Directories set out to record the ‘principal inhabitants’ of a community, particularly those in trade or the professions. Directories were put together by individuals and publishers for commercial purposes at intervals during the late 18th and 19th centuries. Here is the 1931 Trade Directory, exclusive to From-Ireland.net:
Name | Address | Occupation | Town |
---|---|---|---|
Anderson & Anderson | Main street | Auctioneers | Ballyshannon |
Anderson Brothers | Main street | Grocers | Ballyshannon |
Anderson Frederick | Hollymount | Millers | Carndonagh |
Anderson J. | Main street & Mall | Victuallers | Ballyshannon |
Anderson J. | Main street & Mall | Wool Merchants | Ballyshannon |
Anderson N. | Main street | Cattle Dealers | Ballyshannon |
Anderson R., & Co. | Main street | Grocers | Ballyshannon |
Anderson R., & Co. | Main street | Seed & Manure Merchants | Ballyshannon |
Assaroe Hotel | Main street | Hotels | Ballyshannon |
Atlantic Hotel | East End | Hotels | Bundoran |
Baird R. A. | Main street | Grocers | Letterkenny |
Bannon James | Bundrowes Fishery | Fish Merchants | Bundoran |
Barr E. | Main street | Builders | Buncrana |
Barr E. | Main street | Undertakers | Buncrana |
Barr John | Main street | Drapers | Buncrana |
Barr John | Main street | Tailors | Buncrana |
Barr's Temperance Hotel | Main street | Hotels | Buncrana |
Barry Mrs. | West Port | Milliners & Dressmakers | Ballyshannon |
Battisti Brothers | Main street | Confectioners | Buncrana |
Battisti Brothers | Main street | Tobacconists | Buncrana |
Beatty Mrs. | Main street | Green Grocers & Fruit Merchants | Bundoran |
Belfast Banking Co. Ltd. | Main street | Banks | Bundoran |
Belfast Banking Co., Ltd. | Main street | Banks | Letterkenny |
Benson James | Main street | Drapers | Letterkenny |
Bigger W. | Bishop street | Butter & Egg Merchants | Ballyshannon |
Boner T. J., Mrs. | Main street | Grocers | Letterkenny |
Bonnar Hugh | Tullaghan | General Merchants | Bundoran |
Bovaird Michael | Main street | Tailors | Buncrana |
Boyle Denis | Market square | Wine & Spirit Merchants | Letterkenny |
Boyle M. | East Port | Oculist | Ballyshannon |
Boyle William | Main street | Grocers | Letterkenny |
Bradley M. A. | Main street | Wine & Spirit Merchants | Letterkenny |
Brady Bernard | The West End Bar | Spirit Dealers | Bundoran |
Brennan D. | Main street | Grocers | Buncrana |
Brennan Denis | Main street | Butter & Egg Merchants | Buncrana |
Brennan Denis | Main street | Hardware Merchants | Buncrana |
Breslin M. | Bridge End | Spirit Dealers | Ballyshannon |
Breslin P. | Main street | Spirit & Wine Dealers | Buncrana |
Bridge Hotel | - | Hotels | Bundoran |
Brodin J. | Malin street | Butter & Egg Merchants | Carndonagh |
Brodin J. | Malin street | China & Glass Dealers | Carndonagh |
Brogan & Clarke | Pound street | Painters & Decorators | Carndonagh |
Buchanan's Motor Services Depot | Ramelton road | Motor Engineers & Garages | Letterkenny |
Buncrana Co-Operative Society Ltd. | Market square | Grocers | Buncrana |
Burns J. | The Bundoran Studio | Photographers | Bundoran |
Butler S. R. | Bank Place | Grocers, Wine & Spirit Merchants | Carndonagh |
Butler Stephen | Bank Place | Booksellers & Stationers | Carndonagh |
Butler Stephen | Bank Place | Cycle Agents | Carndonagh |
Butler Stephen | Bank Place | Hardware Merchants | Carndonagh |
Butler Stephen | Bank Place | Ironmongers | Carndonagh |
In Ireland, many of the towns had a square, and around the square were houses (homes) with one or two shops or business’s. The streets of the town all went from that square. Most towns had a ‘Main street’ – some called it a High street, and it was usually on that main street that the majority of shops and businesses were located. Shops had one or two large windows depending on the size of the shop. Many Public houses had a grocery section. You walked in the door and the grocery section was at the front of the shop with the pub at the back – usually a wooden division separating both. The Grocer or Publican may have had a field or more behind the building, cows were milked and the milk was sold to those who would bring in their ‘Jimmy’ cans. Most business men/people had more than one occupation. The Publican as described above was also the Grocer and if he sold milk then he could also be described as a Dairy man. As you go through this list of names you will see that many.