Patrick Fahey's hardware and gift shop is one of the oldest and highly-respected family businesses in Castlebar. It was set up in 1954. The building itself is if huge historical significance to the town.
It is best known for the role it played in 1798 when General Humbert and his combined forces of Irish and French troops beat the British Red Coats in what was to become known at the Races of Castlebar on August 27th and subsequently took over control of the town. At that time it was known as Geeveys Hotel, and it was there General Humbert stayed when in Castlebar. General Humbert declared the Republic Of Connaught and announced John Moore as the president in this building. The present owners have redecorated the room upstairs where this proclamation took place to reflect the decor and style of the time. Next door to the shop, there was a pub that was originally part of the building, and this pub was aptly named the Humbert Inn. The pub was very famous and was a musical landmark in Castlebar and well-known Irish folk singer Mary Black started her singing career here when she worked in the town in the 1970s. The pub is now a fashion shop.
A plaque on the wall tells us that it became known as The Inn in 1865 and then in 1917, it was the Connaught Cycle Works. The proprietor at the time, Mr. John Brady, then opened the Star Picture Palace in 1919 to the rear of the building where the first film to be shown was “Knocknagow”. In 1924 it became James Guinan & Tierney Grocery, Hardware & House Furnishings. Paddy Fahey, father of Mary Fahey-Tighe, worked here from approx 1929 before taking over the running of the business in 1954.
