The Strokestown Public Convenience Saga of 1945!

In the summer of 1945 Roscommon County Council erected a new public convenience in Church Street, Strokestown. The presidential elections and local elections were due the same year and before the plaster was dry on the new convenience someone had painted three sides with colourful political slogans, so the entire edifice had to be re-plastered.

A short time after being erected legal proceedings were taken against the council by local businessman Felix Connolly who sought damages of £25 and the removal of the structure. Protests had been sent by Strokestown Development Association to the County Manager, before work had commenced on the building and an alternative site had been suggested, but without success.

The convenience had been built within 36 feet of Mr. Connolly's business (see below) and he complained in court that, as the door faced his shop, this caused embarrassment to his female staff and customers. Judge Gleeson found in favour of the plaintiff, but not on the grounds of embarrassment. He found instead that the Council had built the convenience on subsoil that belonged to Mr. Connolly and had not sought his permission. The only right of way, he found, was for the public to pass and repass.

The plan below was drawn by J. McDonagh C. E. on 5th July 1945 and is Plan No. 4 for the case. (Does anyone have Plans 1 to 3?). Are these the only surviving images of the controversial "Strokestown Public Convenience of 1945"? Does anyone have a photograph? Please contact us.

Plan of the Strokestown Public Convenience

Overall view of the plan (left) and how Mr. Connolly's premises looked, before and after (above).

Is this the only surviving image of the Public Convenience in situ (below left)? Another image from the plan (below right) showing the proximity to Mr. Connolly's Drapery shop.

Billheads for F. Connolly & Co., Church St. & Bridge St., Strokestown, from 1946 (left) and 1961 (right) and the premises as it looks in 2007.

We would welcome more material relating to this businessman.                                                                                                  Images are not to scale.

If you have any further information or material relating to this episode in Strokestown history, please contact us.

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