Erin go Bragh = ‘Ireland until the end of time‘, or ‘Ireland Forever‘
Licensees
1866 – William Stack
1860 – John Gilligan, Anne Gilligan with his license number given as 500 NRS 14403 [7/1512]; Reel 1241 in 1860
Locations
Crown Flat, moving to Redbank in 1864
In the News
In September 1859, the Empire reported that ‘at Crown Flat1Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850-1875), Tuesday 6 September 1859, p 3 several new stores and places of business continue to be erected in every direction. Mr. Gilligan’s Erin-go-Bragh is nearly completed, and the building is substantially built.’
On the night of 10 February 18602Richard Kennedy. Braidwood Goldfields. 1850’s–1860’s. Compiled by Roslyn Maddrell. 4th Reprint. Bayprint, Batemans Bay, NSW. 2010 p 24, a most terrible flood occurred on the lower part of the valley down about Mudmelong, Sweeney’s flat, and higher up to Crown Flat. Mr John Gilligan’s (Erin-go-Bragh) hotel at Crown Flat, was thrown open to all who needed assistance. The Illawarra Mercury3Illawarra Mercury (Wollongong, NSW : 1856-1950), Tuesday 21 February 1860, p 3 reported ‘Mr Gilligan with a generosity which does him infinite credit, opened his public house free to all the flooded-out diggers, making no charge for food or liquor.’
On Monday evening 9 October 1860, a meeting was held at John Gilligan’s, Erin-go-Bragh, Crown Flat, Araluen, for the purpose of raising a permanent fund towards the support of the member for the Southern Goldfields4Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850-1875), Tuesday 9 October 1860, p 3.
An Inquest was held in February 1861, at Mr Gilligan’s Erin-go-Bragh Inn, Crown Flat, before G. F. Codringlon, Esq., M.D., Coroner, and a jury of 12, on view of the body of William Greenwood, aged 12 years. The jury, after a short deliberation, ‘found that the deceased died from natural causes (inflammation of both lungs)’.
In February 1863, local newspapers noted that ‘the deceased estate of John Gilligan, late of Araluen, may be granted to Ann Gilligan, of Araluen.’
In December 1863, the Freeman’s Journal5Freeman’s Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1850-1932), Saturday 19 December 1863, p 3 reported ‘on Sunday the members of the lately established Catholic Young Men’s Society resident in Araluen, assembled to partake of a breakfast which it was previously decided should be held, and which Mrs. Gilligan, of the Erin-go-Bragh Inn, had been requested to provide. There were about sixty to seventy present.’
An advertisement was placed in the Araluen Star newspaper in January 1864,6Araluen Star and Miners Right (1863-1964), Saturday 2 January 1864, p 2 for Doctor Dyas of Braidwood, who visits Araluen every Thursday and may be consulted at Mrs Gilligan’s, Crown Flat, between the hours of 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., and at Mr Dunn’s [O’Connell Arms] of the Plain between 3 and 4 p.m. on the same day.’
On 5 March 1864, the Araluen Star7The Araluen Star and Miners Right (1863-1964), Saturday 5 March 1864, p 2 reported that ‘the forthcoming supper and ball in honour of Ireland’s illustrious patron saint (St Patrick), was held at Mrs Gilligan’s new public house the Erin-go-Bragh at Redbank. Mrs Gilligan has every prospect of completing the new house by the time. In March 1864, a supper and ball were held at Mrs Gilligan’s 8Freeman’s Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1850-1932), Saturday 26 March 1864, p 6 the Erin-go-Bragh Hotel, Redbank, to commemorate the anniversary of the festival of St Patrick.’
In August 1866, William Stack is shown as the licensee for Erin-go-Bragh9New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832-1900), Tuesday 7 August 1866 (No.152 [SUPPLEMENT]), p 1847. In 1867, Ann Gilligan is shown as the licensee for the Sportsman’s Arms in Bells Creek, Araluen and in 1868 Ann Gilligan is the licensee for the Rose, Shamrock and Thistle in Bells Creek, Araluen Road.