05 April-Guinness

Guinness beer is one of the most successful beer brands in the world. It uses a right facing image of the Harp as its symbol. Guinness beer has been brewed at St James’s Gate brewery in Dublin since 1759. The beer has a dark colour which is caused by roasting a portion of the barley used in its brewing process. Mixing the beer with nitrogen as it is poured causes its creamy head. Almost a billion litres of Guinness are sold in Ireland and in countries around the world every year.

Guinness was founded by Arthur Guinness. In 1759 he signed a 9,000 year lease on the St James’s Gate site which was then an unused brewery. Beer has been brewed at the site down through the centuries. By 1900 the Guinness brewery was the largest in the world and was selling beer as far away as Australia. Today Guinness continues to be brewed in Dublin and is also brewed in 51 other countries. The Guinness Hop Store at St James’s gate in Dublin is a major tourist attraction.

The 14th century harp, which is on display in the Long Room of Dublin’s Trinity College Library, has been the national symbol of Ireland for centuries. The harp is known both as the Trinity College Harp and as Brian Boru’s Harp. In 1862 Benjamin Guinness adopted a right facing version of the harp as the Guinness motif. The firm registered their version of the harp as a trademark in 1875.

Guinness adopted a right facing image of the harp as its symbol in the year 1862 On This Day.

Guinness Pint

Guinness!

Guinness

Guinness

 

 

04 November-Milford Mills Carlow

Milford Mills are located at Ballygowan on the banks of the River Barrow about 8km south of Carlow town, Ireland. The Mills were established by the Alexander family in 1790. They contained flourmills, kilns and malt houses.

From the time of establishment the business of the Mills grew rapidly. By 1840, Mr. & Mrs Hall’s “Ireland” described the Milford Mills as ‘one of the most extensive and celebrated in Ireland’. The huge buildings were reported to house two of the largest mill wheels in Ireland. In 1862 disaster struck when the Mills were destroyed by fire.

The local Milford Constabulary were the first to notice the fire at around 11.30pm. The alarm was raised and the fire brigade from Carlow was called to the scene. Police from Carlow town and the nearby stations at Leighlinbridge and Bagenalstown also rushed to help. Despite the best efforts of the fire brigade, people who worked at the mills and the police, the mill, machinery and large amounts of corn were destroyed. A local newspaper, The Carlow Sentinel reported ‘a sad scene of havoc and desolation’.

Almost thirty years after the fire, Milford Mills was used to generate an electricity supply for Carlow town. The electricity was used for approximately 7.5km of street lighting and the supply of electric lights to 1,500 private users. When the electricity supply was switched on, on June 24th 1891, it made Carlow the first inland town in Ireland to have electric lighting. Today Milford Mills continues to supply electricity to the national grid.

The flour mills section of Milford Mills near Carlow town destroyed by fire in the year 1862 On This Day.

Image from page 469 of “Picturesque Ireland : a literary and artistic delineation of the natural scenery, remarkable places, historical antiquities, public buildings, ancient abbeys, towers, castles, and other romantic and attractive features of Ireland” by Internet Archive Book Images on 1885-01-01 00:00:00

Milford Carlow photo

A Hazy Day at Milford

Photo by hugh.carlow

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Plaque on Milford Mills, erected by The Old Carlow Society.

 

04 November-Milford Mills, Carlow

Milford Mills are located at Ballygowan on the banks of the River Barrow about 8km south of Carlow town, Ireland. The Mills, which were established by the Alexander family in 1790, contained flourmills, kilns and malt houses.

From the time of establishment he business of the Mills grew rapidly and by 1840, Mr. & Mrs Hall’s “Ireland” described the Milford Mills as ‘one of the most extensive and celebrated in Ireland’. The huge buildings were reported to house two of the largest mill wheels in Ireland. In 1862 disaster struck when the Mills were destroyed by fire.

The local Milford Constabulary were the first to notice the fire at around 11.30pm. The alarm was raised and the fire brigade from Carlow was called to the scene. Police from Carlow town and the nearby stations at Leighlinbridge and Bagenalstown also rushed to help. Despite the best efforts of the fire brigade, people who worked at the mills and the police, the mill, machinery and large amounts of corn were destroyed. A local newspaper, The Carlow Sentinel reported ‘a sad scene of havoc and desolation’.

Almost thirty years after the fire, Milford Mills was used to generate an electricity supply for Carlow town. The electricity was used for approximately 7.5km of street lighting and the supply of electric lights to 1,500 private users. When the electricity supply was switched on, on June 24th 1891, it made Carlow the first inland town in Ireland to have electric lighting. Today Milford Mills continues to supply electricity to the national grid.

The flour mills section of Milford Mills near Carlow town destroyed by fire in the year 1862 On This Day.

Milford Carlow photo

Photo by hugh.carlow