The Story of Bray's Factories

07/11/2015

Exhibition update. The exhibition 'Industrial Yarns -The Story of Bray's Factories' is opening on next Thursday the 12th November in the Mermaid Arts Centre in Bray. You are all very welcome to attend.

Our sound engineer Mairead is working away at making all the interviews sound great and I have been given the loan of lots of interesting things connected with Bray's Factories for the exhibition.

If you have anything that might be of interest please contact me om 087 2627806 or [email protected] or here on Facebook.

Regards

Philip

02/11/2015

I just thought I'd keep people posted on how the exhibition is coming along. I had a great meeting today with Niamh and Aoife from Mermaid and Mairead a sound engineer who will help me get the material ready for the exhibition.

It opens on Thursday 12th November at 6pm and I'd love you to come along. If you can't make that the exhibition will run for the week of the YARN Storytelling Festival.

I plan to continue working on the history of the factories after the exhibition is over so my apologies to the many, many people who said they would help and who I haven't got to talk to yet... I will!

Loads of thanks to everyone for their support.Please keep contacting me if you have anything on the old factories. Its Philip 087 26278006 or [email protected]

01/11/2015

I'm just looking at the photo I posted yesterday. I noticed the Lucan Dairy's truck and began to think what age would someone be today who NEVER saw a milk bottle?I know they wee around up to 1988 when Dublin Dairies issued a millenium bottle for Dublin's 1000th 'borthday'. Can anybody help? In what year did milk bottles dissapear?

31/10/2015

The Exhibition called 'Industrial Yarns ' The Story of Bray's Factories' is being opened in the Mermaid Arts Centre on Thursday the 12th November at 6.00pm by the Director of the National Museum. You're all very welcome to attend especially those of you who have offered me their memories, photos etc, especially the many, many people who I have been unable to get to yet.

This exhibition is a Work-In-Progress that I hope to continue working on during the coming year... who knows we might even get another show!!!!!

Here is a great photo taken by my Dad from the old courthouse during the winter. Back Street is still there or should I call it 'Emmet Road'... but that's another story.

Can anyone date it or recognise places in the shot?

03/06/2015

Hi Folks you may have noticed that this page has been quite for the last few weeks. I had a daughter getting married and life just took over! Anyway please get in touch if you have any information or contacts about Bray's Factories. This project can only be done with your help. Regards and thanks Philip

07/05/2015

This is Mick Morressey outside the Rock Shop on Albert Walk. I wonder was the rock made in Kennymore's. Does anyone know? Regards Philip

01/05/2015

These pictures are of Kennymore Sweets Christmas Dinners. I believe the dates are 1947 and 1960. Will anyone who has memories of Kennymore's, ESPECIALLY anybody who worked there please get in touch with me. I really do need more material on this important part not only of Bray's Industrial past but of the contribution it made to the beautiful sweet smell we used to get down Castle Street and back Street!

24/04/2015

There was some discussion about the person in the bottom right of the picture I posted yesterday. David I think its a lady with glasses, wearing a scarf and scratching her head... Big Brother is everywhere!! Regards Philip

23/04/2015

Would you just look at the lack of traffic in Castle Street!! Back Street has been knocked down but the Shopping Centre not started. I wonder did those two ladies coming up the Bridge in their 1100 ever get the push the obviously needed! Ah, happy days

16/04/2015

On Saturday the 29th of August there is a storytelling event about Bray's Factories. I hope to get as many people as I can who have memories of the factories to come along for a bit of craic (tea & scone actually!!)

The link to the details is:

http://www.mermaidartscentre.ie/events/details/heritage-week-industrial-yarns-tea-tales

You'll notice its that photo again of 'God's Gift' outside Solus in about 1965!!!

Help me celebrate the working lives of the people who worked in Bray's Factories on Aug 29th. Regards Philip

Celebrate Heritage Week at Mermaid Arts Centre. Join Bray storyteller Philip Byrne as he takes us on a journey through the memories and stories he has collected from people who used to work in Bray’s long gone factories, such as: Solus, Haughton’s, Industrial Yarns, Kennymore Sweets, Coxon’s Wallpap…

13/04/2015

There was an amazing number of people who all fondly remember Katie and liked the photo I posted. Here is another of Katie and Connie Thomas. Comment was made about Katie being at Superquinn in the morning to get her f**s well here she is BEFORE the shopping centre was built...but she has her fag in hand! Connie worked in Haughtons and lived only a couple of doors from Katie. In this shot you will be able to work out where they are standing by reference to the Royal Hotel and St.Paul's Church. By the way I still need to hear from people who worked in Kennymore Sweets or have any information about it. Regards Philip

12/04/2015

This is a great photograph of the late Katie Moorhouse. Katie lived in Lawerence's Terrace opposite Kennymore Sweets. She was a great lady who I had the privilege to know. She was known to 'have the cure'. Given the times Katie grew up in many of the old folk cures were often what people relied on. These were the natural remedies that many health food shops sell today. Katie was also a woman of wise council who could advise, mediate and help family and friend alike. She also had a twinkley sense of humour. She always called me 'Phyllis' even though she knew my name is Philip. Life is poorer without people like Katie Moorhouse there to help the younger generations. Just look into Katie's eyes in the photograph and you will see what I mean