The Monument Creameries Dublin

[nneligan]

I am looking for any old photographs of a chain of shops known as The Monument Creameries. There were 33 shops in total throughout Dublin, two bakeries and two cafes. The business was set up by Seamus and Agnes Ryan in 1919 opposite the Parnell Monument (hence the name) and they were put into voluntary liquidation in 1966 when Agnes retired. The buildings were quite distinctive in so far that the front was in dark grey / black marble (25 Lower Camden Street which is now part of Listons is a good example, see small image



I know where some of the stores and cafes were located and what they are today.

25 Lower Camden Street (Now Listons Food Store)
39 Grafton Steet (now the Burger King opposite HMV)
46 Upper Baggot Street (Now Langkawi Asian Restaurant)
O'Connell Street (where Dr Quirkies Good Time Emporium was)
Parnell Street (Corner of O'Connell Street opposite Parnell Monument)
Upper Kilmacud Road
Henry Street

If you have any old photographs of the monument either inside or out, or if you know of other store locations and what they are today - please let me know.

[nneligan]

I have one photo of a Monument Creamery Shop. I'm not sure where this one is and when the photo was taken. But if anyone recognises the building I would be delighted to know.

[nneligan]

I think this was originally the Monument Creamery on Kilmacud Road. (subject to correction) If it is...Spar have done a job on it...

[Paul Clerkin]

Lovely tasteful shopfront there - had always wondered what went with this...

[nneligan]

Thank you for this.

[Paul Clerkin]

68 Sth Gt George's Street - shopfront design by Robinson Keefe Devane in 1950
See Irish Builder 9 Dec 1950 (Waltons is 69 I think)

34 Henry Street - Again RKD
Irish Builder 10 Sep 1955

166 Phibsborough Road - again RKD
Irish Builder 25 Nov 1950

[Paul Clerkin]

Somewhere in the back of my mind - not sure if its playing tricks - but I seem to recall a door like the Camden Street remnant along the retail units under the GPO on Henry Street - but it's one of those memories that's down a long corridor in a scary empty hotel in the Rockies.

[gunter]

There is a whole ensemble of mahogany + stainless-steel screens and doors in the ward called 'Top Flat' on the 3rd floor of Temple Street Childrens Hospital, or there used to be.

[Paul Clerkin]

Gunter my point is I think no34 henry street might be under the GPO

[Bago]

Love the diagonal brickwork pattern on the glazing, see alot of this brickwork on 30/50s (?) buildings.

[notjim]

Gunter: it's still there, as of last week; the middle child had a lung infection, full recovered now thankfully, I've been annoyed at myself since for not talking photos though at the time it was the last thing in my mind. I did make a valiant effort to photograph the room called "parlour" on the way out but got stopped by some sort of consultant.

[EILEEN]

If you're still interested - these are the addresses of the shops -

212 Lr Rathmines Road
57 Ranelagh
1 Terenure Road E Rathgar
68 St Agnes Road Crumlin
15 Sth Circular Road Islandbridge
95 Sandymount Road
24 Main Street Blackrock
25 Upr Georges Street Dun Laoghaire
25 lr Kilmacud Road Stillorgan
32 Lr Camden Street
25 Lr Camden Street
3 Busaras Store Street
39 Grafton Street (Cafe)
27 Grafton Street
55 Upr O'Connell Street (Cafe)
76 Parnell Street (1st shop and where name came from - Parnell Monument)
166 Phibsboro Road
105 Cabra Road
98 Upr Drumcondra Road (now Italian Restaurant - "Il Corvo")
11 Marino Mart
85 Talbot Street
34 Henry Street
68 Sth Great Georges Street
14 Lr Baggot Street
46 Upr Baggot Street.

Hope this helps. Do you have a connection to them ? I'm just curious.

[Paul Clerkin]

Now I'm staring to imagine seeing those doors everywhere on the list but I'm not that old so it's probably in my head.

[lilybarlean]

If you're still interested - these are the addresses of the shops -

212 Lr Rathmines Road
57 Ranelagh
1 Terenure Road E Rathgar
68 St Agnes Road Crumlin
15 Sth Circular Road Islandbridge
95 Sandymount Road
24 Main Street Blackrock
25 Upr Georges Street Dun Laoghaire
25 lr Kilmacud Road Stillorgan
32 Lr Camden Street
25 Lr Camden Street
3 Busaras Store Street
39 Grafton Street (Cafe)
27 Grafton Street
55 Upr O'Connell Street (Cafe)
76 Parnell Street (1st shop and where name came from - Parnell Monument)
166 Phibsboro Road
105 Cabra Road
98 Upr Drumcondra Road (now Italian Restaurant - "Il Corvo")
11 Marino Mart
85 Talbot Street
34 Henry Street
68 Sth Great Georges Street
14 Lr Baggot Street
46 Upr Baggot Street.

Hope this helps. Do you have a connection to them ? I'm just curious.

I lived over no. 57 Ranelagh for twelve years until 1970! I remember the shop when it was still in operation. I used to peep through the keyhole of the door in our hallway leading into the room where all the cheeses were stored and listen to the girls chatting. It was fascinating. When it went into liquidation it was taken over by a ladies clothes shop called 'Rosaleens'. Sadly it has been empty for many many years and the whole building seems to be in a bad state of repair. I've always wondered why another business never took over? If you look through the letterbox of the shop you can still see a beautiful stained glass door with the 'Monument Ceameries' logo on it .

If anyone has a pic of no. 57 I'd love one. We never got to take a photo during our time there.

[EILEEN]

I think I know the previous occupants, I'll enquire as to whether they have a photo.

[EILEEN]

To NNeligan

I have a photo of the Parnell St Shop