westport to reside in Dublin, to which he subscribed £2. He contributed £2 to a testimonial and address to Mr. Dodwell Browne, who was for many years the efficient Clerk of Newport Union, and was leaving the country with his family in 1883. He also contributed ten shillings for a suitable monument to the memory of Father Manus Sweeney in 1889. In 1899 he donated £20 to a fund to build a new parochial house in Islandeady. In 1903 he gave ten shillings to a collection for the Irish Language National Fund. The marble altar in Tiernaur Church was donated by Martin Carey in appreciation of the support given by the locals to his business.

When Archbishop McEvilly visited Newport for the first time in 1886, after being consecrated Archbishop in Rome, he was thanked for "the founding and erection of the beautiful Convent of Mercy on Mount St Joseph, Newport, which, from its elevated and healthful situation, surrounded by the most picturesque and lovely scenery, stands unrivalled among the many monuments erected by Irish piety, zeal, and learning." Martin Carey was thanked "for his liberal pecuniary aid, and for his gift of a rich and chaste marble altar for the new Convent Chapel, as well as other serviceable and lasting donations, all of which will perpetuate, and hand down his name to posterity as a great benefactor to our Convent." Archbishop McEvilly in reply said "Martin Carey is a man who, by his own industry and integrity, has advanced himself in life, and they were all proud to say that God has prospered the work of his hands". Martin and his wife Julia were among the local benefactors who assisted the Sisters of Mercy to come to Newport, to set up a convent and school in 1887. They presented the sisters with gifts of large statues of Our Lady and St Joseph to place outside their convent.

Fig 3. Convent of Mercy, Newport, with two statues presented by Martin Carey.

In 1874 he took part in Newport Special Sessions as an associated cesspayer, and again in 1876 when he argued for funds to repair a road near his property. In 1883 at a public meeting held in Newport to promote an extension of the railway from Westport to Belmullet, he seconded a proposal by Robert Vesey Stoney that " the construction of a steam tramway is urgently called for from Westport to Belmullet, passing through Newport Mulranny, Ballycroy, and Bangor, thus taking in the entire coast line".

At Mayo Summer Assizes in 1886, Martin Carey was one of six cesspayers that voted to request the Grand Jury to take the necessary steps to unite the two divisions of the Barony of Burrishoole into one, as it had existed previous to 1856, for fiscal purposes, as against four votes against the proposal. At a meeting of the Westport Union in 1888, it was stated that only £529 4s 4d was collected out of the Newport Union, and the guardians expended more than that sum in paying two contractors—Messrs Carey and Cleary.

In 1890, he was the first signatory of seven hundred and thirty from the town of Newport to a protest sent to the Freemans Journal rejecting a resolution purporting to have been passed by the National League of Newport, with reference to Very Rev Canon Greally and the visit of Mr Balfour, which was published in the previous week. "This was most insulting alike to the entire population of this parish and our respected and trusted parish priest, Canon Greally, in our names ; and further stated that they neither passed nor approved of such resolution, which was the production of a few spiteful individuals. Very Rev Canon Greally, had done as much to promote their temporal and spiritual welfare as any priest in Ireland had done for his people, and that he and he alone has authority from us to speak in all matters temporal and spiritual concerning us."

He was also involved in local and National politics. In 1892, he was one of the signatories, along with Henry Mahony, Hugh Moran, Patrick Casey, John Lunn, John Flannery, Michael McNally, William Chambers and William Mahony, all of Newport, of the nomination papers on behalf of Mr John Deasy M P.

In 1894, the Western People correspondent writing from New York praised three Mayo men that had served their time with Martin Carey. Mr James Tierney, was foreman in Mr Carey's emporium twelve years ago and who has had charge of probably the best wine and liquor saloon in New York since he arrived in the city, never recognises friends coming into his place during business hours except to nod stiffly at them. I remember once a very dear friend of his whom he had not seen for years called upon him, but instead of grasping him warmly by the hand, Mr Tierney bowed coldly. This is but one of the many rules which distinguish the pupils of Mr Carey. Two other previous employees were Mr Michael Duffy, one of the officers of the State prison at Ward's Island, and his brother, Mr John Duffy, now manager of Crohan and Dooner's large dry goods house in Savannah, Georgia, were both in Mr Carey's employ, the former having been foreman in his Newport establishment for 15 years. When P.J. Heneghan, Newtown, Castlebar applied for a new license in 1901, his solicitor said his client served his time with Mr. Martin Carey, Newport, who was known to the bench as one of the most extensive and most popular merchants in the West. When Mary Lavelle, Main Street, Newport, applied for a new licence in 1898, her solicitor stated that this lady had the finest premises in the whole town after those of Mr Martin Carey, the prince merchant. In the same year rumours were circulating in the town that Martin Carey was selling his extensive milling and general wholesale and retail business to a limited liability company. The paper quoted "Mr Carey's trade is very large, and he has amassed great wealth out of it."

Carey took part in the sporting life of the parish and was on the Committee of the Newport Regatta held at Melcomb in 1868, and 1904, Rossinrubble in 1874, 1888, 1898, and 1905, Newport Steeplechase Races over Kilbride Course in 1889, Annagh Steeplechase Races and Regatta, outside of Westport in 1891, Achill Regatta, Horse Races And Athletic Sports in 1896, 1897, and 1906, Mulranny Horse Races, Athletic Sports Bicycle Races, and Regatta in 1897, Roigh Regatta in 1900, and Clew Bay Regatta and Sports, at Rosmina in 1904.

Following the resignation of Dr Hugh Davis, a vote was taken by members of the Dispensary committee for his replacement. Martin Carey and six others voted for Dr. Jordan while three voted for Dr. McBride. An Address and Testimonial was presented to Dr. Davis to which Martin Carey subscribed £3.

In 1895 he was awarded £600 by the High Court against The Midland Great Western Railway of Ireland Company for land that they had taken up for the railway from Westport to Mallaranny.

In 1895, Martin's wife Julia died, aged 68. Her death certificate listed cause of death as infirmity for years and general debility of two months certified. Her death has cast a pall of darkness over the entire district.

"The poor had always in her a constant and ever kind friend, and many a fervent prayer was heard on all sides by the huge concourse of people that lined the street when the coffin was borne on the shoulders of the tenants and employees to the parish church on Monday last, where solemn Requiem High Mass was celebrated for the eternal repose of her soul. All the shops in the town were closely shuttered, blinds were drawn on all the private residences, and the church was heavily draped. After a eulogy from Rev Father O'Toole of the deceased lady's many virtuous and charitable qualities, the coffin was borne from the church to the new family vault which Mr Carey has lately erected in the chapel grounds (and wherein his father and mother are interred) , followed by the priests chanting the prayers for the dead.

The chief mourners were—Mr Martin Carey (husband), Miss N Lavelle, Mrs Peter O'Malley, Westport, the Misses Maria, Julia, and Sarah Carey, Newport, Mrs Francis McManamon, Castlebar (nieces); Messrs Martin Jordan, Swinford, Michael Carey, Patrick, Michael, and John Daly (nephews) ; Mr H Dever, V C, P L G (cousin); Mr Patrick Carey (brother-in-law)."

Fig 4. Death Cert Julia Carey

Four months later, in October 1895, Carey sold all the furniture from his house on Main Street, which he was converting to a furniture store and moved to Marine Villa on The Quay in Newport. His wife's niece Mary Ellen Lavelle lived with him as his housekeeper until his death in August 1909.

At a meeting of the Westport District Council in July 1899, to discuss sales of land to the Congested Districts Board, Mr. John McHale said Mr. Hugh Dever and Mr. Martin Carey, of Newport, took land behind the tenants' backs, and it was now a large grass farm, and certainly from very close to the town of Newport to near Castlebar was all waste. Mr. J. O'Malley said it is the best vein of land in the county. At a meeting of Westport Guardians in September 1899, in reply to Mr Grimes, the clerk said he got no reply from Mr Martin Carey, Newport, re the sale of his land. Mr. John McHale said "He is too big a man." Mr Walsh said if the pack of graziers who held the land surrendered them the Congested Districts Board would have no trouble at all in purchasing the land, as far as the property of the Earl of Lucan was concerned. They had four or five men holding large tracts of land and they should be compelled to give them up. At the meeting of the Westport District Council in 1902, the evils of grazierism were discussed. It was stated that Martin Carey held 270 acres of grazing land. In December 1907, Martin Carey gave the tenants on his estate at Clogher a reduction of 3s. in the £1 on their rental, having three years previously given them a reduction of 5s. in the £1. Mr. Carey has at all times been solicitous of the welfare of his tenantry; and this latest act of kindness comes as a most opportune season's gift.

In February 1913, Mr. Doris M.P. asked in Parliament whether the Congested Districts Board have yet made offers for the estates of Mr. Richard Gibbons, J.P., Mr. M. Carey, and Mr. Livingstone, near Westport, Co. Mayo; and if so, with what results; and when the Board hope to complete the purchases? Mr. Birrell, Chief Secretary for Ireland, replied that The Congested Districts Board have not yet issued offers for the purchase of the estates referred to, but they hope to do so shortly. The estate was sold by Michael Carey, Martin's nephew for £8,336 in 1915.

In September 1903, Carey's licensed premises was broken into and £2 in coppers, a pint of whiskey, some tea and other articles taken. The thief also broke into the house and shop of John Ellicot and stole £9, a bottle of brandy and some sweets. In February 1868, there was a robbery of gunpowder from Carey's store, which was discovered in April concealed in the mountains in the neighbourhood of Treenlaur, within a few hundred yards of the schoolhouse where at the time of the robbery it was supposed to be hidden.

In 1904, Father Jeremiah O'Toole, parish priest of Kilmeena outlined in the Tuam Herald, the tourist attractions around Clew Bay.

"Clew Bay was more prosperous in the past than at present. The large stores now almost idle in Westport and Newport, remain to testify to a prudent pursuit of wealth in the past. These stores were erected when the West had a population, and home industries were supported. In Newport you have the extensive mills and stores, the property of Mr Martin Carey. In Clew Bay and surroundings the tourists and capitalists, have much to see, and I believe a sojourn of a few days in this locality will repay the traveller and encourage our friends at home and across the water to come to Clew Bay Regatta. See the beauties of the Bay with its 365 islands, overtopped on the south by Croagh Patrick—where our national Apostle, St Patrick fasted and prayed; and on the north by Nephin and the Achill mountains. Come and see! All are welcome! JEREMIAH O'TOOLE, PP. Kilmeena, Westport, 4th August, 1904."

In 1906 Martin Carey appointed Mr. Patrick Walsh, one of his shop assistants, as manager of his Stores, on the condition that he married another one of his staff Bridget Smith, a native of Co. Meath, who was the manageress of his drapery department. They married the following week.

Fig 5. Death Cert Martin Carey

In August 1909, at the venerable age of 86 years, Mr. Martin Carey died at his residence, Marine Villa, Newport. He was the grand old man of commercial circles in the West, having from modest beginnings built up an enormous trade and provided employment to a large number of hands. He was one of the principal business men of the West and conducted the largest commercial business in Mayo, and was owner of the Newport Corn and Saw Mills. He was also an extensive shipper. His death will be universally regretted. Office and Mass of Requiem were celebrated for his repose in Newport Church after which the internment took place in the cemetery grounds, the funeral being one of the largest seen in the district.

A plaque was erected in St Patrick's Church to commemorate Martin, another plaque to pay respect to his wife Julia and his parents Daniel and Mary. They are buried in the grounds of the Church.

Fig 6. Plaque erected in St Patricks Church to commemorate Martin Carey and his family.

Fig 7. Grave of Martin Carey and his family in the grounds of St. Patrick's church.

In March 1913, Martin Carey's house in Rockfleet was advertised for sale by James Cowan, Auctioneer, Hollymount.

Gerard Bracken writing about the Carey Empire in 1995 said :

"The three-storey building at the corner of Georges Street and Chapel Street. Newport, owned by Newport & District Development Company, was owned by Martin Carey in the early 1900s.The ground floor at Georges Street was used as a coal store, as well as a kiln for drying wheat, which was windlassed up to the third floor. Part of the second floor was often converted into a make-shift theatre, where plays like Robert Emmet and the Colleen Bawn were staged by local artistes.

Martin Carey also owned the 150-year-old three-storey building, known locally as the "Salt Pans", on the Melcomb Road which was demolished in 1999 for the building of apartments. The building was used by Carey to produce salt by the evaporation of salt water. It was later turned into a seaweed drying factory.

The building now occupied by Newport Mayo Pharmacy was demolished and reconstructed by Mayo County Council into shops and flats. But, sixty years ago, this massive premises consisted of a drapery, hardware, grocery, bakery, and select bar which had the facility of one of the few full-time barmen in the county at the time. Owned by Patrick Walsh, Carey's had a full-time staff of twelve, as well as a number of part-time employees. Coal was imported by Carey's into Newport harbour and stored at their coal stores at The Quay and at George's Street store recently refurbished by Newport Development Company.

The next door Mace Supermarket operated by the Chambers family was then owned by Carey's and was rented to the then Munster and Leinster Bank for a branch office. The second and third floors were used as the local Garda Station. Later the building became Jack Corbett's chemist shop and family residence.

The private residence of the St. Lucy Nuns, at the Quay, was the home of a Meaney family and the factory portion, which includes the Oratory, was then a coal store owned by Carey's. And sixty years ago the home of P.J. Kelly was a coal store, owned by Carey's, as was the adjoining premises, which was used by the firm as a store.

Carey's also operated The Mills on the Castlebar Road, which was powered by water from the Mill Race dam serviced by the Brown Oak River and was controlled by sluice gates near the waterfall. The last working miller before the buildings were demolished was Mr. John Maguire." Milling facilities were provided for oats, wheat and barley produced in the parish and Indian Meal was also imported. "

Fig 8: Advertisement from Mayo News of 1898

An article in the Freemans Journal in 1915 stated that his Grace the Most Rev. Dr Healy blessed and laid the foundation stone of a new church at Newport. The necessary funds were bequeathed by the late Mr Martin Carey, Newport, and the church will be known as the Carey Memorial Church. Mr Butler, Dublin, is the architect, and the work of building will start immediately. An article in the Connacht Telegraph , three years later also named the church as the Carey Memorial Church. Some have stated that Martin Carey, before he died in 1909, donated £10,000 for the building of Newport Catholic Church, but it is generally accepted the money was left in his will.

The will was contested by his niece, Barbara Burlingaine, of Chicago, U.S.A., who stated that her uncle was not in a fit state mentally or physically to change his will and add several codicils, and was also under undue influence. A court case which lasted eight days in the High Court in Dublin was taken by the five executors of the will against Miss Burlingaine to allow them to execute the will.

The will which was made on 27th November 1907 and the five executors were:-

John Murray, Manager of the Ulster Bank at Westport;

Arthur T. Oram, of Wilford Lodge, Newport;

James Ryan, Merchant, Westport;

Patrick Walsh, of Carey Limited, Newport;

Martin Carey's late wife's niece, Miss Mary Ellen Lavelle, of Newport

Each executor was left £200.

Mary Ellen Lavelle was also left £3,000, the use of his house, Marine Villa, Newport, rent free, all his furniture, books, plate, plated ware, silver and gold trinkets, and all other household effects if she was living with him at the time of his death.

Three thousand pounds was also left to three of his nephews, Patrick Daly of Knockeeragh, John Daly of Proughleish, and Michael Daly of Castlebar.

To Michael Daly, eldest son of Patrick Daly, he left all his estate and interest in his farm at Drumlong, County Mayo.

His late wife's niece, Angela Hastings of Westport was left three hundred pounds.

The business premises, mills and stores, let to Carey Limited should be sold to them at a price equivalent to twelve years of the annual rent. If they did not take up the option within twelve months the premises should be sold on the open market.

He left £100 to the Parish Priest at Newport and £50 to each of his curates to say three Low Masses and two High Masses for the repose of his soul and those of his wife, father and mother.

He left £300 to the Superioress of the Convent of Mercy at Newport, to be spent by her for the benefit of, or distribution amongst the poor of Newport. He also left her his shares on condition that she arranged for the upkeep of his grave and that of Lady O'Donel.

He also stated that he did not owe his relations anything, and if any legatee under his Will should litigate it, he hereby revoked any benefit given to him or her or them absolutely.

Four codicils were added to the will, one on 27th November, 1907, the same day the will was made, and three on 17th July, 1909, eighteen days before his death.

The first codicil left :-

Mr. James Daly, Glenhest, Co. Mayo, £100

Dr. Anthony Gill, Westport, £500, exclusive of, and in addition to any fees I may owe him.

My niece Julia Carey, Newport, £100;

Her sister Maria Carey (of America) £50;

Her sister Sara Carey, £100;

Mrs Margaret Gavin, Newport, £50;

Rev. Patrick Canon Greally, P.P., £300 (in addition to the legacy of £100, if he shall be Parish Priest of Newport at the time of my decease).

Father Corcoran, C.C., Newport, £50 in addition to the legacy of £50 if he shall be one of the Curates here at the time of my decease.

My servant Mary Mangan £50.

£10,000 to my executors to hold that sum on deposit in the Ulster Bank, for five years after my decease, and each six calendar months collect the interest and add it to the principal and so accumulate such interest and re-invest it from time to time, and at the expiration of the said period of five years upon trust that my trustees shall expend the £10,000 and accumulations in the erection, furnishing, and completion of a Roman Catholic Church at Newport.

Hugh Dever's only daughter, £50.

The second codicil left :-

Patrick Walsh and his wife Bridget the Hoban property, the Saltpan Store, the Timber Store and Coal Yard at the Quay, Malley's Store and house and garden at the Quay, the Newport Mills and Timber Shed, the George's street store and houses, four mill cottages, and ground rents of ten properties in the town.

£50 to Mrs. James Daly's sister, who lives in Boghadoon.

£100 to Patrick Walsh to be divided as he shall think fit amongst the members of the families of Walsh and Dever, customers of ours.

£100 to Mrs James Daly.

The third codicil left:-

Debentures in Carey Limited in equal shares to Mrs Margaret Gavin and to his executors that acted in the execution of his will.

The fourth codicil left:-

The Quin property in Newport, known as the furniture store to Patrick Walsh and his wife.

There had been four previous wills and even though they were complicated they had left all the property to relations. It was found that one of the codicils was invalid as it had been witnessed by Patrick Walsh, a beneficiary.

The main thrust of Mrs Burlingaine's objection was that Martin Carey, at the time the will was signed, was not of sound mind, memory and understanding, and did not approve of its contents. Mr. John Murray, manager of the Ulster Bank, Dr. Anthony Gill, Nurse Maud Fitzgerald, who attended the testator in June and July, 1907, Right Hon. Jonathan Hogg, J.P., Miss Mary Lavelle, a niece of Mr. Carey's wife, Miss Mary Mangan, Mr. Pearson, who had business transactions with Mr. Carey and District-Inspector Murphy, R.I.C, all stated that Martin Carey was in a fit state mentally though physically weak.

Others who gave evidence as to the shrewdness and business capability of Mr. Carey included Mr. Verdon, solicitor; Mr. James Ryan, a local business man; Mr. E. Thomas O'Donnell, D.L.; Rev. Father Corcoran, C.C. ; Rev. J. A. Bain, Presbyterian clergyman, Westport; Nurse English, of St. Vincent's Hospital, and Nurse BoyIan, of the Mater Hospital, who had been in attendance on the deceased for some time in 1909; Mr. Pim K.C. and Very Rev. Canon Grealy, P.P.

Mr. Campbell, K.C., M.P., for the defendant said he had searched through, the wills the old man made before 1909, and he found that he left a shilling to no one except relations and some persons that he was under an obligation to. Barbara Burlingaine, nee Daly of Boghadoon was named in all the previous wills. And yet under these transactions of July all the property was swept away and given to persons who were no relatives of his.

Those that said Martin Carey was not in a fit state mentally to make the will and codicils were his niece, Sarah Carey, Rev. Jeremiah O'Toole, P.P., Kilmeena, Mr. John McNea and Mr. John K. Moran, Petty Sessions Clerk, Newport. Mr. John McGovern said he met the deceased who called him "Dominick" instead of John. Mr. James Brown Mahony, son of the Postmaster, saw Mr. Carey who tried to speak to him, but he could not understand what he wanted to convey. Mrs. Lavelle tried to explain what he meant. The Master of the Rolls delivered judgment that the will and codicils should stand and that probate should be extracted.

The deceased had died intestate as regards the lands of Clogher, near Newport, and Michael Carey, a nephew of Martin's claimed these lands as his heir-at-law. Martin Carey had an elder brother John who left Newport about 45 years ago, and was unmarried and he had never been heard of since. If alive, this John Carey would be the heir-at-law of the late Martin Carey ; but if dead, then Michael Carey would be the heir-at-law. On the death of Martin Carey, Michael Carey, who was then in business in Oxford, England, came over to Ireland, and went on the lands of Clogher, interviewed the tenants, and informed them that he had come to take possession as heir-at-law of the late Martin Carey. The Master of the Rolls deemed that the property should go to Michael Carey. Michael then sold the 1,402 acre Carey Clogher Estate to the Congested District Board for £8,336. he called on all the tenants, giving each a five pound note to drink his health and, after a drinking spree disappeared again.

Later in the same year legal proceedings were taken by Mr Patrick Daly, one of the next of kin, against the executors, as that the medical fees of Dr Anthony Gill, Westport, which were represented at a sum of £346 7s were excessive. The Judge, who had the assistance of Sir Charles Ball as medical assessor, decided that Dr. Gill's fees for attendance on Mr. Carey were reasonable, and he allowed the full amount.

At the High Court case Canon Greally stated, by affidavit, that Mr. Carey always had taken a deep interest in Newport Roman Catholic Church. He remembered him having a vault provided for himself within the precincts of the church. His parents were buried in Burrishoole Abbey and after the vault was made, he had the remains of his parents removed to it. Mr. Carey was a benefactor of the Church, and Convent and also of the other church in Newfield.

Martin Carey left £10,000 for the erection of St. Patrick's Church, but the delay in executing the will due to lawsuits and the outbreak of World War I shot building costs skywards, with the result that the actual figure for the work soared to £31,000. The balance of the money was subscribed by the people of Newport parish in exactly one year. Following Martin's death, Carey's was owned and managed by the late Patrick (Carey) Walsh, until the firm went out of business in the early 1950's.

Fig 9. The impressive Carey Limited premises at Main Street, Newport, in the early 1900s with two customers at one of the shop doors. (PICTURE COURTESY OF CYRIL MOORE)

REFERENCES

Ballina Herald (1930)

Connacht Telegraph (1868- 1979)

Donegal News (1903)

Freemans Journal (1862 - 1915)

Irish Independent (1910 -1911)

Mayo Examiner (1871 -1874)

Mayo News (1894 - 2001)

Tuam Herald (1904)

Western People (1889 -2010) https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1909/05449/4524882.pdf [accessed 1/4/2018] https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1899/05777/4633611.pdf [accessed 1/4/2018]

Dympna Joyce http://www.ouririshheritage.org/content/archive/people/101_mayo_people/entrepreneurs-adventurers/martin_carey [accessed 1/4/2018]