The Well runs dry as Caddens say cheerio to Bridge Street
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Gabrielle (with flowers) and Dominic Cadden and Ursula Cadden getting a lovely send off from all their neighbours and friends in and around Bridge Street on last Saturday afternoon, as they left the Well premises at number 11 Bridge Street for the last time. The well wishers were joined by Deputy Niamh Smyth.Picture: Sean McMahon.Image 2 of 2
Dominic and Gabrielle Cadden with their daughter Ursula on the morning of her wedding, behind the counter pouring a pint of Guinness.It’s the end of an era at the Well Bar in Bridge Street this week as ‘the home away from home’ for many people over the last three decades, is no longer.
Dominic and Gabrielle Cadden closed the doors on the public house this week as their tenure as owners and landlords of the establishment came to an end.
“I enjoyed every moment of it and made some great friends along the way,” said an emotional Dominic.
Gaberille added: “We came in here over 30 years ago to customers and we ended up with friends.”
The premises was first opened in the early 1980s by Brian and Marie Lynch who lived upstairs with their two young daughters. Gabrielle Cadden worked for the family up until 1989.
Elsewhere, Dominic had been working since the age of 14 years for Tomas and Kathleen MacKenna; while both Dominic and Gabrielle also worked for a time for Angela O’Brien who ran a successful bar on Ballinagh’s Main Street in the 1970s.
In 1994, Dominic’s lifelong ambition came true when Brian Lynch offered him first refusal on The Well. He and Gaye Jackson co-ran the establishment and introduced music every Saturday night in early 2000. Dominic Cadden hailed from Loughduff Post Office, Mullahoran; while Gaye was a native of Ballinagh.
Dominic was regarded as “a blunt barman”. If he had something to say, Dominic didn’t mince his words - unlike his wife who was considered far more diplomatic.
Their daughter Ursula recalls how, one night, when the bar should have been long closed, one patron insisted on getting another drink. The man asked Dominic if he knew who he was?
“I couldn’t give two pennies if you were God on the cross himself - you are still getting no more,” quipped Dominick.
“We have many great memories from The Well, mine in particular will always be of my wedding day and the day I was introduced before Cavan District Court as a solicitor,” continued Ursula.
“My wedding day we got ready in the lounge - memories that will last a lifetime. On the latter occasion we returned to the Well and the gin flowed. By then my parents were getting on in years and the days of the Well were coming to an end.”
The Anglo-Celt understands that contracts for the sale of The Well have been drawn up and the deeds delivered to the purchaser’s solicitor.