One of Ballina’s greats, Arthur Muffeny, remembered
By Yvonne Ahearn-Kevany
Arthur Muffeny (1836 – 1912) was one of Ballina’s greatest. He was a businessman, philanthropist, industrialist, humanitarian and champion of the poor and destitute.
Arthur owned a car and coach factory in Ballina as well as a foundry on the Killala Road, and a steam-powered sawmill on Arran St (now Tone St) as well as several other businesses. He built the Town Hall, which was used as a dance hall, opera hall, for political meetings and roller skating, with a six-table snooker and billiard room which in the winter saw constant use. (The Picture Palace cinema was later introduced by his son-in-law James Ahearn). Arthur also built a handball court, with seating capacity for a thousand patrons and gymnasium and dressing rooms underneath.
A Land League campaigner and friend of Charles Stewart Parnell and Michael Davitt, Arthur Muffeny spoke on every platform in North Mayo & West Sligo and served two terms of imprisonment for opposing landlordism and evictions. He built ten houses for evicted tenants at the top of Hill St which he called House League Avenue, later changed to Land League Lane. He also built seven houses for his workers at Saint Patrick’s Terrace, Ballina.
The Maid of Erin Monument, locally known as the Humbert Memorial Monument, was erected by Arthur Muffeny, and he invited Maud Gonne to the laying of the foundation stone in 1898, presenting her with a silver trowel, and again to the unveiling in 1899 when he presented her with a beautiful spinning wheel painted in green and gold which is now on display today at Clew Bay Heritage Centre in Westport.
Arthur Muffeny – a man with a big heart and a brave spirit! – provided much needed employment and rebuilt most of old Ballina, and yet, his incredible story has remained in the shadows of the history of our town. In 2021, author Terry Reilly wrote about Arthur in his book, Ballina & Area People, and this April, a book devoted to sharing the story of his life and legacy will be released.
“Ballina’s Forgotten Hero”, co-written by two of Arthur Muffeny’s great grandchildren, Colum MacDonnell and author of this piece, Yvonne Ahearn-Kevany, will be launched on Sunday, April 30 at 5pm at his former residence at the corner of Pearse Street and Tolan St .(formerly Tyler’s Corner) where a permanent plaque will also be unveiled in his honour by the recently formed Arthur Muffeny Commemoration Committee.