During the past 40 years or
so considerable changes have taken place in or near Edgeworthstown reflecting
changes to modern times. The old Fair Green at the corner of the Longford and
Ballymahon roads where tolls were taken for the sale of animals has not been
used for many years and the monthly fairs on the streets have disappeared from
the opening of the Cattle Wait in 1959. A small factory for the manufacture of
Souvenirs was in operation for a few years in the 1960's. It was run by two
Hungarian nationals who came to Ireland after the revolution in Hungary in 1956.
The Green is now a community run amenity area providing Tennis, Basketball and
soccer. Several new housing schemes have been completed. The first, Marian
Avenue, of 20 houses was built in the early 1950's by a County Mayo firm. Later
two schemes of dwellings were erected which were called Devine Cresent, named
after the late Hughie Devine a very well known character and one of the stalwart
supporters of the local G.A.A. club. Other private houses were built or
renovated over the years in Church St. Granard St., on the Dublin Rd. and at
Bracklin. Needed extensions have been added to the Manor Nursing Home where a
new Church and Mortuary have recently been built. On the business side many of
the family type shops of one sort or another have gone due to deaths or sale and
some are now specialising in only one form of business. There are now two new
Supermarkets in the town which is also well served with modern garages. Two well
run factories are in full operation at the outskirts of the town on the Longford
Rd. There is also a Joinery factory located in what was known as "Quinns
Field". The latest development, has been the demolition of some old houses
on the south side of Granard St. |