Start of a New
Beginning
When Thomas Corcoran opened his
first
Mineral Water Factory in 1827 the campaign for Catholic
Emancipation was reaching its climax. In 1828, Dr.
Doyle laid the foundation stone of the New cathedral which
was to rise in 1883 – imposing and triumphant in historic
Chapel Lane where the old church (which had catered for the
needs of the parishioners of Carlow since 1792) stood. The
main entrance is now in College Street and next door another
world famous Carlow institution St. Patrick’s College.
History in the
Making
Carlow Castle occupies an imposing
position against the local skyline, standing in the grounds
of Corcoran and Company and overlooking the five arched
bridge which spans the River Barrow just above its junction
with the river Burrin. From the opening of the mineral
water factory in 1827 the castle was chosen as its
trademark. The factory began an important stage of Irish
history and many important developments national and local
have happened since then.
A regular visitor to Carlow was the great
Daniel O’Connell. He was a close friend of Dr. James Doyle
(J.K.L.) who was in the forefront of the struggle for
Catholic Emancipation. In 1823 Daniel O'Connell founded the
Catholic Association to campaign for the removal of
discrimination against Catholics. In 1828 he was elected as
M.P. for County Clare but as a Catholic he was not allowed
to take his seat in the House of Commons. To avoid the risk
of an uprising in Ireland, the British Parliament passed the
Roman Catholic Relief Act in 1829, which granted Catholic
emancipation and enabled O'Connell to take his seat.
Famine Years in
the Town and County
In 1829 when Emancipation became a fact
of life nowhere in Ireland was there more rejoicing than in
the streets of Carlow. The O’Connell connection
continued when , in 1841, the Liberators son and namesake,
Daniel O’Connell, opposed Colonel Bruen in a famous
by-election. After a particularly bitter campaign, Bruen won
by a majority of nine votes. To celebrate the victory,
Bruen’s supporters presented him with a large sum of money
with which he built St. Anne’s Church on the Athy Road. This
church was eventually bought by the Parish Priest of
Graiguecullen and it was transferred stone by stone to a
site on the Killeshin Road alongside the convent of Poor
Clare nuns where it still stands and is known as St.Clare’s.
The famine years hit the town and county of Carlow very
hard. Thousands of people died of hunger and cholera between
1845 and 1848 and many Soup Kitchens and emergency
dispensaries were opened.
Hundreds of corpses were brought by barge
and boat to be buried in the ‘Cholera Plot’ beside the River
Barrow near the Old Graves. The 1830’s were a busy
time for builders, because in 1830 a new roof and spire (by
Cobden, designer of the Cathedral) were erected on St.Mary’s
Church of Ireland.
In 1837 the Mercy Nuns established their
Convent and Schools on Dublin Road and in the classrooms of
the good Nuns, many thousands of worthy Carlo citizens
learned the three ‘Rs’ and of course a lot more. In
1859, the Christian Brothers opened their Carlow Schools and
still provide much of the education for the youth of the
county. In 1896, the Poor Clare Community moved from a
first home, Bridge House, to their new convent erected on a
site on Castlecomer Road gifted to them by Michael Governey.
Many well known
visitors came to Carlow
Many well-known names passed through
Carlow during both the Land War and the Home Rule campaign.
Michael Davitt, Charles Stewart Parnell and John Redmond
held – at different times – monster meetings in the town
centre. In 1903, Michael Governey established
Catherlough Boot Factory which for more than half a century
provided employment for hundreds of workers. Early in
the 1900’s branches of the Gaelic League were established
and in 1913 many Carlovians joined the National Volunteers.
In 1916, Michael and Henry O’Hanrahan, who’s father had a
hardware business in Tullow Street, took part in the Easter
Rising. For this, Michael was executed on May 4, 1916.
Henry was also sentenced to death but the sentenced was
commuted to life imprisonment. Michael is commemorated
by a plaque on the wall of the Workman’s Club. During
the War of Independence, 1917-1922, many Carlovians took an
active part. One of the most prominent in the struggle was
Padraig McGamhna who in later years was Chairman of the
U.D.C. In 1926, Carlow Sugar factory (the first in
Ireland) was opened and has continued to expand down he
years.
With nearly 160 years of progress behind
them, Corcoran and Co. of Carlow still have the zest and
enthusiasm of a very young company. The firm has
tackled many changes and challenges in the market place over
the years but has always held fast to the idea of
manufacturing only top quality products. This
according to Managing Director, Mr Paddy Governey, is the
secret of Corcoran continued success. Only the best
and purest ingredients are used and new technology has been
employed to the full to see that the highest standards are
maintained at all the various stages of production.
Oldest in Ireland
The firm, which is the oldest mineral
water factory in the country, has also devoted much time and
investment in up-to-the-minute methods of quality control.
Latest bottling and packaging techniques are under continual
examination and there is a constant search on for new and
more appealing flavours. As a result of market
research, Corcoran's recently re-launched their original
Brown Lemonade and the response from the public has been
spectacular. Apparently, Corcoran's lemonade is part of
everyone’s childhood memories and the decision to bring it
back by public demand has been a winner for it’s Carlow
originators. It is this finger on the pulse of public
taste that has been responsible for much of Corcoran's
success. If the markets change – they change with them but
the ground rules remain unaltered.
Only the best is
good enough
Only the best is good enough and this is
reflected in the care and attention given to the product’s
by every member of the staff. Many of Corcoran's
workforce are third generations of the same family to have
worked for the firm. They share a genuine sense of pride in
the company’s achievements while keeping a keen eye on
developments for the future One Hundred and Sixty
years young, Corcoran's today is just as buoyant and lively
as the drinks the produce.
The
above article and photos appeared as a supplement to the Nationalist &
Leinster Times in 1987
Please
Note:
Duffy's of Carlow
took over Corcorans
Mineral Water Works in 1972 and it was
then merged with 3 other companies into the Amalgamated
Bottling Company in January 1990. The
Carlow factory closed in the 1990s.
Source: Turtle
Bunbury Apr 2020 & Michael Purcell Sept 2023
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