History of Quinns Craftshop

Quinns craftshop has an intriguing history - a brief glimpse of which is outlined in the Irish archives of 1910, when during the period it acted as a Royal Irish Constabulary barracks.

There is a report, written by a Mr. W. Salmond in December 1910, detailing the state of disrepair of the building, then the R.I.C. Barracks in Ballyvaughan, now home to Quinns Craftshop. It indicates that before the premises had been transformed into a military barracks, it had been used as a shop with a bakery attached. From the same document written in 1910, we learned that the main building had several outhouses and that these had various purposes, among them, a coach-house, a wash-house, storage houses and stables. The ruins of these buildings remain today and are an attractive feature beside Quinns Craftshop.

Obtained from the National Archives, another excerpt from the County Inspector's report dated 17th March 1911, outlines the intention of Mrs. Comyn to have a shop on her premises - then the Royal Irish Constabulary barracks. This was in the hope that should she be gainfully employed at the time her lease on the building expired, the landlord might be reluctant to expel her from the building. It is obvious that the building at this stage was in much disrepair. Remembering that this precis was written in 1911 the amount of £25 or £30 was formidable. It was also difficult for Mrs. Comyn to gather this amount when, if this report is to be believed, her husband was "intemperate and a spendthrift"!

It has progressed much since then but still retains the sense of service - in its friendly welcome and helpful owners.