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The Western Wholesale Building

After crossing the Inner Relief Road we come across the few remaining houses built by Mr. Peter O'Connor who owned the Sligo Saw Mills which were situated to our right, where the Bus Eireann garage now stands.

According the what has been written in various publications, Mr. Peter O'Connor must have been a shrewd businessman, but at the same time a good man to work for, he thought a lot of his employees, having these houses specifically for them out of his own pocket.

Soon we come to the traffic lights from where we can view the Western Wholesale Building on our right, which is unfortunately NOT open to the public.

This impressive three storey building features random coursed local limestone with brick dressings, with 8 windows facing onto Wine Street and 3 windows facing onto Adelaide Street, and Overhanging eaves with cupola, three stone pilastered doorcases with entablatures.

The building is the most notable building associated with the poet William Butler Yeats in Sligo Town and is currently occupied by a firm of solicitors, though in it's heyday it was part of an extensive property belonging to the Pollexfen family, operating under the name of The Pollexfen Shipping Line which belonged to William Pollexfen, the grandfather of William Butler Yeats (on his mothers side).

Around a century ago the Pollexfen's and the Middleton's were the largest ship owners in Sligo Town, and Mr. Pollexfen would regularly aim his telescope from the lookout tower on the roof of the building to watch his ships sailing in and out of Sligo Harbour.

 

Now turn slightly to the right and look diagonally across the road junction, where you will see the Bus Eireann bus garage.

This garage stands on the site of the former Sligo Saw Mill's which was one of the finest mills in the British Kingdom.

This firm was established in the 1850's by the prominent local businessman Mr. Peter O'Connor, who being a devout Roman Catholic, donated the chimes, clock, bells and high altar to The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception which we shall be seeing later in our Walking Tour.

Looking slightly right again, you will see a very faded blue sign above an entrance, which is the former site of the Egan's Mineral Water Company which was a very thriving and successful mineral water manufactory and general bottling stores.

Egan's Mineral Waters also had branches in Dublin and Ballina.

We are now in Wine Street, which got its name because many of the basements of the business premises in this street were vaulted so as to store wine which was imported by Bulteels.

Upon leaving The Western Wholesale Building, keep walking in the same easterly direction along the left hand side of Wine Street until you reach The Gaiety Cineplex.

Click here to read about: The Methodist Chapel.

 

Last Modified Thursday, 27-May-2010 22:13:45 BST.