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Kevin Leahy: Gurranabraher, Irish Army, Docklands,
Kevin was born (circa late 1930s) in Kelly’s Lane (later Boyce’s Street). His father was in the British Army and later the forces of the Irish Free State. When Kevin was 14 he went to work as a plumber.
He remembers Blarney Street, and women who…
He remembers Blarney Street, and women who…
Marie Finn: Barrack Street, Blackberry-picking, Catholic Church,
Marie (b. 1938) grew up in Barrack Street. She left school at 16 and started working.
She talks about the games she played as a child and recites part of a rhyme. You could pick blackberries and sell them to a sweet-makers. Oranges and bananas as…
She talks about the games she played as a child and recites part of a rhyme. You could pick blackberries and sell them to a sweet-makers. Oranges and bananas as…
Mary Sheehy: Gurranabraher, Street Traders, Bonfire Night
Mary was born in Washington Street in 1948; when she was 6 her family moved to Gurranabraher. Her mother was a trader in second-hand clothes in Kyle Street and a barmaid, her father worked for Cork Harbour Commissioners.
As a child, she had to wear…
As a child, she had to wear…
Noreen Cronin: Shandon, The North Infirmary, Childhood
Noreen grew up in a tenement in Dominick Street next to Shandon in the early 1950s. She went to the North Pres School and worked at the North Infirmary. Her mother used to deliver babies in the area and helped to wash and lay out the dead. Her…
Liam Ó hUigín: Henry Street, The Marshes, Childhood
Liam grew up in Henry Street during the 1940s. He talks about the marshes of Cork and Pike’s Marsh, named after a Quaker merchant family.
He recalls the practice of adding “a” to the end of some placenames, such as Pana for Patrick Street. There…
He recalls the practice of adding “a” to the end of some placenames, such as Pana for Patrick Street. There…
Una Lyons: Oliver Plunkett Street, Cinemas, English Market
Una (born 1960) grew up in a guesthouse, a Georgian building on Oliver Plunkett Street. She had two siblings. Her parents had an unusually cosmopolitan outlook. Her father was an engineer with CIE trains. The street was quite residential but she also…
Michael O'Callaghan: Togher, Emigration, Summer Holidays,
Michael was born in 1957. Originally from Togher. Michael’s family emigrated to London in 1960. He remembers the ship leaving Cork on the Inishfallen, and people singing and crying at the quayside. They sang the popular song “Now Is The Hour” [Bing…
Tom Jones: Shandon Street, Emigration, Childhood
Tom was born circa 1950 in a building at the bottom of Shandon Street.
He remembers watching the Cork Opera House on fire in 1955. He recalls childhood games and explains the game of Kick the Can and Pitch and Toss. He talks about the nature of…
He remembers watching the Cork Opera House on fire in 1955. He recalls childhood games and explains the game of Kick the Can and Pitch and Toss. He talks about the nature of…
Tina Noonan: Blackpool; Sunbeam; Childhood **Restricted Content**
Tina’s father was from Blackpoool, and her mother was from Cove St. She has 8 siblings. She went to Blackpool School, which was since demolished; there they used to be given milk and buns.
Tina recalls some of a skipping rhyme she used to sing as…
Tina recalls some of a skipping rhyme she used to sing as…
Sheila Dalton: Family Life; Marriage; Childhood
Sheila was born and raised on Gurranabraher Avenue. Her father was from the Fail hill area and her mother came from Whitechurch.
Sheila was second youngest in a family of 7 girls and 4 boys. Her father worked in a government building as the lift…
Sheila was second youngest in a family of 7 girls and 4 boys. Her father worked in a government building as the lift…
Eibhlís de Barra: Northside, Gender, Childhood Games
Eibhlís was born on the Southside of Cork. Her husband was from Blarney Street, on the Northside.
She recalls childhood games such as The Chaineys, and The Gobs, and Scaa, the latter two played with small stones. She quotes some of the skipping…
She recalls childhood games such as The Chaineys, and The Gobs, and Scaa, the latter two played with small stones. She quotes some of the skipping…
Kieran O Leary: Cillian Murphy, Queens Old Castle, Ballinlough
Kieran speaks about growing up in Ballinlough, the shops and businesses that he remembers. How he developed his interest in theatre and getting involved with the Loft and other theatre groups. He talks about going to primary school with actor Cillian…
John Connolly: Childhood Games; Corporal Punishment; Family Life
John Connolly describes growing up in Fairhill. He gives details of various childhood games, including Kick the Can and Cat and Dog. His mother died when he was about two years old and he and his two sisters were raised by their relatives while their…
John Connolly: Childhood Games; John F. Kennedy
John Connolly describes John F. Kennedy's visit to Cork.
He talks about Christy Ring and Cork GAA and the atmosphere of match day.
John also talks a bout some childhood games. He mentions a holy well in Failhill called Fahy's Well.
He talks about Christy Ring and Cork GAA and the atmosphere of match day.
John also talks a bout some childhood games. He mentions a holy well in Failhill called Fahy's Well.
Rev John Farris: Civil Rights, Christianity, Northern Ireland
Reverend Faris is a Presbyterian minister. His family had connections with Cork. He discusses his childhood impressions of differences between Northern Ireland and the Republic, as well as commenting on aspects of the Christian ritual year.
Reverend…
Reverend…
Edith O'Regan: Grattan Street, Healthcare, Working Life
Edith grew up in Youghal where she recalls playing childhood games including Red Rover, chainey, a makeshift tennis and sandcastles on the beach.
Describes attending school in cold substandard buildings. Preferred self-directed learning to rote…
"Mary": Grattan Street, Healthcare, Working Life
‘Mary’ grew up on a farm in county Limerick, part of which was rented to a mental hospital to be worked by patients. By interacting with these patients she quickly learned who you could trust and who you couldn’t.
Mentions her brother’s physical and…
Sean Higgisson: Grattan Street, Healthcare, Working Life
Sean grew up by the Lough in Cork city and spent holidays in Ardmore. Describes his family home and memories of his grandparents. Talks about playing football and the game Red Rover as a child.
His mother was not allowed to keep her job in the public…
Aoife O'Brien: Grattan Street, Healthcare, Working Life
Aoife describes growing up on the Northside near Cathedral Road and playing games with her friends.
Describes her grandmother who ran a shop on Churchfield Green. Her grandmother was a confidante to many locals. Her grandmother eventually moved into…
Jane Ward: Grattan Street, Healthcare, Working Life
Jane grew up in Balbriggan and Skerries County Dublin. Describes her love of the Georgian house her family lived in and her love of old buildings and antiques before they moved to a smaller home.
Recalls her first holy communion where one girl…