Growing up in Westport in the 1970s

Westport in the 1970s was a far cry from ‘the best place to live in Ireland’. Prospects were limited even with several small factories and businesses in the area. Jobs were usually for life.  Time was BC – before coffee and before computers!   Yet, it wasn’t all bad - The Tea Cosy existed as did two cinemas, Pake’s and The Ideal. We had two dancehalls, The Pavie and The Starlight, with many more within travelling distance. We also had a few hotels. Belclare House Hotel even had a swimming pool! 

The flotsam from the 1960s was being washed ashore across Ireland. We had a ‘hippy’ experience! There was Gaelic football, soccer and rugby. Golf was for the grown-ups. Handball was for the brave. And you dare not miss the annual mission when pent-up Redemptorists pounded pulpits, bodies and souls.  There was no choice but to go on living and partly living. And that’s what we all did in Covietown. Despite the difficulties we all loved it, our own Westport of the Welcomes.

Liamy Mac Nally is a freelance journalist based in Westport. He previously worked in BBC Three Counties Radio and Midwest Radio in Mayo. He has made several award-winning radio documentaries, including Knock Airport – What’s the Story? (with colleague Teresa O’Malley), The Democratic Deficit (on the Corrib Gas story) and Frank Stagg’s Three Funerals (with Ronan Kelly, RTÉ Doc on One). Liamy writes a regular column, De Facto, with the Mayo News.

Under the CPR (Covie Publications and Recordings) imprint he supports book publishing, with over fifty titles published to date by various authors. He also works part-time in an administrative role with the Association of Catholic Priests.

Liamy is a loyal Bob Dylan fan and listens to and writes about Dylan, in any shape, sense or form, publishing ‘Happy Birthday Mr Bob’, a celebration of Dylan’s 80th birthday, with over 100 contributors.

He is also completely devoted to his Áit Dhuchais and uses every opportunity to promote Westport at home and abroad. Liamy featured in the recent Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year, where he welcomed the winning artist, Kim Day, to the town. He also features in promotional videos for the Wyatt Hotel where he highlights aspects of the local heritage and culture.