The story of Delia and Nora Kelly is a real piece of Galway Quay Street nostalgia. The sisters were kind-heartedly known as Nora ‘Crubs’ and Delia ‘Dilleen’. The ladies were originally from Long Walk but moved to Quay Street in the early 1950s. Times were tough back in those old days, so the sisters decided to open their own little ‘restaurant’ in their home. Nora and Dilleen soon became well-known around the town. The venture proved very successful and this ‘unique restaurant business’ continued to operate throughout the 1950-60s and early 1970s. This was long before the so-called ‘Latin Quarter’ was conceived. Nora and ‘Dilleens’ as it was called was hugely popular and attracted people from all walks of life. It became an institution and the customers included tradesmen, labourers, doctors, solicitors, students and even entertainers. In fact, the famous show band star, Brendan Bowyer, was seen enjoying the hospitality of the ‘Kasbah’ as it was later nick-named. There was an impressive menu of soup, stew, crubeens (cooked pig’s feet) and chips. The ‘table cloths’ consisted of the previous week’s Connacht Tribune and Connacht Sentinel. One could catch up on all the ‘old’ local news and gossip while waiting for the soup and crubeens. The newspapers were also used as towels and were utilised for other customers ‘uses’ also.
It was a time when the pubs closed early and there were no Supermacs or other eating houses. However, there was always the Kasbah and this was an amazing experience. This suited the so-called ‘night owls’ that had nowhere else to go. The customers arrived and gave the usual ‘coded’ knock on the door. The letterbox would sometimes open and a voice would be heard, calling out ‘Who’s Out’ or ‘Who’s There’. The best ID that one could give was to answer the other universal questions from the ladies, ‘Who are you? or ‘Who’s your father and mother’? Once this was established, entry was guaranteed if you were deemed sober and ‘respectable’. However, if they didn’t like the answer, a potential customer could be left outside the door as admission was restricted. Good manners were essential, as was ‘behaving yourself’ regardless of drink was a must. There was always great ‘craic’ in the place and an atmosphere of fun.
Photo courtesy of Liam Forde
The idea of it being some sort of old nightclub as it is sometimes described; is not really the case, as there was no alcohol served on the premises. It was more like a shebeen, but without drink. Sometimes a barter system worked, there was a young man who would sometimes bring along a fruit cake for the ladies and this guaranteed him soup free. Local lads would also get free soup or a crubeen after doing the ‘messages’ groceries for the ladies during the day. The soup was made with ingredients that sometimes included a sheep’s head and it could go further as the night went on by adding a kettle of boiling water. Nora did most of the cooking while Dilleen entertained the guests with her renditions of The Claddagh Boatman, which could sometimes run to forty verses. A sing-song wasn’t unusual and singers would be accompanied by Dilleen playing the accordion. The restaurant closed in 1973, leaving a wealth of great and fun memories to an entire generation of Galwegians.
Nora and Dilleen eventually ended their lives in Merlin Park Hospital entertaining patients and staff with stories of Quay Street. These wonderful ladies are remembered with great fondness by the people who had the privilege of knowing them. A stone plaque recording a wonderful poem, The “Kasbah” on Quay Street, by Gerry Hanberry was unveiled by Tom Kenny in 2015 on the building in Quay Street to honour these great ladies.
