Kevin Leahy: Gurranabraher, Irish Army, Docklands,
Life History:
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 wore large petticoats and played ‘gadgets’ (accordions). He moved to Gurranabraher; and later to Farranree.
He talks about some childhood games he played, such as ‘Kick the Can’ (which he explains), steering cars, icing the road in winter to go skating.
He recalls being told in the 1940s not to play with children from families who had been informers during the Civil War.
He remembers the names of some of the lanes around Blarney Street. People in the area boiled crubeens, others sold flowers, all from the doorways of their houses.
Kevin talks about a local character called Damie Goggins.
How steernas were made.
Kevin’s mother (née Burke) sang thousands of songs, among them ‘The Irish Brigade’ (he sings a verse). His maternal grandmother was a formidable woman who liked to drink and fight.
There was a milk and cake shop, Mrs Cotter’s, in Blarney Street, where you got a pint of milk and a whole cake, the latter sometimes Donkey’s Drudge Cake.
Meeting the opposite sex had to be done on the sly.
He talks about the origin of the word ‘langer’.
Kevin joined the army and served in the Congo [early 1960s].
Women couldn’t drink in pubs, unless in snugs; men and women’s lives were completely separate. He explains that pubs closed at 7pm at night, after which men gathered, talked, sang and fought in the street until midnight.
As a child Kevin used to eat various sweets, ‘Munster Selection’, candy apples, twisted candy, ice cream.
He details the pranks he played as a child, slogging apples from the Sunbeam gardens, and how kids could sneak into the Lido cinema.
People kept animals, including goats.
He worked on the docks after he came out of the army, and talks a little about the work and the dockers he knew. He tells a funny story about meeting some visiting Americans.
Cork Folklore Project
Cork Folklore Project Audio Archive
Cork Folklore Project
13 August 2011
Interviewee: Kevin Leahy
Interviewer: Helen Kelly
Cork Folklore Project
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<div class="element-text"><strong></strong><strong>Other Interviews in the Colection:</strong> <br /><a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/101" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a><br /><a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/101" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00387_sheehan_2010</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/101" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00388_sheehan_2010</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/103" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00389_healy_2010</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/104" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00390_kelleher_2010</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/105" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00391_crean_2010</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/106" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00392_mckeon_2010</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/107" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00393_twomey_2010</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/108">CFP_SR00394_stleger_2010</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/3">CFP_SR00395_speight_2010</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/109" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00396_lane_2010</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/110" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00397_obrienoleary_2010</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/111" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00398_jones_2010</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/112" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00399_saville_2010</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/113" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00400_magnier_2010</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/114">CFP_SR00401_marshall_2010</a>;<a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/115" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> CFP_SR00402_marshall_2010</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/116">CFP_SR00403_murphy_2010</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/117">CFP_SR00404_prout_2011</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/118">CFP_SR00405_walsh_2011</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/119" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00406_prout_2011</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/120">CFP_SR00407_newman_2010</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/121" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00408_newman_2010</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/123" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00411_newman_2010</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/124" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00412_newman_2010</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/125" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00413_finn_2011</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/126" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00414_ohorgain_2011</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/127" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00415_oconnell_2011</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/128" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00416_sheehy_2011</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/129" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00417_mcloughlin_2012</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/130" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00418_gerety_2012</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/131" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00419_kelleher_2012</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/132" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00420_byrne_2012</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/133" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00421_cronin_2012</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/134" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00422_ohuigin_2012</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/135" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00423_meacle_2012</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/136" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00424_horgan_2012</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/137" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00425_lyons_2012</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/138" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00427_goulding_2011</a>; <br /><br />CFP_SR00491_fitzgerald_2013. <br /><br /><strong>Heritage Week 2011:</strong> <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/139" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00429_casey_201</a>1; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/140" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00430_tomas_2011</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/141" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00431_newman_2011</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/142" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00432_stillwell_2011</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/143" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00433_oconnell_2011</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/144" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00434_lane_2011</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/145" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00435_montgomery-mcconville_2011</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/146" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00436_ocallaghan_2011</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/147" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00437_corcoran_2011</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/148">CFP_SR00438_jones_2011</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/document/2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00439_ohuigin_2011</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/document/149" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00440_mccarthy_2011</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/150" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00441_crowley_2011</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/document/151" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00442_obrien_2011</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/document/152" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00443_jones_2011</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/document/153" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00444_mcgillicuddy_2011</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/document/154" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00445_delay_2011</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/document/155" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00446_murphy_2011</a>; <br /><br /><strong>Video Interview:</strong> CFP_VR00486_speight_2014</div>
<div class="element-text"><br /><strong>Published Material: </strong> <br /><br />O’Carroll, Clíona (2011) ‘The Cork Memory Map’, Béascna 7: 184-188. <br /><br />O’Carroll, Clíona (2012) ‘Cork Memory Map: an update on CFP’s Online Project’, The Archive 16: 14. <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/archive16.pdf">https://www.ucc.ie/en/media/research/corkfolkloreproject/archivepdfs/archive16.PDF</a> <br /><br />Dee, Stephen and O’Carroll, Clíona (2012) ‘Sound Excerpts: Interviews from Heritage Week’, The Archive 16: 15-17. <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/archive16.pdf">https://www.ucc.ie/en/media/research/corkfolkloreproject/archivepdfs/archive16.PDF</a> <br /><br />O'Carrol, Clíona (2014) 'The children's perspectives: Place-centred interviewing and multiple diversified livelihood strategies in Cork city, 1935-1960'. Béaloideas - The Journal of Folklore of Ireland Society, 82: 45-65. <br /><br />The Curious Ear/Documentary on One (Cork City Memory Map) <a href="http://www.rte.ie/radio1/doconone/2011/0816/646858-curious-ear-doconone-cork-city-memory-map/">http://www.rte.ie/radio1/doconone/2011/0816/646858-curious-ear-doconone-cork-city-memory-map/</a></div>
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<div class="element-text"><br /><strong>To view the Cork Memory Map Click </strong><a href="https://corkfolklore.org/memory-map/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Here</strong></a></div>
1 .wav File
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CFP_SR00409_leahy_2011
Cork, Ireland, 1930s-2000s
<p>Liam Ó hUigín: Grattan Street, Healthcare, The Marsh</p>
<p><span>Liam grew up on Henry Street in The Marsh and recalls playing football on Grattan Street which was busy and full of activity with businesses, pubs, shops a fire station, barber shops and tenements. He discusses some shops and games in more detail.</span></p>
<p><span>Speaks of the poverty in the Middle Parish which necessitated buying goods on credit and selling clothes and jewellery to pawnshops. Mentions pawn locations. Mentions bringing empty bottles to shops to fill them with milk.</span></p>
<p><span>Discusses the conditions of the tenement houses in the Middle Parish including the sanitation arrangements such as outdoor toilets and the use of newspaper as toilet paper, he also mentions heating issues including timber, turf and coal which was available via a voucher scheme. Further discusses cooking, washing in the tenements including the introduction of gas and electricity. Also mentions medicines for lice and worms administered at home.</span></p>
<p><span>Says that boys and girls played different games separately when he was growing up. Mentions some of these games in more detail.</span></p>
<p><span>Discusses foods (including tripe and drisheen, pig’s tongue, Connie Dodgers) meal routines and the shops where food was purchased. Liam and his mother brought lunch to his father where he worked on the docks.</span></p>
<p><span>Returns to the topic of corner shops and shopping and the types of food available there, further comparing this to supermarkets today.</span></p>
<p><span>Speaks of the death of his mother and the change in living circumstances that this entailed.</span></p>
<p><span>Describes getting a vaccination in the dispensary, what it was like inside and who worked there.</span></p>
<p><span>Mentions fights outside bars at night time.</span></p>
<p><span>Talks about air raid shelters built in Cork city during the Second World War, what they looked like and where they were located.</span></p>
Cork Folklore Project
Cork Folklore Project Audio Archive
24 July 2019
Cork Folklore Project
<strong>Other Interviews in this Collection</strong><br /><br /><a href="https://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/240" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00696_O'Regan_2019</a>; <br /><a href="https://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/242" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00704_Collins_2019</a>; <br /><a href="https://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/243" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00706_Higgisson_2019</a>; <br /><a href="https://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/244" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00712_O'Brien_2019</a>; <br /><a href="https://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/245" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00713_Kearney_2019</a>; <br /><a href="https://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/246" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00714_Cunning_2019</a>; <br /><a href="https://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/247" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00717_Ward_2019</a>;<br /><a href="https://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/249" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00728_Scanlan_2019</a>; <br /><a href="https://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/250" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00729_Mulcahy_2019</a>; <br /><a href="https://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/251" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00732_Cassidy_2019</a>; <br /><a href="https://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/252" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00760_Morrissy_2019</a>; <br /><a href="https://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/253" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> CFP_SR00762_OConnell_2019</a>;
<br /><strong>Other Interviews with Liam in the CFP Archive<br /></strong><br /><a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/134" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00422_OhUigin_2012</a>; <br /><a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/document/2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00439_OhUigin_2011</a>; <br /><a href="https://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/67" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00539_OhUigin_2015</a>;
Audio
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CFP_SR00727_OhUigin_2019;