Eva's Story

I went to school in 1935. My teachers name was Mrs Hastings. Irish was the most she taught and plenty of the cane on the hands. We got a half hour to play at twelve o clock. We played ball. We ate our lunch. We walked a mile and a half to school in our feet. We brought three sods of turf under our arm every morning and it wore the sides of my jackets. Clothes were not plentiful in them days. I had big lumps on the soles of my feet from the road. It wasn’t too bad until the priest, who was the examiner, came to see had we the catechism. He’d ask us to say it off by heart and we’d shiver and shake. He was no joke either.

Weather lore; if there was a ring around the moon a storm is coming.

Mass;

In the 1950s and 60s it was traditional to attend the Easter Ceremonies every day of Holy Week. As there was very little transport then you had no choice but to walk the three miles to and from church. To receive Holy Communion they had to abstain from food and drink from the previous night. That was hard fasting for so long.

Ringing in the New Year in Murrisk;

My nannie came from Murrisk and tells me of how they rang in the New Year. Her dad (My Great Grand Father) played in the local band and on New Years Eve at twelve midnight they walked through the village and played to their hearts content. All the people opened their doors to listen and to let in the New Year. Children were left up late to hear the music. Now it’s different.

Writer: Eva McLoughlin (3rd class) Great granddaughter of Winifred Hastings

Teller: Winifred Hastings & Carmel McLoughlin

The original hand written story is available below