Nenagh talk will highlight Premier County's connections to the milling industry

The Ormond Historical Society in Nenagh will hold a talk entitled The Goodbodys: Millers and Manufacturers, on Monday, March 6, in the Abbey Court, Nenagh, with an 8pm starting time.

The speaker is Reggie Goodbody, a member of that interesting family that played a key role in Irish milling and jute manufacturing.

This illustrated talk will describe the early days of the family in Mountmellick, trace Robert Goodbody’s move to Clara with his five sons in 1825, where he leased a flour mill, and ended up as owner of all four mills in Clara.

The business in Clara expanded to Limerick and Cork, and Goodbodys became one of the largest flour millers in Ireland before being taken over by Ranks in 1929.

The Talk will also describe the start of the family’s jute sack-making factory in Clara, and the tobacco factory in Tullamore. It will touch on their involvement in the tea business, Goodbody stockbrokers, the law, and with the early days of Marconi and wireless.

Reggie Goodbody and his brother, Michael, have researched the family’s history all their lives, with Michael publishing two books on the family.

Reggie’s early life was spent in the sawmilling industry before setting up his own boatyard in Portumna which he ran for 21 years.

Now retired he lives beside Lough Derg at Dromineer where his interests include sailing, industrial archaeology, photography, and scale marine models.

All are welcome to this highly informative talk.