Sad passing of Una Powell

Fond memories as well as widespread regret and sadness marked the news of the death of Una Powell, arguably Nenagh’s most popular publican in her day.

Una, who passed away on Wednesday last, May 28, after a short illness, was landlady of the pub Powell Bros. in Summehill, best known as simply ‘Una’s’ or ‘Una Powell’s’

In her time in the pub ‘Una Powell’s’ became a powerful brand name. Her name was synonymous with both welcoming smiles and the skilful art of pulling pints of cream-topped porter.

The pub was, and still is, a mecca for lovers of the plain stuff and a place were people flock for memorable nights out.

Even when Una sold the pub to James and Laura Kelly in 2007 the new owners decided to keep her surname over the pub door - and continued to do so after major refurbishment works to the facade in 2018.

April 2007 was the end of a memorable chapter when Una moved out after selling the pub to the Kelly family, marking the end of 75 years of ownership by the Powell family.

Una ran the the picturesque traditional style pub for 39 of those years.

Her three brothers Tom, Robert and Andrew didn’t have much interest in the pub trade and her late father, Robert, asked her to temporary take charge when he became ill in 1968.

“Daddy asked me to mind it for two weeks while he was in hospital, but he ended up spending five months there and I am here running the pub since,” Una told The Guardian when she spoke to this newspaper on the day of her retirement 18 years ago.

She recalled how she had received great help in running the pub from her late mother Josephine in the early years.

GREAT REPUTATION

Such was its reputation that the pub attracted a fair share of customers most nights and was packed at weekends.

Una had great affection for most of those who came in her door. “I had a wonderful crowd coming in here over the years. I never had any problem with anyone,” she recalled.

Customers and staff said that Una’s cool and laidback style made her one of the town’s most accomplished, best loved and successful publicans.

An open letter from customers and staff published in this newspaper to mark her retirement stated: “We looked on you as a motherly figure, and most of us acted like bold children despite being in the 40 – 90 age bracket.”

A year before Una stepped down the pub became the focus of national media attention. In a history-making event, the Catholic Church actually decided to hold part of its parish mission in the premises.

On the renown of the pub for its draught stout, Una said her secret for success was regular cleaning of the pipes and maintaining a short distance between barrel and tap.

The pint drinkers who frequented Powell’s were purists. “You just couldn’t throw it out to them, because they’d throw it back at you,” she laughed.

Letting the poured pint settle for a few minutes was crucial to producing the perfect pint. “I remember one night a customer came in and marvelled at the twenty pints I had settling on the counter,” she recalled.

One of her golden rules was not to allow card playing on the establishment. Her late father introduced the rule after seeing too much fighting by card players in a pub he previously ran in Silver Street.

She said she was delighted that local couple James and Laura Kelly were taking over the pub.

And she told this newspaper that just because she was retiring didn’t mean she was looking forward to some early nights to bed.

“I never got up early in the morning and I never went to bed early, so I won’t be doing it now. I am a night owl,” she said.

Farewell wise owl. You served them well!

Una passed passed away peacefully in the loving care of the esteemed staff of Saint Conlon’s Home, Nenagh. She is predeceased by her parents Josephine and Robert, her sister Kathleen (Flannery), and her brother Thomas. She is survived by her loving brothers Robert and Andrew, sisters-in-law Marion and Patricia, and brother-in-law Frank as well as nephews, nieces, relatives, and friends.

Requiem Mass took place in Saint Mary of the Rosary Church on Saturday week last and burial took place afterwards in Lisboney New Cemetery.

May Una rest in peace.