Ava-Lynn's Story

My dad had a friend a bit older than him who wanted to sell his red bike which was too small for him. He was selling it for 1 pound. My dad had saved up 1 pound from his communion money. Granda told my dad to make a bargain for the bike. He finally got the bike for 50 pence. He painted the bike blue with a brush and he minded it for years.

Drumshambo, Leitrim 1944

My great Granddad worked in a jam factory in Drumshambo town. The factory was called Lairds. In that time they had no electricity but they did have a steam turbine. My great Grandad’s job was to keep the steam turbine going. The left over electricity went to all the houses in the town. My great Grandad put the wires up to send the electricity to all the houses. Lairds jam factory was built in 1935. The factory is now closed 24 years (Closed since 1988).

Mullingar 1975 to 1981

In Mullingar in 1975 there used to be farmers markets where they sold cattle. You would see tractors and trailers parked up at the side of the road. The square would be fenced off and cattle inside the fence. An odd cow would get free and then farmers would run after it. The market was every Thursday. After the market the farmers went to the pub then take home their cattle. The farmers left the dirty work to the Co. Council to clean the mess. In 1981 they stopped the mart in town and built a market yard just on the outskirts of Mullingar. It’s still used today.

Doughmakeown, Carrowniskey Area

I interviewed Nora O’Malley about her childhood. When Nora was a child they had lives much harder than we have today. When Nora was very young there was no electricity at all. For light they used candles or oil lamps. When Nora got older and went to school she had to walk a mile and a half to get to school and in bare feet. When winter came round they got wellingtons for walking to school in. They used flour bags to carry their books in. they had Irish, English, Tables, Catechism Bible and one copy. Nora went to Carrowniskey school and the teachers were not very nice and used canes. When your birthday came along you were not allowed have a party and you got no gifts. You would have to make your own toys and clothing. When Santa came you knitted stockings and got sweets in them. Nora’s family grew their own vegetables and got their own turf in the bog. For breakfast they would have stir about (Porridge) egg or bread and butter. For dinner they had potatoes and egg of potatoes and cabbage. The family never bought bread they always made their own bread. When Nora was fifteen and a half, she went over to England to work. In England Nora had two jobs. She worked very hard and sent home the money she made. That is Mora O’Malley’s life; it is so much tougher than our life now.

Writer: Ava-Lynne Kane 4th Class

Teller: Garry Kane and Nora O’Malley

The original hand written story is available below