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The Passing Decades

In 1939 the present Boys' Primary School was opened celebrating 50 years of dedication to the town by the De La Salle Brothers.

In 1940 the Bohemian Cinema opened its doors for the first time and for the next 33 years it lived up to its boast of being the "Entertainment Hub of Mid-Louth". This was the year, also, which saw the Order of Malta come to Ardee. Its first adjutant, the late Harry Thorne, was succeeded by the late Vincent Kerley and the members continue to provide a magnificent voluntary service to the area. The forties also saw the opening of the two secondary schools by the De La Salle Brothers and Sisters of Mercy. This was also a time when the now defunct Ardee Dramatic Society staged many enjoyable productions and in 1948 the Dee and Clyde Drainage Scheme was inaugurated with consequent benefit for the community.

1950 is a particularly noteworthy milestone for it saw the opening of the Castleguard Textile Company at Cappock's Green and which is still the town's main source of employment with a payroll of 400. The credit for the setting up of this enterprise is generally attributed to the efforts of Mr James Markey and the late Sen. James T. McGee. This year also saw the first houses of the original 112 built in SI. Breagh. The Choral Society illuminated many winters with glittering shows in the fifties. The centenary of their coming to Ardee was celebrated by the Sisters of Mercy with a new primary school and a new maternity wing to St. Joseph's Hospital. In 1952 the era of the Ardee Fair on the Fair Green had came to an end with the opening of a modern Livestock Sales Yard by Kieran & McGee auctioneers at Ash Walk.

In 1961 the Sisters of Mercy sent four of their members to open a school in Eau Gallic, Florida, U.S.A. The same year saw the building of new facilities for the De La Salle secondary school. The De La Salle P.P.U. filled the vacuum left by the Choral Society with their team talent competitions from 1961 right through to this year, 1974. St. Joseph's Hospital became an old people's home in 1964, the same year which witnessed the building of the first 12 houses in New Dawson's Demesne. Two years later 15 more were added to this scheme.

Finally in 1973 the short life of the Bohemian Cinema came to an end, a victim no doubt of television. This year, 1974, as well as a new church we also witnessed the opening of a large comprehensive school, the Ardee Community School, which took over the work previously done so well by the Boys' and Girls' secondary schools and the Technical School. As we write 32 new houses are nearing completion at Hale St., and the chair factory, after a change of ownership two years ago, finally closed this year. Preparations are well in hand however for its re-opening in 1975 as a toy factory. An advance factory is in course of erection at Bohernamoe and planning permission has been granted to Wavin Pipes Ltd. who have purchased a site at Hale St.