Well the story of this pub goes all the way back to the late 1890’s and begins with Mr. John Caheny. John was born into the family of Michael and Catherine Caheny of Carrowrod West Co.Sligo in 1868. He moved into Sligo Town from Kilglass sometime around the late 1880’s. In Sligo Town there were various Merchants and Bonded Houses in the Market St., Gratten St., O’Connell St. and Wine St. areas. Some of the names of these were Higgins and Keighrons, Bellew Brothers, O’Connor Brothers and Blackwoods. John learned his trade by working for some of the above Merchants as an apprentice. On the right you can see a picture of him on his wedding day the 4th September 1900 when he married Mary Killelea. John&Mary Caheny, Wedding Day 4/9/1900

John bought the premises on Mail Coach Road sometime in the 1890′;s and opened it as a Public House and Grocery Store. He Bottled his own Stout and Spirits for sale on the premises. You can see an advertisment which appeared in the local Sligo newpaper sometime pre 1910 here. At that time the building on the site at Mail Coach Road was much different than it is today. The front of the Public House was right out at the footpath on the road with living quarters behind the public house, whereas today it is removed in from the road with a forecourt in front and living quarters above the pub.

The original building was demolished sometime in the late 1930’s due to lack of space to make way for the current building. The only surviving picture we have of the original Public House building is on the right. This Photo was taken by James Caheny one of John and Mary’s ten children. As you can see in the photo there is a lot of bunting, flags and decoration in front of the pub. This was due to the Catholic Congress which was on in Ireland at the time of this photo, 1932. The lady on the left of the picture is Bridie Caheny one of John and Marys Daughters.

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Cahenys Bar

Cahenys Bar

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