Larry "Old Pops" Keegan
Gun & Rifle Maker
3 Inns Quay
Dublin
An interesting and decorative sales letter offering a Charles Weekes & Co., 8 Bore Duck Gun at £4.0.0.L. Keegan first appears in the Dublin trade directory of 1906. Therefore, we can assume he commenced trading in circa 1905. He is listed at 35 Upper Ormond Quay until just after the outbreak of the First World War. The trades directories list no gunmakers/dealers for the period 1916-1924. This in part due to the First World War, The Rising and the Partition issue. There must have been a total clamp down on the movement and sale of arms at this very sensitive time in Ireland's turbulent history.
Ammunition and Gunpowder during this period were held under guard in Phoenix Park. Gunmaker's, such as Larry Keegan would be allocated a ration that would be collected and signed for. No doubt the authorities checked Keegan's registers and receipts to ensure these items were being sold only to bona fide clients.
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Trades directory entries for 1906. Kavanagh |
William & Son |
12 Dame St |
|
Keegan | L | 35 Ormond Quay.Up' | |
Parkinson | John | 17 Arran Quay | |
Trulock Harriss&Richardson Ltd | 9 Dawson St | ||
Trulock | Richard | 13 Parliament St |
For the period 1935-1945 the Dublin directories quote "B.Keegan". 35 Ormond Quay, Dublin.
George Burrows wrote a very interesting piece on the history of Garnetts and Keegan's in "Irish Fieldsports & Angling Handbook compiled by Albert Titterington, B.Sc., M.B.A.. The Appletree Press Ltd., for Professional Promotions Ltd.. Published 1984".
In future blogs we will cover the history of Keegan's until their amalgamation with Garnetts in 1949.
Our thanks to the above author and the supplier of the Keegan letterheading.
Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk
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