For a century, St Anne’s Steam & Electric Laundry stood at the heart of Swinford life – an industry built not for profit but for people. Founded in 1925 by the Sisters of Mercy to stem the tide of emigration and offer dignity through work, the laundry became a lifeline for generations across East Mayo.

In this richly illustrated and lovingly assembled history, Joe Mellett gathers the voices, memories and photographs of those who worked within its warm, steamy walls. From the thunder of the calender rollers to the rattle of the van keys on weekly delivery routes, from the laughter in the sorting room to the ingenuity that kept the boilers running through war and scarcity, these pages bring to life an institution that shaped a community.

More than an account of an industry, this book preserves the legacy of an institution that shaped countless lives—and ensures its story will be remembered for generations to come.

About the author

Joe Mellett was born in 1951 over the renowned Mellett’s Emporium in Swinford, County Mayo.   

For fifty years he managed the pub, newsagency, launderette, travel agency, and auctioneers and valuers. He was also an elected representative of Mayo County Council from 1999–2014, delivering many projects for the town. 

Since he retired in 2020, he has concentrated on archiving the history of the town, its historical structures and also compiling the history of the Mellett family, who in 2027 will celebrate 230 years in Swinford. 

He is an active member of numerous local clubs and organisations and he has been chairman of Síamsa Sráide for the last 15 years. 

Joe has published two other books, The Story of Paddy Bollingbroke, renowned local handballer, and Storyworth, recollections and memories of his own life.