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Francis (Frank) Slater c.1920 |
Nationalist and Leinster Times. February
1937.
Mr Francis (Frank) Slater. 1881 - 1937.
We are very sorry to have record the
death of Mr Frances Slater, which took place at his home,
Hanover House, Carlow, on Saturday afternoon last.
The late Mr Slater was a very well known
figure, not alone in Carlow and district but throughout the
greater part of Ireland, for he developed in a very short
number of years a business concern of varied and
multitudinous proportions.
In the town of Carlow he was the owner of
a great amount of property, and he gave considerable
employment.
-
- Image 59.
A gathering of a different sort, the
fowl pluckers and employees of Slaters Works.
The
firm was owned by-local wonder money-maker
Frank
Slater, pictured on the right with hat and drooping
moustache. Frank owned extensive property in
Carlow town including the Palace Cinema, he was also
proprietor of 63 'bookie shops', situated throughout
Ireland. His name can be seen painted on the fowl
and rabbit 'coffin' boxes.
- Image source: Carlow in old
Picture Postcards by Michael Purcell 1994
Mr Slater's interests were chiefly
concerned in the Poultry trade, the Bakery business and Turf
Accountancy.
He was one of the largest exporters of
eggs and fowl in Ireland, and his possessions included over
a hundred branch betting offices located throughout Ireland.
His other interests included his
ownership of The Palace Cinema in Burrin Street, which he
purchased some years ago.
It was stated at that time that he had
never been in a Cinema in his life up to the time he
acquired The Palace. To a man of Mr. Slater's calibre
nothing was impossible. He possessed those rare qualities of
making everything he touched an undoubted success, and this
was possible owing to his amazing courage and foresight.
One might say that he managed all his
unwieldy business concerns almost single-handed, and
certainly did it with great success.
It is a very sad thing to see a man like
him passing so prematurely from this life. He was only
fifty-six years of age.
His health declined somewhat about a year
ago and he never really recovered, although he was active to
his unexpected end.
It was typical of the man that he should
die virtually in harness, for he was always greatly
interested in his business at the expense of enjoyment of
any considerable nature.
He personally supervised his staff, who
had a great respect for him, and he kept to his untimely end
a keen eye on the organisation and progress of his
considerable and far-flung business interests.
Of his personal qualities, Mr Slater was
known to all for his charity and generosity. No organisation
with the least spark of worthiness ever went to him for help
without coming away the better of their visit.
His unsolicited donations to charity were
large and numerous.
Unlike many men, he remained throughout
his life and through all his lightening business successes
the same simple, level-headed and kindly person.
His loss to the town of Carlow is
inestimable, and it is with great regret that we have heard
of his early passing.
On Sunday evening the remains were
removed to the Cathedral. They were carried from Hanover
House to the Cathedral on the shoulders of his employees,
their last tribute to a kindly employer. Practically the
whole population of the town turned out to pay their last
respects.
The chief mourners were:- Edward Slater
and John Slater, (sons), Master F. Slater, (grandson) Mrs S.
Moynihan, Mrs J. Glavin, Miss Baby Slater and Miss Mary Joe
Slater (daughters).
John Slater and Val. Slater (brothers),
Mrs Mary Snoddy and Mrs Bridie Walsh (sisters). Val Slater,
Tom Fennell, Mick Snoddy, Tom Snoddy, John Snoddy, Sam
Snoddy, Joe Walsh, John Walsh, Francis Walsh, Edward Walsh
(nephews) Mrs Pat Jones, Mrs Joe Phelan, Mrs Michael
Purcell, Mrs Patrick Purcell, Mrs Pado Redmond-Goebells, Mrs
Joseph Leonard, Esther Walsh, Susanna Walsh, Bridget Walsh,
Anne Walsh, Catherine Walsh, Mrs John Largey (nieces). John
Ralph, (father-in-law). Mr J. Glavin and Mr S.Moynihan
(sons-in-law). Mrs Edward Slater (daughter-in-law), Mrs John
Slater, (sister-in-law), Mrs V. Slater, S. Costello, John
Hayden, E. Largey, Miss S. Wynne, Master O. Slater, Miss
Rose Slater and Miss Marie Slater.
Francis Slater had a Commission
Agent and a Turf Accountan shop in Tiparary. There is a large image of
the shop front on this website link:
https://www.tippstudiesdigital.ie/items/show/2216
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