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Catherine Byrne, born circa 1843, was the daughter of Michael Byrne, a Catholic spirit dealer and baker based on Water Street in Newry. She grew up alongside her siblings Edward Aloysius, Mary Catherine, and Anne. In the 1860s, she married Henry Butterfield, a spirit merchant operating on Monaghan Street. Following her father's passing in 1865, Catherine inherited £100. Widowed by 1872, Catherine became administratrix of Henry’s estate and continued the spirit trade at No. 1 Monaghan Street. She was listed as a spirit dealer there between 1877 and 1880. In 1882, she sold the license and moved in with her brother Edward, a baker and undertaker on Water Street.
covering the years 1907-1987. Newry & Mourne Museum Collection
In 1883, she applied for a new spirit license at No. 19 Water Street. Sometime before 1890, she married Mr. Boden and resumed trading under the name Catherine Boden, with premises at Lower Water Street. In 1901, she was recorded living with her daughter Mary Rose Butterfield then aged 27 and her stepson, Peter Joseph Boden aged 19 (b.1882), who also happened to be a bookkeeper. By 1895, her business had expanded to Hill Street with her branding appearing on porter boxes and advertisements,
"BODEN’S STOUT IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE BEST ON THE MARKET. 61, HILL STREET AND 19, LOWER WATER STREET, NEWRY."
The 1901 census shows her as a successful businesswoman, employing four domestic servants: a housemaid, cook, grocery shopman, and apprentice. She supported local causes, donating plants to civic events and contributing regularly to the Christian Brothers from 1903–1905. In 1903, her solicitors, Carroll & O’Hagan, bought Drumalane House in trust for her for £1,150 from the Garland family.
Her daughter Mary Rose married Thomas Garland, son of Jane Garland, in January 1905 at Killean Church. The bride was given away by her uncle Edward Byrne, with bridesmaids including Mabel and Gertrude Garland and Lily Boden. Peter J. Boden served as best man. A large reception followed at Drumalane House before the newlyweds departed for their honeymoon in southern England.
Catherine’s brother Edward died in September 1906, aged 63, after a five-week illness. That December, she auctioned several properties, including Drumalane House, 61 Hill Street, 6 and 8 William Street, 23 Lower Water Street (with yard and out-offices), and two villas in Warrenpoint—Marino and Belmont. Though around 63 herself, Catherine had no plans to retire.
In February 1910, she purchased the Whitecross Hotel (now the Shelbourne Restaurant) at 11 Margaret Street, Newry, and applied for a publican’s license by September. The 1911 census records her living at Bridge Street with her daughter Mary Rose, son-in-law Thomas Cardwell Garland, and grandchildren Catherine (5), Jane Nora (3), and Richard Gerard (1). Both she and Thomas were listed as wholesale bottlers. Her stepson, Peter Joseph Boden (29), served as Secretary of the Wholesale Beer Bottlery Ltd. Co., lived nearby with his wife Anna-Claire and son Peter Cyril, and worked as a spirit dealer by 1914—suggesting Catherine had brought both men into the business.
1903-1906), taken on 20th July 2025
Tragedy struck in June 1913 when Thomas died suddenly at the bottling store on Lower Water Street. Dr. Thomas Cronin attributed the cause to heart failure due to alcoholic poisoning. He was buried on 3 June in the Old Chapel Cemetery. Catherine died the next day at her home, 65 Bridge Street. Mary Rose, grieving the loss of both husband and mother, inherited her mother’s estate. She dissolved Boden’s Ltd, took over the business, and expanded it, diversifying into mineral water production. Mary Rose preserved the family legacy through prominent local advertising
which Catherine Boden purchased in 1910, taken on 22th July 2025
that kept the Boden name alive in Newry. Peter Joseph Boden moved to Dublin where he became an accountant for the firm of Coyle and Co. tea merchants. His sons Eric and Nial Boden became well-known broadcasters with Radio Eireann in the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s.
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