Michael O’Flynn: Fire Brigade; Vandalism; Change;

Michael O’Flynn: Fire Brigade; Vandalism; Change;

Life History; Cork; Fire Brigade;

Michael has worked most of his life with Cork fire brigade, a job he loves, and he describes the nature of his job, the training required, and its dangers and rewards.
Michael grew up in Turner’s Cross.
He works as a fireman. In the 1960s there were lots of chimney fires in tenement houses because the occupants burned whatever they could find. He talks about his training, and the difficulties of the job. The fire service also has a role in recovering bodies from the River Lee, and he comments on tragic deaths he has seen.
Christmas, Halloween and Bonfire Night are busy times for the fire brigade. He comments on antisocial behaviour and describes attacks on fire crews.

Note; This interview was conducted as part of the Cork 2005 Project

13 December 2004

CFP_SR00354_oflynn_2004

Cork; Ireland; 1960s - 2000s;

Cork 2005 Collection Catalogue Numbers:

CFP_SR00329_mccarthy_2004;
CFP_SR00330_odriscoll_2004;
CFP_SR00331_claffey_2004;
CFP_SR00332_hanover_2004;
CFP_SR00333_desplanques_2004;
CFP_SR00334_bale_2004;
CFP_SR00335_sheridan_1996;
CFP_SR00336_steiner-scott_2004;
CFP_SR00337_rot_2004;
CFP_SR00338_stafford_2004;
CFP_SR00339_odonoghue_2004;
CFP_SR00340_hawkins_2004;
CFP_SR00341_ocarroll_2004;
CFP_SR00342_ikebuasi_2004;
CFP_SR00343_ogeallabhain_2004;
CFP_SR00344_geaney_2004;
CFP_SR00345_wulff_2004;
CFP_SR00346_abdoulbaneeva_2004;
CFP_SR00347_gunes_2004;
CFP_SR00348_fourie_2004;
CFP_SR00349_henderson_2004;
CFP_SR00350_valdman_2004;
CFP_SR00351_carmody_2004;
CFP_SR00352_osullivan_2004;
CFP_SR00353_mahknanov_2004;
CFP_SR00355_akhter_2004;
CFP_SR00356_walker_2004;
CFP_SR00357_kelleher_2004;
CFP_SR00358_manresa_2004;
CFP_SR00359_wimpenny_2005;
CFP_SR00360_skotarczak_2005;
CFP_SR00361_vermeulen_2005;
CFP_SR00362_owen_2005;
CFP_SR00363_dsouza_2005;
CFP_SR00364_setter_2005;
CFP_SR00365_obrien_2005;
CFP_SR00366_botan_2005:

Published Material:
‘How’s it Goin’, Boy? radio series (six thirty-minute episodes, broadcast 2005 and available on the Cork Folklore Project website)

O'Carroll, Clíona for the Cork Northside Folklore Project (2006) How's it goin', boy? Dublin: Nonsuch Publishing.

Cork Folklore Project Audio Archive

English

Sound

1.wav File

40m 58s

Douglas, Cork City, Ireland.

MiniDisc

16bit / 44.1kHz

The following is a short extract from the interview transcript, copyright of the Cork Folklore Project. If you wish to access further archival material please contact CFP, folklorearchive@gmail.com

F.Q: Yeah, em what changes now Michael would you have we’ll say seen in Cork down through the years?

M.O.F: Well down through the years, like from the time, you know I mean Patrick’s Street is Patrick Street, I suppose that is probably the focal point of Cork, but I mean Cork is spread out now, I mean all of, I suppose from a ten mile radius of Cork city now is nearly an extension of Cork city, I mean the likes of em Ballincollig, Carrigaline, we spent all our childhood in Crosshaven, Crosshaven is no longer the little village now, it was always a Summer place for us – we used to go down there in June until the end of August – but I mean it is I’d say 99% of the people now in Crosshaven are living in Crosshaven. And when you have Carrigaline, I mean my God, Carrigaline is a town in itself, you know, and eh I mean I suppose that’s probably the biggest change: the way the city has expanded, you know, I mean no matter what way you go now there’s Mallow sorry . . .


F.Q: Michael what would you like to see change about Cork?

M.O.F: I suppose from my own point of view I suppose if we actually could get the traffic right, and eh if we could, I would like to see a complete walking area in the centre of the city: all cars free zones away from the thing; it would be fantastic for the city, but what they’re going to do about it I don’t know. Even the tunnel they’re taking the amount of cars that’s passing them by day they didn’t expect until 2007, 2008, and they said that by 2007, 2008, I’m going to have another twenty five per cent increase, so I think that everybody’s going to have to go back to nature, and the bikes and walking, get rid of the cars. To me that would be great, like if I could actually see a carbon free air, and the pollution improved in Cork city, and people would take care of the way they burn things, and that would make my job much easier.