The adifferentkettleoffishaltogether space at Ormond Quay was previously Watts Gun Shop. There for years, I was always fascinated by it. A bit like Rory’s Tackle Shop in Temple Bar (still there and with a snap of a happy Amy Winehouse in the window…), it was a bit of a throw-back to a much older Ireland.
Today, it is an art-space used by Mannix Flynn and Farcry productions. Most ironically, in 2006, they staged an exhibition there where……well, I’ll let them explain it
In 2006 Farcry constructed an arms dump and, along with members of the public, actively engaged with a process of placing firearms beyond use. It was a cultural mirroring of the John De Chastelain process that had begun with the provisional IRA. Over a period of 4 days 200 people entered the building on Ormond Quay and saw for themselves upfront, close and personal what it was that we were letting go of. The gun has been phased out of Irish politics and a new process of achieving aspirations has begun.
Anyway, in the last few days this showed up in the family and I thought it worth posting. If anyone has a photo of Watts back in the day please post it!
Hi There!!
Just wondering if you have any contact details of Gerard Mannix Flynn ??? I am eager to talk to him!
Many Thanks,
Sharon
hi just wondering if you have any info on the family that owned this gunshop been looking for them for years now and this is the closest ive come to tracing any sort of history on them
are you talking about the Watts Brothers of ormond quay? i used to work at that shop. then the family split and part of them moved to Mobhi road in glasnevin i also worked in the shop
I used to love going into Watts gun shop with my father back in the 1960s & 70s. Now in my mid 50s, but brings back great memories. Got my first air rifle from there. Pity they closed up. Dublin needs a proper gun smiths like that today.
I was the red haired young guy with glasses. Don’t know if you would remember me
I would like to get a higher quality image of the two Watts Gun Shop pics. I have a friend “Mike Watts”who is a gun buff. I would like to print those images for his home office.
Thx
Michael Swan (Mick) I remember a ginger haired lad, but way before 2015, when did you start there?