Monaghan Family Skehana.

Thomas Monahan occupied a tenancy of 23 acres 2 roods and 33 perches in Skehanagh townland in Griffiths Valuation of Tenements in the mid-1850s. Thomas relocated to the nearby townland of Clooncurreen a few years later as both of these areas had Fitzgerald-Kenney, who resided at Green Park close to Killaclogher, as their landlord.

The tenancy he vacated was then assumed by John Costello who quickly set about establishing a licenced premises that would later expand to include a bottling facility, an undertaking operation and a grocery business that, prior to it’s closure, we all knew as Costello’s Pub.

Thomas, a son of Edward, married Margaret Geraghty from Ballinrooaun on February 14th, 1867 and they would raise a family of six children. The only surviving son, Michael (born 1873) would eventually emigrate and their eldest daughter, Mary (born 1868), remained on the family farm and would marry John McHugh from Mullaghmore South on September 25th, 1890. John and Mary were grandparents to the twelve Screene children of Tom and Bridget (McHugh) of Windfield Lower.

Michael Monaghan would eventually return from England and purchase a farm in Loughil, Moylough. On February 20th, 1919, Michael Married Mary McHugh, from Mullaghmore South and they would raise their family in Loughil. While their son John (Jackie) remained on the family farm another son, Tommy, and his wife Phyllis Halvey set up a business in Moylough in 1948. This operation focused on serving the community as a filling station and grocery store with vehicle sales, repairs and a hackney service.

In 1967 the family and their business moved to Headford, Co Galway, before Leo and Joe Monaghan moved the vehicle sales and service side of the business to the Tuam Road in Galway city in 1992. A year later Monaghan & Sons was the first dealer in Ireland to acquire the Skoda franchise. That year Skoda had only a two-car range and the dealership sold just 10 vehicles. Today Monaghan & Sons Galway is one of Ireland’s largest and most successful dealers. In 2002 David Monaghan and his wife Fionnuala continued the family tradition and opened a Skoda dealership in Castlebar which is equally successful and continues to expand.

Leo Monaghan, dealer principal, says the family is extremely proud of what has been achieved.