Breda McShane: Orthopaedic Hospital

HSE ORTHO BOOK 001.jpg

Title

Breda McShane: Orthopaedic Hospital

Subject

Ireland; Cork; Gurranabraher; Healthcare; Occupational Lore:

Description

Breda grew up in Dungarvan Co. Waterford. She moved to Cork in 1975 after getting a job as a clerical worker for the Southern Health Board. Breda moved to Hollyhill in 1980. Six years later she got a transfer to the Orthopedic hospital payroll department.
She talks briefly about the matron Maura O'Connell and her deputies.
She mentions that the attendants being very friendly, great on a night out and brilliant singers.
Breda describes the record keeping at the hospital. She also talks about the wages and the process of paying staff
Breda also describes the layout of the hospital campus and speaks of the strange numbering system on the buildings.
While she describes the campus as a peaceful place she does tell a story of young people picking magic mushrooms and getting chased off.
She says that it wasn't greatly suited for postoperative hip replacement patients due to the steps at the entrance to all the buildings.
Breda tells of a man who told her that there is a system of tunnels under the grounds.
Breda then explains the love of horses that some of her colleagues had.

Date

30th May 2017

Identifier

CFP_SR00625_mcshane_2017

Coverage

Cork, Ireland, 1970s-2000s

Relation


Published Material:

MacConmara, Tomás for the Cork Folklore Project (2018) The Ministry of Healing, St Mary's Orthopaedic Hospital Cork: An Oral and Historical Record. Cork: Health Service Executive.

Source

Cork Folklore Project Audio Archive

Rights

Cork Folklore Project

Language

English

Type

Sound

Format

1.wav File

Interviewee

Interviewer

Duration

42min 31sec

Location

HSE Drug and Alcohol Building, Kinvara House. Dublin Hill, Cork

Original Format

.wav
.wav

Bit Rate/Frequency

24bit / 48kHz

Citation

Cork Folklore Project , “Breda McShane: Orthopaedic Hospital,” accessed March 28, 2024, https://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/document/158.