There was great excitement in Moynalty last Thursday when historic shoe-making equipment that would have been used to mend Eamonn De Valera’s shoes, arrived in the village.
The machinery, which dates back to 1937 will be a major exhibit in the Moynalty Steam Threshing Museum, when it is cleaned up and put on display.
Its arrival in Moynalty was only achieved after putting out a call on RTE’s Liveline for someone to help move the equipment, which is extremely heavy.
“Everyone was delighted when it arrived at around 10.10am. It is a wonderful thing to have, especially with its great history and will be a great addition to the museum,” said Museum Committee member Cormac Donegan.
Mr Donegan thanked those who are storing the equipment until after the Steam Threshing Festival on 14th August.
“Once the festival is over, we will be meeting with John Miley, who has given us the equipment to see how it can be set up.
“It will need cleaning and oiling before it goes on display,” he said.
The Museum Committee were delighted to get the equipment, but the gift also presented them with a major headache – how to get it from Dublin to Moynalty, but following an appeal on RTE’s Liveline on Tuesday of last week, a specialist moving company Cronins Movers transported it to Moynalty.
The machinery is from Currans cobblers in Baggotrath Place in Dublin, which dates back to 1937 and was in business until recently.
John Miley the cobbler who had been running the business until recently contacted the museum offering them the historic equipment, if they were able to take it away.
Catherine McGuinness who catalogues the exhibits for the museum said they discovered they weren’t able to move the extremely heavy machinery.
“We tried everything we could. We tried everywhere but couldn’t get anyone who would be able to move the equipment, so we decided to try Liveline.,” Catherine explained.
Both Catherine and John Miley spoke to Joe Duffy and there was an overwhelming response.
Cronin Movers who have experience of moving items for the National Museum got in contact.
They also had lot of other offers of help.
“In the first half hour after the show people started turning up at the shop offering to transport the equipment for us and asking the way to Moynalty,” Catherine says.
In fact, Thomas Claffey, a florist from Palmerstown also helped in moving equipment from the shop.
Catherine was familiar with the shop from living in Dublin. The museum already has shoe-making equipment and as Catherine catalogues the exhibits, when it came to the shoe-making equipment she turned to John Miley for help.
When the decision was taken to close the shop, he in turn contacted the Museum.
“The equipment is all in working order. It needs a little renovation, but later in the year, it will be exhibited in Moynalty,” Catherine said.
Curran’s was started up in 1937 by Michael Curran, and John’s father worked for him. It was one of the most popular shoe repair shops in the 40s, 50s and 60s.
Meanwhile, preparations are in full swing for the Moynalty Steam Threshing Festival, which takes place on 14th August and the people from Cronins Movers as well as Thomas Claffey have been invited back to attend the festival.
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