The Hogans of Glenart

Fadó fadó (I think it was 1999) Sheila and I headed down to Athlone for a few days break. We took the long route, via Nenagh, Ardcroney and Carney. This was my first and only visit to the homestead. As we drove leisurely along, Sheila suddenly pointed to a derelict building and said "I went to school there". I noticed a little pub close to the school (I wouldn't be my father's daughter if I had missed the pub!) so I suggested we stop for a drink. This pub was tiny -- I think it was originally a two room cottage, one the bar and the other the lounge. The furniture in the bar consisted of barrels as tables and barrels with cushions as chairs. For a Saturday afternoon the pub was busy (mind you twelve people and the pub could be classed as overcrowded). Sheila sat on her barrel and immediately lit up a cigarette (I better add that this was before the smoking ban) while we waited for our drinks (scotch and soda for herself). The generally chit-chat in the pub seemed to cease for a while as people tried to listen in to our conversation.

It wasn't long before someone started to quiz us. Sheila's accent in this setting seemed very English, not your typical local accent, but when Sheila mentioned she had attended the school next door and was brought there each day by horse and cart from Carney Castle¹ suddenly a voice from the corner said "Sheila Hogan, I was in school with you". I'm not sure how Sheila felt but you could have knocked me down with a feather, she must have made a great impression as a young one for someone to remember her name over 50 years later. The same can't be said for the gentleman in question as Sheila hadn't got a clue who he was.

After this reunion we then drove down the road and Sheila found the entrance to Carney as easily as if she had been there only the previous week. We trespassed on to the property, up a long narrow drive bordered by tall trees on either side. At the end we came to a derelict building which to my eyes had all the makings of a fabulous house but now had been left to the elements and was rotting away. It was sad for me to see the place in this state and I'm sure Sheila must have felt the same seeing as she had lived there for so many years, and I'm so glad I got to do this visit with her.

We eventually went on to Athlone and had a lovely time there with all the O'Brien's but I'll always treasure the memories I have of Sheila and her visits home.