SHIVNAN'S HORSESHOE BAR
WHO ARE WE?
Shivnan's Horseshoe Bar, Ballyfarnon, along with all other premises in Ballyfarnon, was originally part of the Mac Dermott Roe estate. On April 24th 1895, Thomas Charles Mac Dermott Roe leased a plot of ground at Ballyfarnon “with three dwelling houses and out offices thereon” to Patrick Hunt for 61 years from 1st May 1862, at the yearly rent of £10.00. Patrick Hunt died in 1907 and left two of his three houses to his son Patrick and his third house to his daughter Mary. Patrick Hunt snr was described in his will as a “publican” but there is no direct evidence in his will to a publican’s license or a licensed premises. In 1908, Patrick Hunt Jnr sold the premises left to him to a man named John Barry of Mong, Co. Leitrim. Mary Hunt also sold the house that was left to her to Mr Barry. John Barry died a year later and his son, Patrick, became administrator or the estate.
On March 11th 1910, Patrick Barry sold the business “lock stock and barrel” to Michael Shivnan. The property was described as “a plot of ground with dwelling house, shop, public house and out offices thereon at present occupied by Patrick Barry, a dwelling house, shop and premises occupied by Patrick Mc Loughlin and a shop and out offices occupied by Henry King” accordingly, by 1910 Michael Shivnan had acquired all of the property for which he also paid a yearly rent of £9.13s to the Mac Dermott Roe estate.
Thomas Charles Mac Dermott Roe died two years after Michael Shivnan became his tenant, subsequently, in the administration of his estate, the proposal by 27 tenants to buy the freehold title to their property was approved under the Tenant Purchase Act, by conveyance dated 25th February 1927 Kate Peyton Frazer sold the freehold title of the three houses, of which Michael Shivnan was then the tenant, for £1000.
Michael Shivnan did not live long to enjoy the fruits of his labours. He died on 11th June 1928 and his sister Catherine (Kate) Shivnan inherited all his property. Kate leased the Licensed Premises in 1942 for a ten year period to Kate Ann Mc Hugh, who died five years later (1947). Kate Shivnan transferred the license to her nephew, Thomas G Shivnan on 6th May 1947. Tom purchased the remaining five year lease from the administrator of Kate Ann Mc Hugh’s estate. Tom Shivnan operated the licenced preemies (alongside his other businesses; Funeral Directors, Hackney Service) until his retirement in 1982 when he transferred the licensed premises to his son James, the current proprietor.
