Con O’Callaghan

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Con recalls his child hood growing up on fuller’s road in the Lough area of Cork city (shallow limestone lake south west of cork city).

And how it was a lovely area to grow up in at the time he then mentions it was over 70 years ago since he was a child growing up in that area.

And how his father had the first car in the area and how there house had a side garden and how his father would park the car in the side of the house.

Con then mentions how as kids they would play on the road and how it was cul de sac (a street with only one inlet or outlet) and how there was no cars so they had the entire street to play on.

Cons then mentions that it is not like 20022 were houses have two or three cars.

Con explains were he went to school in Sullivan’s quay and how he started his schooling in saint Marys of the isle as child and then moved over to Sullivan’s quay secondary school.

Con then recalls how his father wanted him to go to college but how he had no interest in going and how he always wanted to work with his hands and how he wanted to become a carpenter.

Con then explains how at the age of 14 how he got his apprenticeship with a small builder called JJ O Connell and how he went out of business just as Con was finished his apprenticeship.   

And how he then went working for various builders he then mentions the building firms as been PJ Hegarty and sisks on Building sites and how he worked on housing schemes and big industrial concrete scheme were they would be building reservoir’s.        

He also remembers moving jobs at this time to the regional Technical college now (CIT Bishoptown) as trainee foreman Then meeting his wife of 49 years.

And Con recalls how her mother who had Connections in the (OPW) (office of public works) were he then was Offered job as a carpenter and how he encountered architect who became a friend who had the Same interest as him in sailing and how he was a member of the Royal Cork Yacht club in Crosshaven.

Con then recalls been offered a job as inspector with OPW Because people working on building sites had better money and Did not want to join the OPW so  the commissioner of (OPW) at the time came up with a scheme to train people within The (OPW) to become inspectors so at 50 Con became an Inspector with (OPW).

And he goes into detail on how he returned to do computer classes as he had no knowledge of computers and how he received his ECDL Certifications.

0.05.01 - 0.09.03

Con then goes into detail on how he returned to do computer classes as he had no knowledge of computers and how he received his ECDL Certifications.

Con then mentions that he is a recovering alcoholic and goes into detail about this part of his life  and his wife Been a student at UCC at this time and why he stopped drinking alcohol and Got Help in Tabor lodge ( addiction treatment service) and he is Active member of Alcoholics Anonymous and how his bosses were helpful to him in this period of his life and how he got opportunity for promotions within the OPW.

 CHECCK THIS WITH KEIRAN AND TOMAS.

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Con then goes on to say how he got into the music scene as Drummer And percussionist as a African drummer with drum Village and when Martin Aherne a community health worker For the (HSE) (health service Executive) advertised in local newspaper looking for musicians for Martins (HAZ)( health action zone).

 He then joined the group called Shandon HAZ music group and they moved to Kerrigan Tyrell hall at tinkers cross (a suburb in Mayfield in  north west of Cork city)

Con then recalls that Martin dies and they rename the group to martin’s music.

Con then mentions the covid 19 pandemic and how he set up a Zoom meeting (video conference platform) so the group could Still meet through these meetings when people were in lockdown and how it held the group together for the 2 years of the lockdown.

Con then explains about playing a gig for women’s group in Farranree and how some members didn’t want women to be part Of the group as they saw themselves as men’s shed so those Members left and they now have women members in the Group.

Con also explains how they have another gig for the lifelong learning festival in the local library and also mentions playing a tribute concert to Martin Aherne in the grounds of the orthopaedic hospital.   

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Con then recalls been raised on Fuller’s Road.

And talks about his childhood fishing on the Lough.

He then mentions about his children when they were Born and Buying a mobile home in Garrettstown.

And how finding a Stray dog which began 15 year relationship with dog agility Shows.

And how he went to classes to learn to train the dogs in Agility Courses he then goes onto say how he began building Courses For the organisation.

He then refers to how he travelled all over the country with his family going to dog agility shows and winning trophy’s and how his children learned to handle The dog as well.

Con then mentions when he met his wife how he was involved with racing motorbikes and how he had few bad accidents.

He then mentions boats and how physically demanding racing Boats was.

Con then recalls how he also had no time to give to racing at that period.

Because of family commitments and his music although he does Go on to explain how he did go to the Mediterranean France Spain and Portugal.

Helping people taking their boats there and bringing Boats back from these locations.

 He then goes onto describe how he is retired now and people contact him to bring boats back from Spain and they send him His airline ticket and he goes help them sail the boats back to Ireland as they would have no crews.

Con them recalls that he now sails with an individual called Pat O Leary and how his boat is a cruiser rather than a thoroughbred Racing boat.

And how he invited Con and his wife on a cruise to Bantry taken in the sights of Sherkin Island Schull Baltimore.

And how the summer weather was beautiful and how the cruising is Easier than racing as you go in straight line for miles and how The yacht racing is more physical on your body and how cruising is great fun.

He goes onto say how he loves where he lives now and how he loves music and sailing.                                   

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Con then returns back to growing up on Fullers road and how it Amazes him now that children in 2022.

Are all indoors playing Computer games as to when he grew up he refers to how he Would have a sandwich and go out on the road and spend as Much time away from the home as possible playing football Hurling cricket cowboys and Indians.

And how they had no technology at that time he goes onto say that sweets were a luxury and if they got some chocolate on Sunday you Considered it a great privilege.

He then tells us were fuller’s road is situated by the Lough Church.

 And how earlwood estate a (suburb south west of Cork city)   was only been constructed and beyond that you had open Country side.

 And how he and few friends had small terriers And would be out the country chasing rabbits and how healthy the Outdoor activities were.

And how this generation only exercise Their two thumbs playing computer games and how they think They are great soccer players and can drive cars fast but they are Doing it all on screen were his generation were enjoying Themselves doing sport.

He then describes how they were different times and how he loved living on fullers’ road.

Con then give details about lighting bonfires And how the flames were as big as the two story houses and how he was getting small bit older and getting interest in women.

He then give details of playing spin the bottle and kiss or torture with the girls and how there was no internet dating.

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Con then goes into detail on how small the house was that he Grew up in with his parents and sisters.

 He goes onto mention contraception and total abstinence he then goes explains how a  TV programme called ‘The Way We Were’ Presented by Mike Murphy from RTE (Raidió Teilifís Éireann) and how it mirrored his own childhood memories and how it was so similar to his own childhood.

Con describes how his own father was sleeping in the spare room and how they were cramped conditions.

He then mentions a clock that his father owned and how he would Wind it every day and how Con still has the clock to this day And how he now winds it every day.

And how his father got the Clock out a house fire in Ballyclough (southwest of Cork city near Mallow).

 He also recalls how his father was clerk of Works with the council and how his father was raised by his Aunt as both his parents died at young age he then goes onto say How he bought the family home when his Father died and how he renovated the house.

He goes onto say he had a very privileged upbringing and how He would go to work with his father as a teenager and been let Go to the rubbish dump with the drivers.

As his father went to Meetings with council staff and how other workers did not like Having the boss’s son with them.

And he describes how ironic That he went on to do the same work as his father in the OPW Rather than in the council like his father.

 He then recalls how his Father picked the house on Fullers road And that it had the most land plus how it paid dividends to Con when he went on to sell it in later Years before the boom time in the building industries collapsed And how he got planning for apartments on the land before he Sold it

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Con again speaks about his father and how he loved him and his Mother he then explains how his father was also a motorbike Enthusiast.

And in 1970 how Con paid six hundred pounds for 750cc Norton commando motor bike and how he was part of the Influx of big bikes into Ireland.

And how his friends were also into big bike like Honda 4 and Kawasaki 3.

And how the side of Cons house became a garage for them to Fix their bikes and how His father would have only seen bikes like the BSA Norton’s And triumphs.

And how His father was amazed to see the Japanese bikes And the latest technology and how his friends thought he had The coolest dad as the other fathers saw them as dangerous Equipment.

Con then recalls how some friends died on road accidents and How lucky Con was to never to be in very serious accident.

 He Then describes how his father died at the age of 73 and his father Smoking 60 cigarettes a day.

And how Con was only 20 years old When his father passed away and his father was 54 years old when con was Born and how he had only 20 years with him but packed so Much into those years.

In addition to this Con recalls how his father was very enthusiastic Person and how he would have the family up at 8 AM for Sunday mass.

 And how They would drive to Youghal beach and how they would Spend the day down there swimming and making sand castles He also talks about to how his father got to know the Fisher men that Would take Con up the river black water on their boats to check For illegal fishing nets.

And make sure they would not be blocking the salmon going up Stream.

 And how his father was aware of Cons interest in boats and as Con was only a child at that time and would not have had Access To boats as his father had no interest in boats.

 He then Goes back talking about his first motor bike at the age of 16.

And how his father helped him purchase the Norton bike at price of five hundred and 95 pounds.

This was a lot of money 50 years Ago and how you would pay 20 thousand euros for the same bike in 2022.

In addition to this Con explains how he went to a finance company at first to get a loan of the money.

But He explain how he would be paying 45% back on the loan Con goes onto Explain how his father bought the bike for him and he paid him Back On a weekly bases.

Con then mentions how if he was going camping with his Friends to Mondello Park (International Race Circuit).

His father wouldn’t take no money That week for his bike but Says when he got within 100 pound Of the final payment his father did not take the final payment From him.

 He goes onto say how it set him up to save money and how at 71 years of age Con is happy going sailing and playing Music.

0.43.17 - 0.56.57

The interviewer then ask Con about market gardens and he Explain how his father grew his own vegetables of potatoes and Cabbage and how they only lived 10 minute walk from Patrick Street (Cork city’s main street) and how his father let their Garden go into hay and using a scythe to cut it and making Haystacks in the middle of their garden and also keeping Chickens and how his father had apple and pear trees.

Con then explains about going slogging apples and the fun of Doing it.

 He then describes about the cold weather and how they Made skating ring on the road and how different it is from kids Playing these days.

 He then goes into detail on cutting timber with a Cross saw Con then recalls on what his father’s job was straitening corners.

 He then mentions the road going up to Cork Airport and how it was only a boreen (a narrow country road).

 He then shows the interviewer a photo of the road been built and mentions a Mr Donovan who was an engineer.

 Con then mentions how his father Worked on three major road projects including the dual carriage Way in Tivoli and were it starts at silver springs hotel and finishes at Dunkettle Bridge and how it was the first road in Ireland to have a central reservation were traffic was going in two Different directions and compares it as major job at the time Comparing it to the likes of the link road Bypassing Cork city.

Con then comments on Inchigaggin bridge and a Grand prix racing Before he was born and how it was an international circuit  and How his father was of great personality and how the timber his Father cut was used for heating the house as that was the only Form of heating they had.

Con then reverts back to his child hood and been bathed in a galvanised bath in front of open fire and How the heat coming out of the fire was the only heat in the House.

 And how they would light the fire in the bedroom only if You were sick and he then compared them to houses in 2022 Which would have better heating systems and how his own House now has double glazed and treble glazed windows.

And How they would boil kettles of water to take a bath in his youth And he explains how it was like how they bathed in the cowboy films and that’s how he was raised and did not know anything better.

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Con then recalls the food they were eating and were they Would buy this food in the local shop.

Before the advent of big Supermarkets and how everything from Bread and meat was Sourced locally and how the food was set dinners for each day Of the week he then mentions fish was always Fridays dinner And that’s  how people lived there lives.

Con then mentions Covid 19 pandemic and how there was a Polio epidemic in cork And how it was only effecting children who were bound to wheelchairs and he explains what calliper’s were and how he Was sent to live with friends of his fathers in Mallow and how The epidemic was confined to Cork city and how his father’s Friends had no kids and were delighted to take him into their Home.

And how he was treated like royalty and how his pocket Money increased from 6 pence a week to 3 pence a day and how He spent the full summer down there and it was magical as he Had Great freedom as they were not as strict as his parents and how He built rafts and go out on the river and would have no life jackets and how there was some kids were in tragic accidents.

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Con then returns to his childhood growing up in the lough and Going fishing and model boat racing in the lough and how he Was fascinated on how they sailed against the wind.

He then Mentions how there was a gentleman in a Punt (flat bottomed Boat with square cut bow).

And how this person thought him How to row and when he Became ill that Con took on the duty Of rowing the Punt to retrieve the model boats that became Entangled in the reeds.

And how he was going to secondary School in (sully’s quay) (Sullivan’s quay secondary school) and How he would skip School on Wednesday afternoon to go Sailing on the Lough were he should have been up in Deer park Were the monastery was with the Christian brothers doing Athletes and GAA which He had no interest in.

Con then mentions a Mr Corcoran who was in charge of the model boat club and he lived in Hartland’s avenue and how he Had Agreement with him to open the club on Wednesday afternoon In addition to making excuse to the Christian brothers why he did not go to Deerpark.

Con goes into detail on what he did in the Rowing boat on the Lough he goes onto say how he fell in love With boats from that experience and from there he discovered Motorbikes women and alcohol and how he stopped the model Boat pastime.

He then goes onto say that he then met his wife Clare and how He bought his first small sailing boat and how he Progressed to bigger sailing boats and how his last boat was 6 Berth and how Con bought it as a new boat and how expensive it Was but Himself and his wife travelled exclusively on it and had Great memory’s                 

1.04.37 - 1.06.12

Con then goes Into detail how he learned how to sail with Eddie English in Cobh (seaport town on the south coast of county Cork) and how he did a training course and was fascinated by The learning ability’s he got but had some idea how to sail Before taking the training course he then says that he took the Training course over 50 years ago, probably around 1972.    

1.06.12 – 1.07:57

Con then goes onto explain how he loved every aspect of sailing

Which included the repairing of boats he then goes onto explain How he had a bridging loan with the bank for an extension on His house  and how he spent the money on his first sailing boat In county Limerick and went back to the bank for more money The following week and how it all worked out fine.  

1.07.57 – 1.13.55

Con then explains what make a great sailor and how you need Passion for it which he still has at 71 years of age and how he loves everything involved with racing.

 Con then explains how he would Have sailed with people that He would never sail with again he Explains one episode of bringing a boat back from Spain with a very excitable person and his wife and they hit a storm at sea and how he was not Prepared enough with weather forecast and You have to be calm when you have problems at sea.

And how a Three day trip took them five and half days because The person had the forecast wrong.

And he goes onto explain how he did Another trip were the Person had everything you needed for a Cross channel trip and How Con made a mistake in the first Incident where he didn’t Read the forecast beforehand and how You need trust the people You are sailing with.

 And how people That would be in Baltimore a ( fishing village in western side of Cork county) for weekend and take a chance In bad weather because they wanted their boat back in its berth Because they would have work on a Monday and if left in west Cork they would need to retrieve it midweek.

Con goes onto say that he Stayed in Baltimore for a week with His wife Clare because the Weather was not good for sailing and how his wife loved been On the boat.

But she was not a sailor so Con was sailing single handily and His wife did the cooking on board and how above The deck was his concern and below deck was hers.

Con explains He is very cautious when sailing because you had To think about others people life’s including the lifeboat people he then goes onto say how he looks at a series on TV called saving life at sea And the stupid things people do putting other Peoples life at risk to rescue them.                

1.13.55 – 1.21.53

Con then returns to explain in detail about his trip back from Spain with bad weather and the problems they had and when They came out the other side of the storm by the Fastnet light House and how Anne the person wife was a lovely person and How they were 4 to 5 mile outside the old head of Kinsale (a head land near Kinsale county cork).

Con then goes onto explain how the boat engine failed them and It would be a situation that he would never put himself in again and how he has done longer trips since on trips down to Greece and how all the crew had their own showers and toilets on board And how it was pure luxury.    

1.21.53- 1.23.19

Con then goes onto tell when he joined the Yacht club and how He become a cruiser committee member and how he now Organises trips away and in the winter time he would organise To have Functions and talks in the yacht club and goes onto to Describe how one guy in the yacht club went sailing to Russia And documented his trip and then presented a after dinner talk About it In the yacht club and says you didn’t have to be a sailor To enjoy these events.   

1.23.19 – 1.25.03

Con then goes onto explain the process of a laying up supper And how they happened at the end of the sailing season and There is different classes within the yachting club and how Prizes are given to different types of boats for example Dinghy’s Cruiser and Racers he then goes to say that he sailed For 20 years on a boat which they called a “1720” which is a Very High speed machine.

And they would do up 20 to 22 knots and Con says it would be The same as doing the speed of 100 miles an  hour  in a car plus Con explains that all these boats are the Same size and shape And it’s all about the sailors on board because they are Physically demanding and says he’s gone a bit Too old for that type of sailing these days.        

1.25.03 – 1.29.32

Con then explains the tradition of Stag night and how he would Go but he does not drink alcohol and how it’s different then a Stag that you would have before your Wedding.

And how in the Yacht club it is very conducted event and how They would have A master of ceremonies and how he and Others would sing a Song or tell a story and recite poetry and There would be a Piano Player at this event and how it is done in a traditional way.

 Con then explains the traditional food they would eat for Instance Crubeens (from Irish crúibín, meaning pig's trotter) And how Messy they were to eat and how people in 2020 do not eat them.

He also mentions Black pudding which  (Is a blend of meat, oatmeal or barley  herbs and spices and the

Quintessential fresh Blood).

And Tripe and Drisheen which Con Says he would not eat he Then explains what tripe and drisheen is and how popular it was To eat and how his father would have Eaten it he then goes onto Say how time have changed in the Yacht club especially the dress code of its members.

 And how it was because of people like Con joining the yacht club and Since he would not class himself as one of the doyens of Cork city.

And how the Yacht club is open for everyone to join in 2022 And that it Would have been very difficult to join the yacht club Few years Previous and how they have changed practices and Put Initiatives in for new member to go sailing.            

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Con then describes how it was when he joined the yacht club And how he knew people in his situation that would not go into The yacht club because they felt intimidated by the high Powered business men who owned luxury yachts.

And how Con Didn’t care what they thought of him as he just wanted to go Sailing and could not afford his own boat and how He broke Rules to just go sailing.

Moreover he explains how eventually he got to own his own Boat.

Con explains how the yacht club was good for him and others During the covid 19 pandemic as they had an open marquee With heaters so he could go with his wife for meals in the yacht Club and how he felt safe there as they were outdoors.

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Con then goes into detail of the rules he broke in the yacht club He describes that he don’t like wearing long pants as he always wears shorts even in winter time and how other members would Have a more conservative dress code.   

1.32.17 – 1.37.40

Con then goes into detail on how he got into music and how he Always had a passion for African drums and how his wife’s Aunt Sheila.

was involved in African drumming and how she Gave him a Phone number for Eamonn Cagney who is one of The best percussionist in the country and was playing music With Niwel Tsumbu and they were giving classes in Cork and how Con bought his own drum after a week of playing with them.

And has been playing for 20 years he also mentions a guy called Fergal O’Connor who Would have Indian heritage  and he was Giving a workshop in Cork For beginners and how he asked Con to help him with the Classes.

And how a lady arrived with a pair of Conga drums and Con Then bought his own set the following week he also says how he is very impulsive person and how he was coming close To retirement so he decided to start his own band.

And how he Put notices up in the local library for members to Play in nursing Homes he then explains about the African drums And how he was involved in several gigs and how he played in 2011 for Charity gig for the Tsunami in Japan On Patrick Street in Cork City and raised six thousand euros and how people were very Generous and how they had people from the Red Cross (a global voluntary network, responding to conflicts, natural disasters) and how they got the general public to play on the drums for fun.    

1.37.40 – 1.41.42

Con then explains how Martin’s Music works and how he Guides The group and details how they did the gig in farranree For Majela and how Con structured the group and how he would write up a list of tunes that they would play so that everybody in The group knows what they are playing he then Goes onto say That when the group gets back to normal after the Pandemic They can learn new songs and how they are planning a gig on the 7^th (of April).

And how they only play cover version of songs as a group the likes of Bob Dillon or Dickie Rock or Van Morrison.

 Con Explains what they get for these gigs is the feel good factor and How it is good to play to an audience he also say that they play For old folks home like St Luke’s and Ballyphehane which are Closed at the moments but is hoping to get back there shortly.

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Con then explains how the group has performed better every Time they play as practice is good for bringing a group together He then explains that they don’t play music the whole time they meet as they also have chats whit each other as social Interaction and putting a little bit back into the community and They giving people some bit of happiness he then describes Martins Music as very good.   

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Con then is ask by the interviewer what his party piece in the laying up super in the yacht club is and he explains that he sings The song the voyage about saint Brendan finding America and How He first heard the song Con also sings the rocky road to Dublin And ride on.

Con then sings a verse of the voyage. 

INTERVIEW ENDS AT 16.10 PM