Stephen Magorrian, a local entrepreneur and hotelier, and director of the Horatio Group, is fascinated with the history of Denvir’s Hotel in Downpatrick.
He poses a vital question to those interested in historical and antiquarian interests… how old is Denvir’s?
On Friday 30 June Denvir’s, the oldest Coaching Inn in Ireland to consistently operate as such, will mark its 375th birthday with a dinner and talk attended by well-known archaeologist, Mr Nick Brannon. It will be a walking tour of Cathedral Hill and Down Cathedral followed by a three course meal and a talk by Nick Brannon. Everyone will meet in Denvir’s at 6pm. Cost is £25.
Nick was presenter of the Time Team programme from the 1990’s featuring the excavation on Cathedral Hill, and the night will include a walking tour of the Cathedral and the Hill in the company of Nick, before returning to Denvir’s for dinner.
But one question begs to be answered… how old really is Denvir’s ? Is it 350 or 375 years old?
In the Lecale Miscellany No. 2 (1984), Maurice Hayes, a retired Irish senator and senior civil servant who grew up in Denvir’s, wrote; “there has been an inn on the site at least since 1642 when John Macgreevy built a stone house”, and Maurice added that there was “…a stone set high up, (on the gable wall), inscribed ‘John and Anne Macgreevy, 1642’ “.
Maurice goes on to tell us that “Macgreevy had been an Irish soldier in the army of Charles 1 who became entitled to land in County Down in lieu of payment of his service money”.
However, whilst this story is very plausible, no direct evidence of the plaque has been found. The earliest reference, from the ordnance surveys (vol 17 p41) indicate “…the house which is at present used as a hotel or inn appears to be one of the most ancient dwelling houses in the town. The date 1667 was formally visible on its exterior but is now completely obliterated with whitewash”.
So, is Denvir’s 375 years old, or 350 years old? Stephen Magorrian, current joint owner with his cousin Christopher Dagens said; “My grandmother, who spent her whole life in Downpatrick, passing away at 105 years of age a few years ago was a McGreevy, so I like to believe the former date of 1642 with John and Anne. This seems like a good explanation as to how the surname came to this area, but, whichever the age, 350 or 375, its still remarkable that these premises have been at the heart of this community for so long.”
It is quite possible that Denvir’s of 1642 (or 1677) is the reconstruction of an earlier building. The English Quarter was the first part of the town to be built, and the street pattern is certainly much older than 17th century.
The name ‘Denvir’s‘ has been recorded from the late 18th century, although the premises have had various names over the years, but they have been Denvir’s since the name was restored when purchased by Mrs. Hayes in the 1930’s. The Denvirs were a local family of Norman extraction (probably d’Anver originally) and the name was largely peculiar to Lecale. A member of the family, in the middle of the 19th century, after service in the American army, headed the ordnance survey of the Rocky Mountains and gave his name to the town of Denver, Colorado.
Some of the famous guests have been Mrs. Delaney, a diarist, wife of the Dean of Down, and a contemporary of Dr. Johnston and other literary notables of the early 18th century, including in the 19th century Daniel O’Connell who, during his repeal campaign, visited Downpatrick and was feasted in Denvir’s, addressing the crowds who had gathered from the upstairs window, looking out over the recess below. This recess, tradition has it, is a debtors sanctuary. According to local lore, when the Cathedral was in ruins the “sanctuary” was carried down English Street in the form of cobble stones which now form the pavement in this space!
Perhaps someone will put this theory to the test by attending and not paying for the celebratory dinner which is planned for the 30th of June in Denvir’s. A three course meal, a tour of Cathedral Hill in the company of archaeologist Nick Brannon, and a follow up question and answer session, for the all-inclusive price of £25 per person is on offer, but booking is essential.
To book the Denvir’s history dinner and walk and talk on Friday 30 June for what should be a wonderful evening, contact Denvir’s at 02844 612012 or email: info@denvirs.com
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Coming Soon:
BAGATELLE will be playing in Denvir’s on Friday 23 June. They are on a tour and are not to be missed. This group is a very popular band having played in Downpatrick on a number of occasions over the years. They have a strong local fan club. Come along and rock the evening away and roll the years back and listen to their great music.
Clock Talk:
Stephen Magorrian has delved into the history of Denvir’s in considerable detail and speaking to a local business group, Down Business Connect, which meets every alternative Tuesday morning in Denvir’s, he explained the spooky story of the old wall clock.
He said: “My Co-Director in Denvir’s, Christopher, decided to fix an old wall clock that hangs near the fireplace in the main bar. It wasn’t working. He took it to an old watch maker who fixed it, it ran for a short time, but then stopped, and the watch maker died”.
“He then brought it to a second watch maker. Again, he fixed it, and again it ran for a short time, but then stopped and again, that person died!
Christopher refused to take it anyone else and insists he won’t be doing so.However, recently he took the clock off the wall to fix a lamp which had been broken, and when he set the clock back on the wall it started going again!He’s now a worried man! The clock is still running albeit a little fast, but basically we are afraid to touch it and Chris watches it every day in fear that it’s going to stop!
