This story was provided by Paddy Grant who was the manager of McDonough & Co. for many years. It was told to him by the same Mrs. McDonough who is mentioned in the story.
James McDonough and his brother had a blacksmith and car-repair business in Moville. One day, while James was alone in the smithy, a man left his horse in to be shod. He called back later when both brothers were present to find the job not done. His brother asked him why he hadn’t shod the horse and James answered that he had work of his own to do. A row got up between the two, then James downed tools and put on his coat to leave. His brother said “Where do you think you’re going?” James replied “To the back country.”
Arriving in Carn he acquired lodgings with Cassie the Master who had a shop beside the Northern Bank. Cassie had quite a big yard which was unused. In it were two sheds, one of which was in good repair. McDonough hired the yard, fixed up the sheds and started a carpentry and car-repair business.
Cassie had three daughters Cassie, Mary and —-(Mrs. Hegarty, Culdaff). McDonough married Mary and they lived out the Moville Road.
James McDonough was successful in his business. One day Capt. McClintock of Tiernaleague House (who was a great drinker) came by on his horse. Seeing McDonough, he asked him for the loan of £100. In his wisdom, McDonough refused, saying that it was unlucky to lend money, but he offered McClintock £100 for the land opposite Cassie’s. McClintock was agreeable and the solicitors were called on to arrange the deal. It took over two years to build the original McDonoughs.
James and his wife had three children, one boy and two girls. The boy, Patrick, was popular. He worked in the business but when he was 26, he was killed while playing football down the Malin Road when he fell and his head struck a rock. James took the loss of his son very badly. He started to drink heavily and neglected the business. His wife took over the reins and proved herself an excellent business woman. She took one holiday a year – a week spent in Glencolumbcille (where her daughter, Mary, was married to Dr. O’Doherty) – buying tweed for the Carn and Clonmany shops. This tweed was usually all sold out within a month. Mrs. McDonough went to the Clonmany shop every evening on a trap and took the day’s takings home in a bucket.
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