17/02/2023
McElhinneys’ Garage to become a brewery
An old garage in Portnablagh has been given the green light to become a micro-brewery.
The old building will be substantially renovated inside to accommodate brewing equipment and a seating/viewing area at the rear, while maintaining the familiar edifice.
As the gable inscription states, this garage was founded in 1926 and belonged to the McElhinney Brothers. It remained a family business into the late 20th century under David McElhinney, with Anna McElhinney now making it into a micro-brewery.
The original brothers were Robert (Bobbie) McElhinney (b.1898) and David F McElhinney (b.1905) from Marble Hill. Their business was known locally as “McElhinneys’ Garage” or “The Garage”.
The garage offered nearly every motoring service a local garage possibly could, from car and tractor sales to vehicle repairs and fuel. The old fuel pumps at the front were only removed in the last few years. The existing fuel tanks in the ground are due to be filled with sand soon.
McElhinneys’ breakdown lorry was a familiar sight on the local roads. David was a member of the National Private Lorry Owners Protective Association. In 1942 he campaigned against the Government’s right to commandeer lorries during the war. The war already had a huge impact on his petrol sales. In the days leading up to WW2, fuel prices doubled and McElhinney Bros were forced to sell a gallon of only grade 1 petrol for 1/11.
The brothers and their families were well-respected members of the local community. They were prominent members of Ballymore Parish Church. Their wives worked hard to support them, particularly in letting out several of their properties in Portnablagh during the summer.
Robert and David were sons of David and Eliza Jane McElhinney. David Snr (b.1864) was a gardener (or land steward) for most of his life for Hugh A Law of Marble Hill house (MP and TD for Donegal). As his lifelong gardener, David Snr was the only non-relative Mr Law bequeathed money to in his death in 1943, leaving £10 as a small token of “my friendship and esteem” for the late David McElhinney.
While working in the Marble Hill demesne in 1911, David Snr discovered a ‘fairy shoe’ in a secluded wood. It was perfectly made in fine leather and measured two inches by one inch. Mr Edward Cannon, a local teacher, gave it to the Donegal Museum in 1961.
The site of McElhinneys’ Garage at the edge of Sessiagh Lake was a quarry for over one hundred prior to 1926. The adjacent Lime Kiln to the north was built next to the quarry later in the 19th century and was recently renovated. The old lane connecting the kiln and the quarry is still visible and will now become part of the parking area for the brewery.
