Patricia McCarthy on a girl called Valera
Dublin Core
Title
Patricia McCarthy on a girl called Valera
Subject
Patricia McCarthy recalls how the family wished for their child to be christened Valerie and how the local priest opposed this.
Description
Excerpt from an oral history project where the narrator reflects on the power of the Catholic Church and how the father of one family was adamant that his daughter would be named Valera despite protestations.
Transcript
My third sister was being christened. Now into the church part of it now, people were very religious. And my third sister was getting, was to be baptised and that. And up to the church anyway, up through all the lanes up through Shandon. He wasn't gone a quarter of an hour and he was back down again. But that time the women couldn't go with the child to be christened, they had to be churched or something like that, I think. So back down, my mother nearly had a heart attack - the child and his entourage. He said the child isn't christened. She said Jesus there had to be something wrong, so she said why isn't the child christened? He said the child's name is Valera, Valera, Valera Byrne she is to be christened. And the priest refused to christen her Valera 'cause he said she was being called after Dev and it wasn't a saint's name and he refused to christen Valera. So, my dad being my dad brought the child down says he that's fine, I'll bring her to Shandon. Course that was like a red cloth to a bull, down he came, the child was still there a pagan after three days, there weren't a move, not a move. So, the priest had to come down, and he came down to my mother and he said where I want to speak to your husband, even though she had the child 'twas the husband he wanted to speak to. So, well she said, he's up in Kay Mahony's, Kay Mahony's was up around the corner that time, and he called him out and he said bring the child back up. He said I'll bring my child back up if you christen the child what I want her to be christened if you don't Shandon will do it. So, she was christened Valera Byrnes. And they were shocked. Can you imagine now Christian Ireland? You can imagine the lanes of Cork like I mean. I remember time when we genuflected the priest and when women got down on their knees and kissed the ring. Oh yeah, they did. I mean he was the thorn in their side but he never, he never bent his leg to religion. Now he was a man that went to mass every Sunday but wouldn't give 'em an inch."
Transcript
My third sister was being christened. Now into the church part of it now, people were very religious. And my third sister was getting, was to be baptised and that. And up to the church anyway, up through all the lanes up through Shandon. He wasn't gone a quarter of an hour and he was back down again. But that time the women couldn't go with the child to be christened, they had to be churched or something like that, I think. So back down, my mother nearly had a heart attack - the child and his entourage. He said the child isn't christened. She said Jesus there had to be something wrong, so she said why isn't the child christened? He said the child's name is Valera, Valera, Valera Byrne she is to be christened. And the priest refused to christen her Valera 'cause he said she was being called after Dev and it wasn't a saint's name and he refused to christen Valera. So, my dad being my dad brought the child down says he that's fine, I'll bring her to Shandon. Course that was like a red cloth to a bull, down he came, the child was still there a pagan after three days, there weren't a move, not a move. So, the priest had to come down, and he came down to my mother and he said where I want to speak to your husband, even though she had the child 'twas the husband he wanted to speak to. So, well she said, he's up in Kay Mahony's, Kay Mahony's was up around the corner that time, and he called him out and he said bring the child back up. He said I'll bring my child back up if you christen the child what I want her to be christened if you don't Shandon will do it. So, she was christened Valera Byrnes. And they were shocked. Can you imagine now Christian Ireland? You can imagine the lanes of Cork like I mean. I remember time when we genuflected the priest and when women got down on their knees and kissed the ring. Oh yeah, they did. I mean he was the thorn in their side but he never, he never bent his leg to religion. Now he was a man that went to mass every Sunday but wouldn't give 'em an inch."
Creator
Cork Folklore Project
Source
CFP_SR00440_mccarthy_2011
Publisher
Cork Folklore Project
Date
Mid twentieth century
Contributor
Patricia McCarthy
Rights
Copyright Cork Folklore Project
Format
Mp3
Language
English
Type
Audio
Identifier
CFP_SR00440_mccarthy_2011
Citation
Cork Folklore Project, “Patricia McCarthy on a girl called Valera,” Cork Memory Map, accessed May 19, 2024, https://corkfolklore.org/cmm/items/show/47.