Women publicans are still rare enough in this day and age, never mind in 1900. At that time the pub was mostly the preserve of men, both in terms of ownership and patronage.
Perusing the Licensed Vintners Association archives last year we came across one document that stood out from all else. It started “Dear Madam.” It was the only letter among hundreds from 1900 that we found that did not start with “Dear Sir” or by addressing a man by name.
Fallon’s pub in The Coombe has a very colourful history, especially when it comes to former owners. The pub was once owned by famed boxer Dan Donnelly, a goliath of the sport in his day. You can find a thorough history of the pub via this link.
To add to the extraordinary history of the pub, we can add that it was once owned by Agnes O’Gara. Our friends over at the Come Here To Me blog note that Agnes resided there in 1901, according to the census of that year. Link.
The letter to Agnes O’Gara welcomes her as a member of the association. The membership fee is mentioned as being one guinea. It would be interesting to know how many women were members at that time.
The LVA has today, for the first time in its history, a woman as chair of the organisation. Deirdre Devitt took over the position last year.
