Artisans Cottages, Naas

Cottages celebrate their centenary

NAAS, 1 September 1999: SPECIAL FEATURE by Trish Whelan. The picturesque artisans cottages on the Newbridge Road in Naas (above) are this year celebrating 100 years in existence. With their counterparts on the Caragh Road they represent probably a uniquely complete section of the town’s streetscape from the turn of the century.

The contract for the construction of the cottages was signed on 11 September 1899 and the builder was Garrett Robinson from Caragh. It was the first public housing scheme to be undertaken in the town of Naas and was built by the Town Commission under the Housing of the Working Classes Act. The houses were later transferred to Naas Urban District Council when it was set up the following year.

Angela and Denis McLoughlin have lived in No 22 on the Caragh Road, for the past 16 years. Angela says the houses are grand to live in, nice and comfortable, with big back gardens. “You could build another house in the back gardens there’s that much room. Some have done this for family members.”

Anne and Patrick Higgins came to live in No 19 facing on to the Caragh Road, over 10 years ago. Anne says the houses are deceptive in size. “People think they’re very small but most have been extended and are really quite big.” Pictured below are their children in their back garden, Craig (12), Olwyn (9) and Shaun (4).

Next door to the Higgins family is perhaps the oldest resident on the road, Mrs Molly Hickey, who previously lived at the back of the area known as The Alley, near New Row. Her husband Charlie passed away in 1973. Apart from her good neighbours and family, Molly’s constant companion is her Jack Russell terrier called Bilko. “He was called that after the US army sitcom Sergeant Bilko because we thought he was a dog. However ‘he’ was found to be a ‘she’ but we still kept the name.” Molly’s home is unique in that it still retains the original open fire in the sitting room.

Well-known local character Paddy Lagrue, nicknamed ‘Joker’, lives in No 13 which is the old family home on the Caragh Road. Paddy ‘knows everything’ that goes on in the area and once did an ad for TV. His home is the only house in its original condition. “The only thing different is the front door, and that’s nearly as old as me!” he laughs.

Paddy remembers what it was like growing up in the cottages before the houses were connected for electricity and water services. “It was all gas in those days and you put an old penny in the meter. We got the gas from the old Gas Works down the canal. That went on for quite some time.” Water was fetched in a pail and the nearest pump to the family home was up at the Caragh Road bridge. Paddy remembers there was another pump at New Row. But getting the water safely home was another matter. “The amount you fetched depended on if there was a hole in the pail ... and where it was situated.”

But it wasn’t long before Paddy took off for a life at sea. “I ended up being a seaman for 40 years. I’ve seen more than the world and enjoyed it all. All seamen are supposed to have a lady in every port, but I was safe ... because I wasn’t married” says The Joker, who claims that his cousin, Lily Goff in No 24 and himself are the only two born on the Caragh Road who still live in the cottages. “When I went to sea the houses across the road in Our Lady’s Place hadn’t even been built then.” Paddy retired to dry land and the Caragh Road 12 years ago.

Arthur and Christina Behan (Arthur is pictured right) came to live at No 12 on the corner of Newbridge Road and Caragh Road about 40 years ago. The couple had married 56 years ago in Naas parish church. Both were Naas born and bred, Arthur from a local family and Christina is a Donoghue from New Row. “I love living here and it’s here we reared our family.” Their daughter Bernadette Lackey lives nearby in St Martin’s Avenue; Michael lives in Devoy Terrace with his wife Anne and their five children; Elizabeth and her husband Martin Roe live in Ballycane while Margaret Lackey lives in Sarto Road. “It was a case of two sisters marrying two brothers,” Arthur remembers.

Cottages celebrate their centenary

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