Liam Ó hUigín: Henry Street
North Main Street and South Main Street
Liam O hUigin grew up on Henry Street in the vicinity of North and South Main Streets in the 1940s and 1950s. He describes the area in great detail, including various changes over the decades. He recalls the many shops along North Main Street and the ways in which people shopped and stored food during the 1940s and 1950s.
Cork Folklore Project
Cork Folklore Project Audio Archive
Cork Folklore Project
28 January 2015
Interviewee: Liam Ó hUigín
Interviewer: Margaret Steele
Cork Folklore Project
<a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/document/64" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00536_oleary_2015</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/document/65" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00537_hanover_2015</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/document/66" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00538_spalding_2015</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/document/67" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00539_hUigin_2015</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/document/68" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00543_obrien_2015</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/document/69">CFP_SR00544_comber_2015</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/document/70">CFP_SR00545_leader_2015</a>; <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/document/71" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00546_creedon_2015</a>;
<div class="element-text"><br />Penny Johnston based a digital oral history mapping pilot project called ‘Cork’s Main Streets’ on the audio interviews from this collection in 2016, as part of her PhD research. The 2018 website and the map layer can be viewed at: <a href="http://corksmainstreets.corkfolklore.org/cms/">http://corksmainstreets.corkfolklore.org/cms/ </a><br /><br />Penny’s PhD dissertation can be accessed at: <a href="https://cora.ucc.ie/handle/10468/5469">https://cora.ucc.ie/handle/10468/5469</a></div>
<div class="element-text"><strong><br /></strong><strong>Other Material Relating to Cork's Main Streets:</strong><strong></strong><br /><br />CFP_SR00448_hinchy_2012: Interview of ex-Beamish Brewery (South Main Street) staff member Ed Hinchy.<br /><br /><a href="http://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/document/90">CFP_SR00532_davis_2014</a>: Interview with the former manager of The Other Place Resource Centre (South Main Street), Clive Davis, conducted by Stephen Dee and Dermot Casey, as part of the LGBT Archive Collection <br /><br />CFP_SR00535_wilkins_2014: Mark Wilkins was interviewed by Aisling Byron on the music scene of Cork City in the 1980s and 1990s: the interview contains an in-depth discussion of South Main Street music venue Sir Henry’s and of the South Main Street pub The Liberty.</div>
<br /><strong>Click <a href="http://corkfolklore.org/cmm/neatline/fullscreen/cork-memory-map#records/37">here</a> to access Liam's entry on the Memory Map</strong>
<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>; <a href="https://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/248" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00727_OhUigin_2019</a>;
.wav
English
Sound
CFP_SR00539_ohuigin_2015
Cork; Ireland; 1940s-1950s;
Liam Ó hUigín: Henry Street, The Marshes, Childhood
Life History:
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 were many more shops in his day, and shopping was done in small amounts because there were no fridges. He remembers the various shops in Henry Street. Bills were paid weekly and at Christmas, regular customers were given a present. Glass bottles could be redeemed for pennies at Ogilvy and Moore’s. He borrowed bicycles from visitors to the Mercy Hospital while they visited patients. He talks about William Penn, who went on to found Pennsylvania, USA. Cake shops and poor hygiene. Bath time and being given syrup of figs. Robert Day’s shop used to be at Dunnes Stores, Patrick Street (which opened in 1944). He recalls shops which sold comics; these could be swapped between friends later.
Wartime meant that food was rationed and gas masks were issued, specially fitted for each member of the household. He talks in detail about the types of sweets that were available; a Lucky Ball might have a coin inside it. He recalls milk and cake shops, known as milk and nods.
Liam talks in detail about the old pubs of the city and tells a story about a man hiding in a pub. He talks about the lanes of Cork and the churches; Catholic churches had to be called chapels. Henry Street, Grattan Street and Sheares Street were all built on what used to be rivers.
Shawlies would work as poultry pluckers.
Crafts and industries included Farm Products, Hornibrook Builders, Charlie Nolan’s that dealt in butter and feathers; tinsmiths, box-makers; quilters sewed and sold quilts. He details the slang language for different coins. He lists a lot of childhood games played by boys and girls. Cigarette cards were called 'fagas'. He recalls many slang words they used when he was a child. He lists the many characters that used to frequent the city such as Mackey Gumboil.
There were tenement houses in Blarney Street, Barrack Street and The Marshes. They had one outside toilet, and sheets of newspaper were used as toilet paper. Houses did not have clocks, and time was told by the movement, arrival and departure of various groups of people. They got free shoes from Cork Corporation.
He lists some famous sportsmen who came from Cork and The Marsh. He tells the story of how the Shaky Bridge came to be built.
Cork Folklore Project
Cork Folklore Project Audio Archive
Cork Folklore Project
22 August 2012
Interviewee: Liam Ó hUigín
Interviewer: John Elliot
Cork Folklore Project
<br /><strong>Other Interviews with Liam in the CFP Archive<br /></strong><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>; <a href="https://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/items/show/248" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00727_OhUigin_2019</a>;<br /><br />
<div class="element-text">
<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/122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFP_SR00409_leahy_2011</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/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>
</div>
<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>
2 .wav Files
English
Sound
CFP_SR00422_ohuigin_2012
Cork, Ireland, 1940s-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
English
Sound
CFP_SR00727_OhUigin_2019;