The main road leading through the southern side of Inniscarra takes the traveller from Balyshonin through to Cloghroe (R579, Cork-Banteer Road). Along that stretch there are a number of key sites that for me reveal more about the character of Inniscarra as a place within the Lee Valley. First up is Blair's Inn. The premises were formerly known as Healy's Pub and it with this family we discuss this week.

The Healys have been publicans in Cloghroe for over 130 years. My contact was Donal Healy who on my visit talked at length of his roots and produced a whole range of documents and photographs that reveal the history of the family and their associations not only with Inniscarra but the city and wider County as well. There seems to a vast set of complex interrelations in Donal's story, which is important to the identity of the family itself. Donal's great grandfather was Daniel Healy (died 1897). He was a vintner and farmer and lived in Cloghroe. He married Ellen Callaghan (a widow). They had four children, two boys and two girls – Nan and Kitty, Daniel and Denis (who later became a priest and worked in Wichita Kansas USA).

Daniel Healy (junior, son of Daniel above) married Mary Aherne from Ballygarvan, Co. Cork in 1908. They had six children – Eileen Frances, Patricia, Mary, Doney, Denis and Thomas. Eileen and Patricia became nuns – Eileen with the Mercy Order in Killarney and Patricia with the Presentation Order in Crosshaven. Mary Healy married Sonnie O'Reilly Salesman with CAB motors on the Lower Road, Cork and they lived in Highfield Avenue.

Doney Healy had a business on Barrack Street, Cork, a shop and transport business. Doney was married to Eileen Hawkes from Upton, Co. Cork He was involved in setting up Lee Transport Co. – an amalgamation of companies that were vying for the shipment of port trade coming in. He brought them all together to work together for the benefit of their business. His son Don continued his father's business and went onto develop the transport distribution centre in Glanmire and wholesaling salt (sold on in later years). Denis set up Healy Blue Bins and Healy Transport Co. in Ballinlough, Cork. He married Nora Dinan of Carrigadrohid. Her sister is Mary Kate Harrington of Harrington's Nurseries, Carrigadrohid. In addition, today the sons of Denis Healy Aidan and Denis Healy are continuing the family tradition of running Healy Bluebins and Transport and warehouse companies.

Thomas Healy (Donal's father), publican and farmer married Mary Carroll from Rylane. They had three children Eileen and Kevin and Donal (my contact). He inherited the shop and pub that was Healy's Pub. Donal notes of his father: "My father was a true gentlemen, well-known locally as courteous and kind. He was a great GAA man, proud supporter of Inniscarra team and proud of his Inniscarra roots. Both he and my mother were great business people and passed onto me a tremendous legacy of tradition".

As a young person Donal remembers a lot of sporting occasions held in the area, which brought crowds to the pub afterwards. In particular, Thomas, his father, was big into road bowling. He was part of the organising committee that ran the first senior All Ireland Bol Chumann championship final to be held in Cloghroe in October 1954. Due to its popularity amongst the general public, the scor took place over two Sundays commencing at Cloghroe Church and ending at the 'Yellow House', near Vicarstown. Local members of the committee other than my father were Jim O'Mahony of Berrings, Eamonn O'Carroll of Farran, Ned Healy of Ballyanley and Percy McSweeney of Cloghroe. Other members of the committee from the city included C. O'Connell, J. Waters, J. Cadden, C. Waters, T. O'Donovan, J. Barry, J. Dean and J. O'Shea, N. Healy and J. Scully (if anyone knows the latter's first names, can they contact Kieran). For the record, Liam O'Keeffe, Waterfall beat Ned Barry from Waterfall.