100 years of Steele’s Terrace captured in print

A NEW book recalling a century’s worth of memories from the past of Ennis’ Steele’s Terrace, is set to help vulnerable people of the county capital into the future.
The book, Steele’s Terrace, More Than a Century of History, Pictures and Memories will be launched by the Steele’s Terrace Centenary Committee next Thursday. Proceeds of the book, which celebrates the 100th anniversary of street, will go to the St Vincent de Paul.
The book features a wealth of historic photos, a detailed account of the area’s past, memories from residents and vivid descriptions of life on Steele’s Terrace down through the years.
The book has been compiled by former member of The Clare Champion’s production staff Paddy Brennan, in collaboration with Simon O’Donnell, Anthony Lynch and Larry Brennan.
Paddy, formerly of 24 Steele’s Terrace, said he is delighted that what started out as a small idea, has grown into a comprehensive history of the area.
“I’m exceptionally pleased with the way the book has turned out. It is something that started out very small and has just escalated, I’m delighted with the finished product.”
He explained the impetus behind the book. “After the last book I did, Simon O’Donnell, my godfather, who is one of the oldest living former residents of the Terrace, told me that somebody had mentioned to him that Steele’s Terrace was going to be 100-years-old in 2012. With us being close friends, he asked would we give it a go.
“I got in touch with my brother, Laurence, from the Clare Roots Society who had already done work on the graves in Ennis. He was able to give me information on the early residents of the Terrace. Then from there, I got in touch with Mai Molloy, who is now in Dublin, who put faces and character onto those names. That just brought the whole thing to life.”
A Steele’s Terrace Centenary Committee was set up comprising Paddy, Simon O’Donnell, Anthony Lynch and Larry Brennan. Information and photographs for the book have come from as far afield as Australia and New Zealand.
“Mai had a son in Australia who had some photos. I got photos from New Zealand from Patricia Brennan, who is no relation of mine, but is a sister of Cyril Brennan and John Brennan the cartoonist. John also did an article and some cartoons for the book.”
As work continued in earnest, Paddy was finding that he was getting plenty of information on the upper part of Steele’s Terrace but very little from the lower part. However this was soon to change. “Fr Michael Collins from Quin put me in touch with the wife of the late Fiachra Duffy, who had left the terrace in the ’50s. Fiachra had brought a case of things with him when they moved and they were now in the attic. She couldn’t get them down but when her son Rónán Ó Dubhthaigh came up from where he lives in Connemara, he got it down and found some brilliant historic photos, some of the Square from when DeValera came and others taken from Fiachra’s house. Rónán has since started to build his family tree and is looking for information. There were lots of fantastic photos and some of them will be used in other publications at some stage in the future.”
According to Paddy, the book has far exceeded his expectations. “I thought that we would end up with maybe over 40 pages but I have now ended up with over 70 pages. There are lots of photos and memories of different people who grew up on the terrace. I was surprised to get so much information.”
As well as memories of those living on the terrace, the book details its historical background, including why it was called Steele’s Terrace. “The history of Tom Steele is mentioned and the book recalls the first meeting of when they were trying to decide on a name. Emancipation Terrace was one of the names thrown out and one of the council made a comment that it would be a job to spell that. It just shows the humour that was there.”
Steele’s Terrace was set up as artisan dwellings for skilled workers of the period, as the town began to expand. Steele’s Terrace was also the first tenant council buy-out scheme in Ireland. St Flannan’s Terrace also celebrates 100 years this year.
Sport is also well explored in the book. “The Faughs togged out in number four, Moloney’s, and they trained in the Fair Green. They went on to win two senior county championships from there. Éire Óg had its foundations laid in Steele’s Terrace, with lots of discussions taking place between numbers 6 and 28.”
The book will be launched on Thursday, March 15 at 8pm in the Old Ground Hotel. Profits from the book will go to the St Vincent de Paul. When asked why this charity was chosen, Paddy explained, “We feel that we want to keep everything at home. The town needs support and this is our effort in trying to help those who need a little bit of help at this stage.”
Paddy acknowledged the support of the elected members of Ennis Town Council, town manager Ger Dollard, St Francis’ Credit Union and former resident of Steele’s Terrace, Bernard Carroll.