Trip to Urney- where it all started...

Last week-end mum and myself took drove to Tyrone where the story of Urney Chocolates all began. Urney, meaning place of prayer, is a parish just outside Strabane and straddles the Donegal-Tyrone border. The 5 gruelling hours it took to get were quickly forgotten on our arrival. We were met by John Haire, his brother William and John's lovely family who generously kept us fed and watered as we exchanged Urney Chocolates trivia. John and William are avid local historians and had a plethora of Urney memorabilia to show us. 

To make the experience more tangible John drove us out to the original site where the factory had started. There is now a graveyard where Urney House once stood overlooking the river Finn. (Please excuse the ropiness of my stitched-together landscape...) The production of confectionery had started in the cellar of Urney house until the former rectory burned down. Then a purpose-built factory and bungalow was erected on the grounds of the estate until 2 years later it was to suffer the same fate, which prompted the business to move south to Tallaght. There are no traces of these buildings left on the beautiful site but the views of the river winding through the gently undulating countryside can't have changed very much. John then took us to a few other sites (another blogs work) and we left over-laden with fantastic images and gathered information. They could not have been more helpful or more giving with their time, collections and hospitality. It was a truly memorable trip.

Helen O’Clery

The other day while rummaging through family stuff in search of Urney bits and bobs I came across this book by my Great-Aunt Helen.


Helen was the only daughter of Urney Chocolates founders Harry and Eileen Gallagher. She was born in 1910. Trained as a nurse in St Vincent’s Hospital Helen went on to study physiotherapy. She married engineer Dermot O’Clery and began writing books for children. She quickly became an established author and had many books published both in Ireland and in America. The couple's eldest daughter Ann, an architect and accomplished artist, illustrated several of Helen’s books including this one, Mysterious Waterway. Ann's beautiful sketches feature throughout.


Published in 1963 by Alan Figgis this adventure story for young readers sees the O’Reilly family navigate their way from Dublin Quay to Port Shannon on board a cabin cruiser. Although it is a work of fiction, the book was written to highlight the importance of retaining the canal. Dublin Corporation planned to lay a sewer in the bed on the city section of the Grand Canal and concrete over it to make a motorway. At this time Dermot O’Clery was president of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (IWAI) which was formed in 1954 in an effort to preserve Ireland’s inland waterways. The IWAI is still in operation today and has this to say about Dermot on their website:


1963:..... Dermot O'Clery, President from 1962-'67, produced a comprehensive report about the future development of the Shannon, at the request of Bord Failte, indicating the funds that would be required to implement it. Bord Failte allocated the necessary funds, €140,000, and it is significant that almost all the suggestions contained in the report have now been carried out, illustrating the importance of putting suggestions in writing in a well laid out format.

Dedicated Irish Chocolate-Maker Passes Away

I was listening to the Ray Darcy show on Today FM when I heard the sad news. Thomas Caffrey passed away earlier this week at the ripe old age of 92. Incidentally, both Harry and Eileen Gallagher, founders of Urney Chocolates, lived heartily to 95 and 89 respectively. Further evidence that chocolate is good for you.  The Caffrey family in Dublin run the oldest established Irish, family-owned, chocolate-making business. Now managed by a third generation of Caffreys, the company continues to make traditional confectionery that those of us of a certain vintage still crave. In the 50's Thomas Caffrey invented the infamous Chocolate Snowball - a gooey, soft centered, marshmallowy mass, encased in a milk chocolate shell and dusted with coconut.. MMMmmm....... Caffreys also created the equally popular Macaroon Bar and the Big Time Bar. Neville Caffrey, speaking on the radio, reminded listeners that "The Chocolate Warehouse" in Walkinstown is open for tours, where fans of the Caffrey range can stock up on their favourite products. Thomas Caffrey, we are forever grateful for your many years dedicated to the art of making chocolate, may you rest in peace.

The Cadbury Apprentice Competition

OK, so I'm going a little off track here but Cadbury's were one of Urney Chocolates biggest competitors in the Irish market so I am going to give this a mention.
Last Fridays Independent reported that the Broadcasting Authority of ireland (BAI) had a bone to pick with TV3 over the excessive promotion of confectionary giant, Cadbury's on TV programme The Apprentice. The particular episode, aired last November, required contestants to develop a new dairy milk 8 square bar. The broadcasting authority claimed that advertising rules were broken during the briefing of the apprentices on their task to create a bar with a distinctive Irish feel.

"Watchdogs ruled there was product placement through visual and verbal branding of Cadbury's products which was not editorially justified and gave the sponsor undue prominence."

TV3 denied the accusation of unnecessary over-exposure and explained that the programme could not be produced without sponsorship.

Well, what Cadburys may have gained in undue prominence on The Apprentice it lacked in decent new packaging designs. Maybe that's what prompted Cadburys to take the task nationwide. In January they launched The Cadbury Apprentice Competition with €10,000 prize money for the most appropriate design. Entrants were whittled down to 5 finalists with graphic designer Paul Ruane taking the ultimate prize. His packaging design above, picked by public vote, will be featured on a wrap/package for Cadbury Dairy Milk to be launched in 2010. Look forward to seeing it in your shops anytime soon.

Easter Eggs

Although Urney Chocolates ceased trading 40 years ago the brand is still alive and well. Leo Cummins has worked in the confectionery business for many years as did his father. Having gathered a wealth of experience in the area, Leo combines his knowledge with a passion for vintage sweets and the legacy behind the original brands. Along with Cleeves Toffees and Hadji Bey Turkish Delight he plans to reintroduce Urney Chocolates to the market. And we can't wait!
Last week the Jedward Easter egg was launched as an Urney Chocolates creation.

"And so we are the proud manufacturers and developers of Jedward Twin Milk Chocolate Easter Eggs with a special Jedward No 1 Fan milk chocolate medal in each pack and an even more special 5 Gold Tickets to meet Jedward in 5 very special packs."

They can be bought online or from Heatons, Eurospar, Mace, Spar and Woodies of Bray, Lucan and Tallaght. Quantities are limited so you'll have to be quick before stocks run out. Now Leo, when oh when can we expect a Two and Two bar?

Urney Chocolates and Motor Racing

Earlier today I accidently deleted a telephone voice message left by a gentleman enquiring about my grandfather, Redmond Gallagher, and his contribution to Irish motor racing. So, if by any chance you are reading this, I'm really sorry but I haven't got a contact number for you. Maybe you could call again? Or maybe this will help...

Redmond Gallagher took over from his father as MD of Urney Chocolates in 1950 on the condition that he would concentrate solely on the factory and give up his lifelong passion for motor racing. His very first racing car was a H.E. 2 litre bought for £8 in the 1930s for a race in the Phoenix. Park. This was replaced with a 3 litre Sunbeam that been driven by Sir Malcolm Campbell in the Irish Grand Prix. Redmond never raced the Sunbeam and for some reason eventually sold it on. His next car was a supercharged Austin 7 that he was not entirely taken with. Maybe because it cost him a broken neck which was only discovered years later. Deciding to take things up a notch, Redmond next purchased an engineless Bugatti. With help from his brother in law, Dermot O'Clery, he fitted it with an early Ford V8 engine and called the car the USR- Urney Special Racer. As WW2 approached Redmond put his racing on hold until after the war when engineer and racing associate Nick Flynn helped build "Leprechaun I". It was a 500 cc car with a J.A.P. engine, especially adept at hill climbs. This was later adapted with a Norton engine and chassis redesign to become "Leprechaun II". Then came "Leprechaun III", an entirely new car with a 1000 cc supercharged engine. It did very well in speed events. His final racing car was a 1.5 litre Gordini that Redmond raced extensively at home and abroad. It had 2 wins in the international tourist trophy at Dundrod and another in the Wakefield trophy at the Curragh. 
In 1959 Stan Ryan bought Leprechaun III. Stan had a garage at 152, North King St. and raced the car for two years in several events around the country before eventually selling it on to Robin Rennicks. It was destroyed by fire while Mr.Rennicks owned it.

Above photo courtesy of the 500 Owners Association.

Exhibition news- Change of date!

Remember I was getting all geared up for an "Urney" exhibition at Tallaght Library in May? Well there's been a change of plan. We've unanimously decided that National Heritage Week would be a more suitable time to show off our wares. The Urney Chocolates factory was such a major part of the Tallaght community. Afterall, it was there from the beginning. And as the business grew so the village prospered around it.
Heritage Week runs from 21st - 29th August. The "Sweet memories" exhibition will be launched in Tallaght Library that week and will remain up for a month. A date to mark in your diaries....