Abbey Street
Abbey Street
was called Selskar Street in 1800. At another time it was known as Lower Back Lane – this probably came about because of a connection to Back Street, now Mallin Street. Joe Murphy's forge was near the tower that you can see
between The Arts Centre and the houses back in the days when all these streets were sort of mixed developments. By that I mean they had houses, workshops, animals and every other necessity. The Central Constabulary Barracks was
at NE corner beside the apartments. It later became a girl's school. Many people will recall Moran's shop on that corner. It was there you stocked up on goodies for the pictures – sorry I mean for going to the cinema.
The Protestant Infant School was located at number 44 in 1853. There was also a boys' boarding school in Abbey Street in 1824. In the last century Whites Hotel was developed and fronted on to Abbey Street – maybe it will again
soon. There they had The Shelmelier Bar and a lovely big foyer. The County Council later used it as a library with the children's section located in the old restaurant and the adult books in the old bar with a grand big fireplace.
The books were stamped out at the old reception desk. Davy Tobin's was a fixture on the corner of Abbey Street in the late 1900s. Mr Tobin did not own the business but it always went by his name. It was in these pawnbrokers that
many a good suit spent its weekdays only to be redeemed on the Saturday afternoon to be brushed and ready for Mass on Sunday. Pawnbrokers were the welfare service and banks of their day for the poorer people of every town. Today we
casually forget how difficult time were a half century ago. If you were out of work you did not eat and worse still your family didn't. To get so called relief you would be quizzed left right and centre as to why you should get
help. Charities like the St Vincent de Paul Society did what they could but the Wexford and Ireland of that era was a far cry from the Celtic tiger. Wages for those lucky enough to be in work were small and seldom stretched to
the weeks end. This sparked the vicious circle of pawning the suit or other valuables – not the family jewels few had anything of much worth – to get cash to buy food on the Monday or Tuesday. Then when payday came on Friday the
items were redeemed with a small commission going to the pawnbroker. This took more out of the wages that week so the money ran out quicker and the items had to be pawned again. People often look back on their parents and grand
parents and consider a number of myths. One, they think life was easier and simpler then. It was in some ways but who among you could juggle that sort of life week in and week out? They also feel that our ancestors
were less financially astute. They did not use banks or credit cards but they had a myriad of financial schemes from tontine to club money to pawnbrokers to shopkeeper loans and food on tick to negotiate.