|
Kitty's, Arklow's famous bar and restaurant is the proud successor to a long tradition of the vintners craft carried out from these premises.
In 1194 a Norman knight, Theobald Fitzwalter Lord of Arcloo, and principle founder of the town was appointed "la boittelair le roi", butler to the king for his services as cupbearer at the coronation of his monarch Henry II of England and Ireland. La boittelair was a lucrative office as Fitzwalter soon found out as he was allowed to control the shipment of all wine legally imported into Ireland (though smugglers made sure he hadn't a sole monopoly). The knight's fee was a butt of wine from every cargo landed in the country. As long as seven hundred years ago Fitzwalters wine was imported through "Arcloo", as it was known, to be off-loaded at a river mooring just above the location where this fine hostelry now stands. The great warrior himself,probably Ireland's first authentic vintner, was buried not 200 yards from here, until his body was dug up and removed to Limerick during the Reformation.
Wine was only for the church and the nobility however. The poor, plain people of Arklow had only ale and cider to drink during medieval days. These beverages were first introduced into the town by English settlers. A right to brew ale and to press cider was held locally by the monks of The Abbey of Holy Cross whom Fitzwalter invited to Arklow in 1263. Monks brew eventually got quite a reputable name for quality up and down the east coast trade route. When the monastery was supressed in 1539 its orchards, brewery and cider presses were sold off to private individuals.
In 1667 one Joeseph Bayly had a brewery and store on this site, which is now 56 Main St. His house was a large one for the Arklow of the time, having four "Smokes" (The description of chimneys as described in the tax book of 1660). Bayley coined his own local money in 1667. These tokens were necessary as there was little official small coinage in circulation in 17th century Ireland. On the obverse of the token the brewer incorporated two maltsters paddles in the design. The Bayleys continued in business until 1720. In 1705 a parish Church of Ireland was erected on a site across from the Bayleys. It stood, in various forms, until 1908 when it was demolished. Church buildings was constructed from its materials. The old burial ground of the church still remains beside Kitty's. Now fountained and bandstanded "The Park" as it is known is a focal point of Arklow's cultural life...well some of it!
Daniel McDaniel, a merchant of spirits traded out of here for some years after 1720. In turn the place was leased to an Edward Byrne, another spirit vendor. Byrne also acquired an additional 25 feet of frontage and this plot became the origin for the number 56a. The present lounge, stairwell and part of the loft restaurant have been incorporated into this portion of Kittys.
More...
|
|
