This scene was photographed in 1963 by Sean Swan, it shows flooding in my home street Coal Market. Later that year following the assassination of President John R Kennedy in Dallas, Texas, Coal Market resident and neighbour John Swan promoted the idea to rename the street Kennedy Street and so it has remained to this day. On our left we see 'Johnny Nails' pub with O'Neill over the door.

Up the street with the cafe sign on the wall is 'The Market Cafe'. It was owned by the Shanaghy family. The larger house adjoining is 'The Elite Salon' run by hairdressers Hannah Corcoran and Josie Slater. Carlow County Council along with other groups have taken precautions to ensure that there will be no more flooding in this area.

Coal Market. Carlow c1953. (larger image).

Source: Images-Google.ie.

1958 ~ Pictured in Coal Market outside Broughan's Hardware and Delph stores with MS petrol pump to the side~ Maggie Broughan, myself, young Munnelly from Mayo, Neddy "neighbour" Broughan (with ever-present cigarette cupped in hand ) alongside local band-leader Michael Foley from John Street.

1958 ~ Again "young" Munnelly from Crossmolina with myself and Ned pictured in Coal Market ~ Leftpicture the gate leads to a furniture repair store operated by Mr Mooney, next door lived Jimmy Kealy, the large building was known as Kearney's Meal Store operated by Paddy and Kathleen Farrell. Above the trees in St. Mary's churchyard is Tom McDonald's Public House, the white shades are over McDonald's Ice Cream shop and Dunny's Bakery ~ Right of picture lived Pierce Hosey and his wife, the adjoining gate leads to Mangan's Mills with granite stone protruding overhead engraved "William Mangan 1823". ~ crossing Water Lane we see Hugh Lupus, Bookie Office operated by Harry Ewing, next door is Jack Sunderland's Plumbing stores with posters in window advertising the "Pictures" showing in the Coliseum and Ritz Cinemas, just above that we glimpse the stores of Jimmy O'Neill wholesaler of fruit and vegetables.

January 1977, Coal Market / Kennedy Street facing Castle Street. With horse and cart parked in Water Lane we have a clear view of the 5 bay Coal Market House with the ground floor window-sills at footpath level~ The house was built by William Mangan in 1820, utilising the stones from the ruins of Carlow Castle he also built the adjoining 10 houses and the garden wall and the Grain Stores (left of... picture ) ~ In my youth the houses on the right were occupied by ~ (#2) the King family and Hoseys ~ (#3) Moores and Melias ~ (#4) Purcells (#5) Swans (#6) Finns (#7) Glendons + Dunnes + Mick Donnelly the barber (#8) Murphys (#9) Brennans (#10) Broughans (#11) Murphys Public House (#12) Louie Walsh (#13) McSwades and Delaneys Public House. (#14) Hendicks and Timmons (#15) Purcells and Darceys (#16) Ivorys (#17) Keegans (#18) Philips. I bought this picture for 20 euro from the photographer Karl McDonagh with the intention of including it in me Little Book, hence the ink stamp.

I remember having my first hair cut at the barbers in Coal Market when I was a youngschool boy. You had to sit on a plank of wood which was resting on the two arms of the chair (Michael Brennan).

Source: Michael Purcell