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The deeds said that the house was built during the late 18th century.
I am celebrating my 90th birthday in Newcastle with my family.
Kilcoole House: The D.C. Urell Years
hen we posted last week about the approved plans 
to turn the former Kilcoole House site into apartments and shops, we knew very little of its rich and colourful history.
hen we posted last week about the 
to turn the former Kilcoole House site into apartments and shops, we knew very little of its rich and colourful history.A fact that was quickly pointed out by Kathryn Urell, whose family just happened to run a grocery store there from the 1950s to 1999.
James Urell
And luckily, the man who signed on the dotted line all those years ago is alive and just about finished celebrating his 90th birthday last Sunday.
After a quick search through the family photo album, Kathryn unearthed some timely pics, whilst the bould birthday boy Donal sat down and charted the Urell’s happy years running the perfect little corner shop…
Glenroe Deli
On her way home from Mass one Sunday in the early 1950s, my mother saw that the house and shop, Ireton’s at the crossroads in Kilcoole, was for sale.
It was in poor condition – the roof was collapsing and the whole place needed complete rewiring. It was built on the steep slope that is the main street, at the top of Sea Road, beside Lotts Lane. There were a number of ruined sheds in the back yard.
Mc’s Cuisine
I did not see its potential. My mother did though.
It was always difficult to say no to Katherine Urell. She persuaded me to buy it for £1,000.
The deeds said that the house was built during the late 18th century. 
It had been through a few incarnations since then. At one stage it had been a pub. There is a story that the man who lived in the big house nearby, Woodstock (where Druid’s Glen is now) had eczema. The recommended treatment was to bathe in red wine. Apparently, one of the servants in the house re-bottled the wine and sold it in the pub. Maybe that’s how it lost the licence.
It had been through a few incarnations since then. At one stage it had been a pub. There is a story that the man who lived in the big house nearby, Woodstock (where Druid’s Glen is now) had eczema. The recommended treatment was to bathe in red wine. Apparently, one of the servants in the house re-bottled the wine and sold it in the pub. Maybe that’s how it lost the licence.
Woodstock
I started a grocery business and set about the renovations. Running your own business is in my DNA. My parents owned the post office and grocery shop in Newcastle since 1917. My brother Seamus took over the home place, my sister Maureen was post mistress in Kilcoole, Rita was post mistress in the Vevay in Bray, Eileen in Greystones and Kay in Clonakilty.
Donal & Mary late 1960s
I married Mary in 1966. Mary really settled me down; we built up the business together and we had six children. We called it Kilcoole House because we figured there was already an Irish House and a Shamrock House in the village.
Donal & Mary a little later
In a family business, everyone has to help out. From an early age, each family member stacked shelves, served customers, cleaned the premises, took orders and as soon as they could drive, delivered the orders each Saturday.
Donal Urell 90 JULY20
It taught them the value of hard work. During the 1980s, when Glenroe was being filmed in the village, some of my children were extras. The house also featured in JP Donleavy’s book Ireland.
During the 1990s, the day of the family-run grocery business was coming to an end. Supermarkets had opened up in Bray and Greystones. We sold Kilcoole House in 1999 and retired to Newcastle, where I had grown up. Later, when Ian McEntaggart was operating Mac’s Deli on the premises, we returned for lunch to our old kitchen. We were amazed to see our Aga as a historical centrepiece.
Chris Hunt behind the counter
The house was sold again, and sadly, no one lived there. It became derelict and was set ablaze one night. Then it was bulldozed. Planning permission was sought and then rejected. Finally this year, permission has been granted for apartments to be built on the site.
Kathryn Urell & sis
4 comments
Best wishes to the Urell family
Belated Happy Birthday Donal. I hope we can meet up again sometime.when all this is over.
I have traced a lot if our family history and could do with so.e help
Your first cousin one removed
Frank Urell (Emmets son)
A very happy birthday Donal. What great memories as a child living in Kilcoole. I was a regular in your shop getting the penny sweets and crisps with the pocket money. Always kind and polite. Always remember when yr door would open and u could see into the kitchen the smell of the lovely food coming through to the shop. It was gorgeous. Also Billy Lawless coming up on his tractor and every now and then Molly is cow would follow him. That was our old village and great times and a great place to live. Thank you for yr memories and have a fantastic time ❤
Just some of the lovely comments on this post over on our Facebook page…
Bernadette Cosgrave Congratulations A very Happy 90th Birthday Donal, from George Gammell 91 and Rita Gammell. And Paddy Bridget cosgrave also 90, who have some fantastic stories, Happy memorie and having the chats, wish you and Mary health and happiness.from us All
Carole Elkington Happy birthday donal we were always in the shop as we were down the lane at granny delaneys for the summer hols x happy memories
Kevin Mulvey I delivered milk to Donal for 20 years happy birthday Donal
Rosemary Urell Brings back such happy memories. ❤️
Fred Rountree Happy Birthday Donal! You gave a fabulous interview obviously. Great to read the story.
Val Lawrence Amazing to see these pics and bring back so many memories. Every Sunday morning was spent in Urell’s when my dad would go in after mass to buy the papers for everyone on our road, a block of ice cream for ‘after the dinner’ and freshly sliced ham for ‘the tea’. It was a job that should have taken ten minutes but lasted at least two hours by the time himself and Donal had the chats and put the world to right. I remember one time Mr Urell trying to teach me how to use the ham slicer… great times.
Gillian Pryor What a wonderful article, heartwarming
Mary Urell Loved my years in Kilcoole, ❤️❤️
Valerie Fortune What a lovely read, many congratulations on your 90th birthday Donal, you and Mary are looking great, enjoy all the celebrations.
Roisin Keddy Spent my childhood in there lovely family ❤️❤️❤️
Veronica Stringer Such great memories of spending my pocket money in there. Donal used to always throw in a few extra sweets to the bag the corned beef was so good too and sliced so thinly while you were there. Fantastic memories. Was so sad when they sold up and even more sad to see it now and hear of the plans for it.
Alison O Reilly Happy 90 th birthday what a fantastic read so many fond memories of you & your family from childhood going in to buy sweets & the history, photos ,thank you for sharing beautiful home town Kilcoole X
Susan Behan I remember buying lots of sweets from them. Beautiful family . Taking the buttervochers for sweets.
Una Kennedy Enjoyed reading this lovely article, it brought back a lot of happy memories. Congratulations on your 90th Birthday Donal. May you & Mary enjoy many more Happy years together.
Best Wishes Padraig & Una XX
Mick Campbell Happy birthday, Donal. Your family and shop bring back many happy childhood memories. God bless you.
Linda Mckenna Dunne Brings back some great childhood memories! Lovely family ❤️
Mary Marmion Kilcoole Happy birthday Donal. And Mary has a birthday soon too! Haha! Same as my twins Mary. Always had time for the chat. your shop…the craic! Loved your sliced ham, sunday papers after Mass.Thank you for the memoirs. Continues good life and happiness to a special family. Mary (was O’Sullivan)
Vincent Hunt Great article , remember the Da collecting the Sunday papers , which you had to order back then , the names written on top , Sunday Indo & the People , the Sunday treat was a packet of charms or a trigger bar ! Should never have been demolished ! Happy birthday Donal
Pádraigín Uí Dhochartaigh Conarain Great history. So interesting to read of a little shop I drove by often, & I’m not sure I was ever in. Sad the building is gone
Stephen Donnelly Happy Birthday Donal!
Thanks to you and Mary for your support and kindness over the years!
Regards to all the family!!
Aine Conway Wonderful childhood memories. Buying ice pops with my pocket money. I remember evey few weeks being sent over to pay for the papers. Mum and dad always said you were the best neighbours. Happy birthday to you. Give a kiss from me to your beautiful wife Mary who always had great time for me. Best wishes from Aine Conway nee Doyle Irish House.
Paul Hunt Sorry I was mostly late to collect the Newspapers ( Evening Press and Herald ) for the round but sure I was either way up the fields or at the Breaches, only notion of time then was the Church Bells ….scramble back to the village ….shop would be closed call to the house door and ring the bell …Donal had the papers ready and give out to me for being late again …
…..BUT always in a nice way