A valuable, unbroken record from an iconic Mayo business

For almost 150 years, the Wynne family ran a successful business in Castlebar. The business was established by Thomas Wynne in the early 1860s on Castle Street initially, and later it moved to Main Street. In late 2020, the National Museum of Ireland - Country Life in Turlough Park, Castlebar acquired much of the contents of the Market Street building then owned by the Wynne’s.

In early advertisements, Thomas Wynne described himself as a ‘General News Agent, Bookseller, Stationer, and Librarian’, but as Museum curator Noel Campbell explained, ‘the collection provides a remarkable insight into the family’s ability to diversify their commercial activity and ultimately remain trading across four generations’.

In 1867, Thomas Wynne introduced photography to his business. The collection contains many early instruments for carrying out the photographic process. Through the sale of his landscape photographs and stereoscopes, he brought the scenery of counties Mayo and Galway to his customers. Recognising an opportunity, Wynne also organised trains and steamers to provide excursions to those same scenic spots. Advertising pamphlets promised an opportunity affording a real treat for a day’s recreation’.

Thomas Wynne died in 1893 and three successive generations of the family carried on the business. The Wynne collection details the expansion of the business that took place during that time. The collection also contains popular early twentieth-century sheet music and 78 records of famous operas, children’s toys from the 1950s, and books from the library of Charles Lionel FitzGerald, who had Turlough Park built in 1865.

Wynne’s business catered for changing political outlooks. Among the collections’ many leaflets and advertisements is a rare copy of the official English translation of the Declaration of Irish Independence. The declaration was adopted by acclamation on the first day’s meeting of the First Dáil in January 1919. A partial watermark on the document allowed Museum staff to verify its authenticity.

Members of the Wynne family were immersed in the commercial, social and political life of Castlebar which they recorded in shop ledgers, letters, personal scrapbooks, photographs, and early video. The collection is a valuable, unbroken record of changing commercial activity and has both local and national significance.

Thomas J. Wynne was born in 1838, probably in the United States to an Irish-American mother, and is thought he was raised in the States before returning to his Irish roots and moving to Mayo at the age of 22.

In 1861, Wynne established a stationery shop and news agency in Castlebar, moving premises in 1864 and gradually expanding to include a tourist travel service, a lending library and bookshop, a newspaper delivery service, and eventually an auction service in 1886.

Thomas J. Wynne’s great-grandson, Gary Wynne, said the family is pleased that the Museum of Country Life will display these latest series of items that detail his family’s remarkable legacy.

“Thomas J was an entrepreneur before the term was really invented!” said Gary. “It is a source of pride that some of the items will be going on display.”

The Wynne family had previously donated a remarkable array of photographs that form the esteemed Wynne Collection. Mayo County Library holds the priceless collection presented by the Wynne family, including 3,000 prints by Thomas J. Wynne and his children. The National Library of Ireland also holds the Wynne Collection and the Wynne album, a captioned album of prints featuring the topography and people of counties Mayo and Galway, both presented by the Wynne family.

Museum curator Noel Campbell has been cataloguing the vast range of items most recently donated by the family. He too is hugely impressed by the Wynne patriarch’s incredible flair for business.

“Anything he could sell he would get into it,” said Noel.

When he started his photography business, Wynne was fast to innovate. Any new equipment that came out he had straight away.

“He was so adaptable. He went quickly from studio work to going out covering sporting events and weddings and things like that. He was one of the first to bring photography [to Ireland]. It is thought he learned it all in America,” said Noel.

Cameras, lenses, and other equipment have been maintained in remarkable condition by the family, and Mayo’s first version of 3D glasses with stereoscopes dating back to 1906 is among the treasure trove.

“This collection has been a real labour of love for Noel. He has had to learn a whole new vocabulary when cataloguing the photographic equipment,” said Clodagh Doyle, Keeper of the Museum.

While out snapping scenic spots in the West of Ireland, Wynne hit upon another idea to make a buck. He began leading excursions to various locations.

“He was almost a travel agent of sorts,” said Clodagh. “He saw the interest that people had in some of the scenic areas he was photographing. So he started taking day trips out to these places. He was so crafty and clever.

“He had a great business mind and that followed on with generations of his family,” adds Noel.

Wynne died on October 26, 1893, aged 55, in Castlebar and is buried in the old churchyard in the town. He left his estate to his second wife Margaret and it is believed she carried on the stationary side of the business after his death.

The Wynne family’s forays into toys and music also make up some of the collection.

“All of this is a fantastic example of a commercial business and how it adapted,” Noel added.

Wynne’s youngest son, Richard James Wynne (1878–1965), continued the shop and photographic studio in Castlebar. His other sons established photographic businesses elsewhere in Limerick, Tipperary, and Portarlington.

One of his daughters, Mary, established a photographic studio in Loughrea in the 1890s and was also a member of the Irish Literary Society.

The family’s presence in business life in Castlebar lasted for an astonishing 147 years. In 2011, Wynne’s Castlebar, then a newsagent, closed its doors.

The items donated to the Museum had all been housed upstairs in the family’s former business premises.

“It was often hard to tell what he had collected and what had been merchandise for the shop,” said Gary.

Noel Campbell is intrigued by this remarkable treasure trove.

“Thomas collected stuff as well and obviously had a grá for history,” he remarks, holding aloft a copy of the Mayo Constitution newspaper from 1852. “I had never seen a copy of this before in my life.

“We also have speeches from the House of Commons dating back to 1893. He wasn’t selling these, he had a love for history and was collecting his own this.”

Clodagh Doyle is equally impressed at the legacy of this resourceful Castlebar businessman.

“He was an entrepreneur, an innovator, and a collector who saw the value in collecting.”

Thomas J Wynne’s resourcefulness and enterprising flair have led some wags to speculate that he may even have had a hand in the apparition at Knock!

Posters, postcards, rosary beads and a host of religious paraphernalia were sold by Wynne in the immediate aftermath of the apparition.

“This was a rumour that the apparition at Knock was fabricated and Wynne was behind the whole things because he had all this stuff out so quick!” said Noel.

“That used to be the joke and rumour in the family. As fast as you could get an ass and cart to Knock, he was there!” joked Gary.