17. Mellody's of Guilka.

Mellodys Pub, Gilkagh.

Better known far and wide as Harry’s this was, and continues to be, a local institution and will always be considered to have played a huge part in shaping our community. Thomas Dunne is the earliest definitive tenant of just over two acres where this business would eventually be located. Thomas was a carpenter who died in 1888 but prior to his death the tenancy was assumed by Michael Mellody and his wife, Catherine Mullins originally from Ballinrooaun, and it was then that they set up the business initially. Michael died at age 40 leaving Catherine with five daughters to raise and run her business which then included a licenced premises. Catherine herself passed away ay 39 years of age in 1904 and the business eventually passed to her middle daughter Delia.

It was from Delia that Harry Mellody would inherit the business and thus began it’s huge transformation. From a single room business comprising of the pub and small grocery additional features would include an extensive outdoor hardware and farm supplies business, sales of televisions, boots and shoes, veterinary supplies and much more such that the business layout was transformed with a seperate self-service supermarket and an enlarged public to include a modern singing lounge with live music to packed houses weekly with patrons coming from far and wide. Other aspects also included wool purchases, seed merchant, travel agency and auctioneering business.

Today the location still provides thriving businesses trading as Screenes public house and Greene’s Hardware but it is indeed the legacy, creativity and foresight of Harry Mellody, along with his wife Eileen Naughton, that lay the foundations for these.