‘THE HANGED MAN’S ARCH’ BEER CELLAR OPENS IN MILLTOWN

 Leinster Leader 14 July 1970

‘The Hanged Man’s Arch’ Beer Cellar opens in Milltown

IN RECENT years many publicans have created beautiful lounges, singing pubs, etc., to cater for the changing social habits. Some people like to have their pint in the now well established ballad lounges, but the quite place where one can visit and have a “chat” without having to compete with amplifiers and the like is becoming more popular.

With this in mind Frank Kelly and his wife, Joan, from Milltown, Newbridge, have converted a post-chaise depot, at one time owned by the canal company, into a beer cellar.

It is a cellar in the true sense of the world, having much of the old world-charm about it and combines modern luxuries such as central heating, concealed lighting, background music, etc., to create a very homely atmosphere for all its patrons. The beer cellar has ample seating for at least 100 persons.

Frank and Joan have called the beer cellar “The Hanged Man’s Arch” and it is located close to Milltown Cross beside the old hump-backed canal bridge, about three miles from Newbridge, four miles from Kildare and two miles from Allen.

The beer cellar is part of a port-chaise depot owned by the canal company in the early 1800’s. The name of the beer cellar has a long history starting with a boatman who tended to the needs of passengers on the passage boats. From chaise house passengers hired horses and coaches to complete their journey. One such boatman was in love with a pretty girl named “Kate,” but she had another great admirer who also wished to marry her.

The boatman made a journey down south of Ireland, but he feared the loss of Kate to his rival during his absences. She vowed, however, that she loved him only and would marry him on his return. On his arrival at the chaise depot he found that Kate had become the wife of the second admirer. Broken-hearted, the boatman hanged himself from a trap-door above the main arch.

The entrance to the beer cellar is by way of some steps and a narrow low ceilinged passage. Here you immediately get the atmosphere as the concealed lighting gives the impression of days gone by. Carriage and candles play an important part in the decor of the cellar. At the end of a short passage you emerge into the cellar proper and one is immediately gripped with a feeling that is really in a place out of the past. The tables are made from complete rounds of a large tree. Seating blends beautifully into the surrounds with lots of little alcoves with subdued lighting.

Every effort has been made to retain the old-world effect in the cellar. Even grooves in the wall, now supporting miniature thatched cottages, whiskey bottles, etc., were once used as mineral licks for the horses stabled in the cellar. As one moves down towards the bar, one passes through the arch where the unfortunate boatman met his end.

The complete story is told in a stained glass picture behind the bar. The counter is made up of old bottles which were found when excavating the floor and surrounds to refurbish the beer cellar. Along the walls there are old canal documents dating from which 1808 and a copy of a will made by the late Rev. John Lawlor, Co. Kildare, dated 22.5.1830.

Most of the work was completed by Frank Kelly and some helpers, while the new toilet, tea rooms and exterior were carried out by Mr. Seamus Reddy, contractor Black Millar, Kildare. There is a spacious new car park.

Frank intends to have the cellar open every night from 8 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from afternoons. Combined with this he is arranging boat trips along the canal on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Teas and light snacks will also be available in the “tea room” situated just off the main lounge.

The opening ceremony was performed on Thursday 9th July by “Benjy” of The Riordans TV Programme, who is a cousin of Frank Kelly.

There is a little doubt that the “Hanged Man’s Arch Beer Cellar” will become the “haunt” of many.

Re-typed by Lynn Potts