Sadnessatdeathof renownedpublican JimmyMcGeough
THE irony will not be lost on many that Dundalk’s best known publican Jimmy McGeough passed away in the middle of the COVID restrictions that have closed every licensed premises in town, thus denying many the opportunity to celebrate a remarkable life of a very innovative and astute businessman.
Many of those premises, numbering seven in all, were owned at one time by Jimmy who, over sixty years in the trade, became a legend in his own lifetime.
There is an old maxim by which many publicans abided that ‘a bar is only a building, it’s the man behind the counter that makes a bar’.
Jimmy McGeough adhered to those principles since opening his first premises ‘ The Jockeys’ in Anne Street in 1956, for throughout his long career in the licensed trade it was the hallmark of his pubs that they were exceptionally well run.
In his 90th year, Jimmy was one of a family of eleven from Drumcay, Inniskeen, a village that was always close to his heart.
He started his working life in the licensed trade in the old Blackrock Hotel (now the ‘Brake’) which was then run by the Brennan family.
Having served his apprenticeship in the Blackrock, Jimmy acquired more than a licensed premises when he struck out on his own in 1956 with the purchase of his first premises for the name ‘ The Jockey’ became the name by which he was affectionately known throughout his life.
Jimmy purchased the premises from Ted Fitzpatrick, a jockey with well known local trainer, Bunny Cox and it was railwaymen from the nearby GNR who frequented the premises in search of a tip for upcoming race meetings that bequeathed the name ‘ The Jockeys’ to the premises, a bequest that remains today.
Even when Jimmy sold the premises in 1972 to the late Sean Gallagher, and purchased ‘ The Shamrock’ in Seatown, and later five other premises in town, he never was able to dispense with the name ‘ The Jockey’ that he inherited from his first pub.
With his great friend, the late Joe Larkin, and others he then became involved in the purchase of ‘ The Queens’ Hotel on the corner of Earl Street and Crowe Street which was then the town’s oldest hotel and one of the most historic buildings.
It was however the purchase
of the former Shakespeare bar in the middle of Park Street that really established Jimmy’s reputation in the trade, for he extensively renovated the premises, realising the growing trend for eating out he developed it into a popular bar/restaurant which became known as ‘ The Fane’.
That demand increased with the growth in disposable incomes leading Jimmy to purchase in 1984 a premises that he had his eye on for many years ‘ The Windsor’ at the corner of Dublin Street and Vincent Avenue.
The premises dated back to the 1890’s, and was a small licensed and grocery run by three sisters, Nuala, Patricia and Kitty Lennon.
Over the years Jimmy transformed the premises, extended to property next door and eventually in 1999 adding an upstairs restaurant that over the years has acquired a highly regarded status well beyond Dundalk, and which is now run by his son, Donal.
Another son, Andrew acquired with his father another well established business in town in 1998, ‘ The Condil’ in Roden Place, and the next door
family butcher’s shop, and again the family transformed the premises into another popular bar/restaurant that has been recently extensively renovated during the last lockdown.
The family’s preference for acquiring well known premises in town continued in 2007 when they purchased Kennedys opposite Clarke Station from Pat Loughran, and appropriately known as ‘Railway House’ in that it has had a long association with the GNR and the Harp Brewery.
In keeping with the approach he took when he acquired his first pub, “The Jockeys”, Jimmy carried out extensive renovations to Kennedys in conjunction with his son, Eugene who now runs the popular venue.
Jimmy’s interests were not confined to the licensed trade, for he also farmed and was involved in property development.
A keen sportsman, and an avid supporter of the parish team of his birth, Inniskeen Grattans, whose picture adorned many of his premises, as well as award winning teams from his adopted county.
It was however as a publican that Jimmy will be best known and remembered, for he was a larger than life character, who frequented race meetings, sporting events, and was exceptionally well known and respected.
He leaves a legacy in the licensed trade in town that will endure, and will be continued by his three of his sons, Donal, Andrew and Eugene who know that they will be expected to maintain the high standards and convivial atmosphere that their father regarded as essential in all the premises he ran.
Jimmy died peacefully in the tender care of the staff of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital on Friday and is survived by his beloved wife Maureen (nee McElroy) originally from a well known Carrick Road family and by children, Seamus, Maria, Patricia, Thomas, Clare, Donal, Eugene, Andrew, Adrienne, and Freda, sisters, Julia, and Agnes and by many relatives and friends.