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Local History

Shelburne CO-OP

In our village the building that stands out the most is the CO-OP.It's full name is Shelburne Co-operative Agricultural Society. It also has a great history and later with Glanbia  continued to do well. In 2010 the above building was demolished bringing to an end a thriving business.The name Shelburne or the old name Síl mBrain is the name of the Barony in which Campile is situated. The Co-Op has been described as a 'mighty oak' by a local poet and since it was started in 1919 that tiny oak has continued to grow.The Co-Operative movement had been founded earlier in the 1890's by Sir Horace Plunkett. Michael Cloney from Dungulph and Simon Murphy from Ramsgrange came together and decided to help the local farmers to sell their produce. Before this a farmer might have travelled a long journey with his corn only to be told 'We are not taking any corn to day. Come back some other day'. The aim of the Co-Op was to buy everything the farmer has to sell and to sell and selling everything he has to buy and sharing in the profits.


Michael Cloney
Chairman 1919-1934


Simon Murphy
General Manager/Secretary 1919-1955
These two men were involved from the start as was Martin Howlett from Dunbrody who was the Co-Op's first manager. He won four All Ireland Football medals with Wexford from 1915-1918.


Samuel G. Warren. Chairman 1952-55

In the beginning the Co-Op idea was supported by most but others said it would be a failure. It started its life in a wooden shed 40 feet  by 20 feet on an acre of ground bought by the founders. The first shareholder was Michael Doyle from Fethard-on-Sea who bought 10 shares on may 26 1919. This was also the time when the Irish War of Independence 1919-1921 started.The turnover for the first year was £3,013.


View of the Co-Op from by gone days

 In the early days it would have had a saddler's shop, cobbler's,
  grocery,butchery,creamery and bakery. It also had a pharmacy and hardware as well as  its own restaurant.  A 'Bonus Scheme' was set up so that members and customers would gain from the profits. It would be paid in cash or goods. The wool bonus and turkey bonus were very popular.The Co-Op also had its own boat or barge which was built by the members themselves and that's how Paddy Carroll of Ballyhack got involved in boat building.The boat travelled to and from Waterford with coal,cement,and other goods. It was able to come right into the centre of Campile village on the Pill river. The railway of course was nearby. In 1959 the Co-Op built a modern grain drying plant with an output of 5,000 barrels a day.Once, over 140 workers headed home on their bikes after a day's work there.


Barge on the River Pill.The Co-Op barge was engine powered and drew grain from Campile to Halls in Waterford and is seen here at Dunphy's coalyard.Included in picture are Mikey Shalloe and Larry Dillon.


Bailing wool for export at the Co-Op in the 50's.From Left. Walter Kinsella, Peter Kehoe,Tim Sullivan and  Sim Murphy from Curraduff

Disaster struck on 26th August 1940 during World War 2 when  a German plane dropped over five bombs. Three girls were killed in the C0-Op restaurant and the creamery and other buildings were destroyed. The Co-Op had to be re built and and in 2011 was eventually demolished bringing to an end a thriving enterprise in Campile.
Mill workers in the Co-op. From left is Pat Howlin, Dick Sutton, Tom Burke, Paddy Tubritt, Peter Kehoe, Tim O'Sullivan, Foulksmills and Johnny Connors, Kildare.


Delivering grain to the Co-Op


'Question Time ' was sponsored by the Co-Op.The The 1959 finalists were Campile and Adamstown(winners)
Campile team. Back Row.Brian Barnwell, John Murphy,Michael Hart,Harold Warren and Michael Sutton.
Front Row third left is Mr.Simon Murphy

Newly built Co-op garage in Campile.

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