A Womans’ Story
Though the history dates back to the construction of the Mail Coach Road from Tralee to Cork in 1812 and John Smith who kept the Turnpike (Toll Gate) in the 1830s/1840s about Herlihy’s is mainly a woman’s story. It is about Sarah Smith, daughter of the Turnpike Keeper, born in 1831.
Sarah was the first of six female publicans, who served refreshments at the crossroads, in Farranfore. She was also the village’s first post-mistress. Following, Sarah, came Mary Patsy O’Sullivan, a young woman who travelled to America, made her ‘fortune’ and returned to run the pub in Farranfore between 1908-1912. In 1912 along came the first of the Collins sisters, Minnie O’Sullivan (1912-1925), who arrived in Farranfore from nearby Curran’s in 1912.
Sadly, having given birth to two sons, Minnie died at a young age in 1925. This, was the year her younger sister Kathleen married Richie Herlihy. She commenced trading in Farranfore in early-August 1925. Kathleen steered the business through the ‘Emergency’, as the Second World War era was known in Ireland and continued as licensee until her death in 1963.
She was succeeded by her daughter Maura (who had married Pat Sullivan a neighbouring farmer’s son in 1957). So vibrant was Maura’s personality and so dedicated was she to her business and customers, that the premises is still locally known as Maura’s. On her death in 2006, she was succeeded by her daughter Marie O’Sullivan, who continues to run the business, albeit now 21st-century style!