WHEN ANNIE ROURKE OWNED JOHN STREET!

IT WAS in December 1969 that the first moves were echoed in relation to the demise of John Street (below), one of the town’s most historic streets.

Street widening was always on the horizon and when then Louth County Manager Mr. J. L. Mackell, “approved purchase of premises and dwellinghouse on the south side of John Street from Mr. (Richard J. McDonnell in the sum of .£7,500 plus fees and expenses’ then the die was cast.

In 1974, Drogheda Corporation was asked for a guarantee that a stone figure—a “SheelanaGig “— imbedded in the wall of a house in the street will not be damaged during works. It was on the wall of a house.

The “Sheela “attracted the attention of a Danish television researcher, Mr. Jorgen Andersen, who wrote a book, ‘Erotic Sculpture on Mediaeval Churches,’ as a Ph.D. thesis in the history of art, at Copenhagen University.

Mr. Andersen first heard about the stone figure from Dr. Peter Harbison an archeaeologist with Bord Failte who wrote to him about it.

According to the late Mr. Patrick Cooney, a local historian, the lower end of John Street was the original site of St. Mary’s Parish Church.

Mrs. Moira Corcoran said she had been aware of the figure since 1964, the year the Old Drogheda Society was formed.

By December 1975, tenders were being invited for 250m of dual carriageway at the street, the demolition of buildings, footpaths and publc lighting.

It would take a Ricky Gerrard special to feature all aspects of John Street down the centuries, the likes of Malachy O’Connor operated an upholstery business at No.21 at one stage in the 60s.

Interestingly, when Annie Rourke passed away in 1930, her five homes at numbers 28, 29 and 30, 34 and 35 went on the market, all three held under a lease from G de Belle Ball for 99 years from September 29, 1887, at a yearly rent of £12.

She also had numbers 32 and 33 John Street rented from Drogheda Corporation on a 75 year lease, having started in 1897.

The cottages were pretty well kept, each with a tap and outside toilets, all walled in.

The street has changed so much but thankfully there is one row of houses, although modern, that have a stone facade that at least brings some character to the area.

I was asked recently by a visitor to the town if they were ‘original’ and although not in that bracket, at least they stand out.