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When we spotted John McDonald’s
When everyone shopped locally in the village for their meat and groceries, with Farrelly’s for our meat, Brady’s and Loughrin’s stores for
There was also the local dispensery headed by Dr.McEllroy and Nurse Magee.
From our row of 14 cottages alone there would be as many as 22 budding George Bests turning out – including the two
There were no dressing rooms or such luxuries, and we got our refreshments by drinking the cool clear water from the stream that ran along the side of the pitch.
John went downhill very fast after that…
ang, it must have been bliss, growing up at no.5 Bellevue Cottages in the 1960s and ’70s.
ang, it must have been bliss, growing up at no.5 Bellevue Cottages in the 1960s and ’70s.
All 12 McDonald kids…
Even if you did have to share this small home with 11 siblings.
Still, you could literally roll down the hill for that early morning double-decker to school, and when it came to that all-important Sunday football match in behind Heffernan’s, sure, weren’t you just across the road…?
When we spotted John McDonald’s 
social media post about growing up on Bellevue Hill, we were soon in touch with our own fellow Delgany chancer to find out more.
social media post about growing up on Bellevue Hill, we were soon in touch with our own fellow Delgany chancer to find out more.And here, with a cast of characters straight out of Craggy Island, are John’s memories of a feckin’ wonderful life…
What great memories I have of growing up at no.5 Bellevue Cottages, up that endless Delgany hill, with all those endless summers.
We’re talking about the 1960s onwards. The days when we knew everybody on our road, as well as those in the village and surrounding areas. When few had cars, and getting to Greystones was by bus, bicycle or walking.
We’re talking about the 1960s onwards. The days when we knew everybody on our road, as well as those in the village and surrounding areas. When few had cars, and getting to Greystones was by bus, bicycle or walking.When everyone shopped locally in the village for their meat and groceries, with Farrelly’s for our meat, Brady’s and Loughrin’s stores for 
everything from lighters to Lifebuoy soap, and Ludlows for just about everything else, including your post. And for a while, there was Hutchinson’s too, when they set up a small shop in Noel Belton’s farm yard at the start of Bellevue Hill.
everything from lighters to Lifebuoy soap, and Ludlows for just about everything else, including your post. And for a while, there was Hutchinson’s too, when they set up a small shop in Noel Belton’s farm yard at the start of Bellevue Hill.
There was also the three pubs to serve this tiny village, The Delgany Inn, The Wicklow Arms and The Horse & Hounds balancing out the two churches, one Catholic, one Protestant. So we had the spirits and the spiritual taken care of.
There was also the three pubs to serve this tiny village, The Delgany Inn, The Wicklow Arms and The Horse & Hounds balancing out the two churches, one Catholic, one Protestant. So we had the spirits and the spiritual taken care of.There was also the local dispensery headed by Dr.McEllroy and Nurse Magee. 
And let’s not forget Patterson’s garage and petrol pumps [pictured], McGee’s riding school (beside Brady’s and the Watchorn’s house) and Harrison’s Autioneers. The only village school was the Church of Ireland Primary in the old School House, otherwise you attended The Downs’ primary school, or St.Bridget’s and St.Kevin’s in Greystones.
And let’s not forget Patterson’s garage and petrol pumps [pictured], McGee’s riding school (beside Brady’s and the Watchorn’s house) and Harrison’s Autioneers. The only village school was the Church of Ireland Primary in the old School House, otherwise you attended The Downs’ primary school, or St.Bridget’s and St.Kevin’s in Greystones.The nearest secondary school in my time was the girls only school at St. David’s, Greystones, and for boys, it was Pres, St Brendan’s or the Tech, all in Bray. Which was miles away.
For recreation, we had football and golf, or we’d play pool and darts in the Horse and Hound. Our swimming was done in the Dock in Greystones harbour or the South Beach, and entertainment was had at the Ormonde cinema. Dancing, discos, etc, were held at St. Killian’s Hall, The Yacht Club, The La Touche Hotel, The Tennis Club, The Cliff House Hotel, The Woodlands Hotel and The Rugby Club.
For recreation, we had football and golf, or we’d play pool and darts in the Horse and Hound. Our swimming was done in the Dock in Greystones harbour or the South Beach, and entertainment was had at the Ormonde cinema. Dancing, discos, etc, were held at St. Killian’s Hall, The Yacht Club, The La Touche Hotel, The Tennis Club, The Cliff House Hotel, The Woodlands Hotel and The Rugby Club.
Every Sunday in Delgany in the ’70s, at around 2.30pm, we had our own Match of the Day, held in the field behind Heffernan’s house, all by the generosity of the Corballis family of Gorteen House. Every Sunday, all the lads on our road and surrounding areas would turn up for a soccer match that would last till 6pm. By which time it would have turned into a blood sport.
Every Sunday in Delgany in the ’70s, at around 2.30pm, we had our own Match of the Day, held in the field behind Heffernan’s house, all by the generosity of the Corballis family of Gorteen House. Every Sunday, all the lads on our road and surrounding areas would turn up for a soccer match that would last till 6pm. By which time it would have turned into a blood sport.From our row of 14 cottages alone there would be as many as 22 budding George Bests turning out – including the two 
Barry brothers, the four Darcy brothers, the three McDonald Brothers, the two White brothers, the two Clear brothers, Peter Heffernan, Christy Davitt, Tommy Murphy, Kenneth Lewis, Mark Lewis, Justin Maher [pictured], Frank Coleman and Myles Waters.
Barry brothers, the four Darcy brothers, the three McDonald Brothers, the two White brothers, the two Clear brothers, Peter Heffernan, Christy Davitt, Tommy Murphy, Kenneth Lewis, Mark Lewis, Justin Maher [pictured], Frank Coleman and Myles Waters.
Mick & Charlie Byrne
On any given Sunday, it could end up with as many as 15 or 16 players on each side playing for almost 3 hours – and what great matches we had for sure, with no referee to judge, except the players themselves. A majority rule decision being the order of the day!
2 comments
Mention of the Thornton’s who lived at Ardsilla (now owned by Matthew Jebb and family of Botanic Gardens fame) is interesting. Dr Thornton was married in to a lady called Coolican and his wife’s nephew R.E.Coolican (shortened to Teddy) lived with them when not at boarding school. He was one of the founders of the Greystones Rugby Club and a member of the Delgany Golf Club where he won many trophies. Teddy went on to play rugby for Trinity College and played for Ireland in 1946 against Wales. He left Ireland for Australia where he practised medecine and his son John also represented Australia in rugby. Teddy’s grandson represented USA in rugby,making him the third generation of capped players in a family. Teddy’s efforts were finally recognised in August 2023 when the IRFU finally, after 77 years, honoured Teddy and others by awarding a full International Cap in a special ceremony at the English-Irish match in the Aviva stadium. Twelve members of the family attended the event,many of whom travelled from Sydney in Australia to be present. Greystones Rugby Club also honoured the family in a special event on the eve of the presentation.
I would be interested in hearing more memories about Nurse Magee at the Delgany dispensary. We’re doing an article on her.