Metropole connects with plumber who was among those named in note from 1969

Three of the men are understood to have since passed away, but plumber John Keogh is still living in Cork city

The 56-year-old note was found at the Metropole Hotel during recent refurbishment works.

The discovery of historic items during renovation works at Metropole Hotel in Cork City’s Victorian Quarter has encouraged those who once worked there to come forward and relive their time at the historic city landmark.

The hotel is currently undergoing works as part of a long-term restoration project of its ground floor and upstairs ballrooms.

Builders working on the project were asked by hotel management if they could keep an eye out for any artefacts or items of interest when taking down walls, given the building’s history.

While carrying out the works, an old cash shoot, the perfectly preserved uniform of a former concierge, and a note written on a piece of wallpaper were all found.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner about the finds Sandra Murphy brand and communications manager of Trigon Hotel Group, of which the Metropole is part, said: “They did find things like the gorgeous brass cash shoot which was walled over and elsewhere, there was a locker that was uncovered, and when it was opened, a perfectly preserved uniform from a concierge who worked in the hotel around the 60s or 70s, in perfect condition, was left hanging there from the day he retired.” 

Many items of interest were found during renovation works in The Metropole.

Also located was a note dated July 1969, with the message "with love from" four tradesmen - Tommy Ross (an electrician), Jerry Higgins (a carpenter), Steve Casey (a painter) and John Keogh (a plumber).

On Tuesday, the hotel posted about the note on social media, calling on people to help track down the four men. The news quickly spread and it was discovered that three of them have since passed away, but that the plumber John Keogh is still living in Cork city.

Ms Murphy said: “We assumed that it was a refurb that was done at that time as well, because the note was tucked in behind a wall, but actually listening to John Keogh, who is going to be 87 in August, the four men were all working for different companies that were located in the city and they were then contracted into the Metropole. 

"One of them was there for 30 years, so they were long-term contractors.” 

She described the note as “a lovely” discovery and said that it has been phenomenal to listen to Keogh’s “hilarious” stories of his time at the hotel.

Ms Murphy said the Metropole has since been inundated with emails from people sharing their memories of the hotel from years gone by and said they are “so lucky” to be in a position where people are so willing to come forward and share their stories.

“The way I view it is that we are the caretakers right now and we’ve a privileged position because the Metropole is part of the fabric of Cork… It's important that we preserve the history because we need to pass that on to the next generation.”