Archive (58 life histories found)

From a sickly start when I as young I'm still here and alive. My mother would be proud if she were alive. She always thought I was too sickly for marriage and children. She didn't realise I was more into the arts and always had my head in the…

It was a turbulent time and a great time. Learning to adjust to someone and especially with a new baby and illness. However, it passed quickly and both of us were delighted with the new baby.Within distance of my parents and brothers and sisters…

Childhood memories of oranges and fruit arriving after the war. People (young) dying of T.B. Fields, picking mushrooms, blackberries and playing games. Skipping, jackstones, buttons, rounders. Everything impromptu as there was no organising of…

After I married, I had one child with great difficulty. I decided to stay home and rear him myself. This opened the door to marvellous opportunities. Time to take up hobbies, studies and just stand and stare. Never had much moneyBut it wasn't a…

University was never mentioned as nobody had the money to go. Secondary school was even fee paying. For people with large families this wasn't an option. Out of school at 14 years and into a factory mostly. Sewing was the main occupation, or…

I am now in residential care in Corkey House. At 80 years of age I look back over the years when in the early years of our marriage, Ann and I had our ups and downs with regard to our health. Things were going well and we had a son called…

I first met Hannah in a queue waiting to go into the Crumlin Picture House. She was wearing a Linfield scarf and I a Glentoran scarf. Glentoran were beaten.Because Hannah's mother died on the date arranged we had to postpone the wedding for 6…

My mother and father had nine children together and 7 boys. William and Brian died when infants. Then Tommy was born. After that there was myself, David, Roy, Trevor. Trevor was given the name because he was born in May Cottage in…

'O, it was out by DonnycarneyWhen the bat flew from tree to treeMy love and I did walk together;And sweet were the words she said to me.Along with us the summer windWent murmuring - O, happily! - But softer than the breath of summerWas…

Shortly before starting in Roche's Stores I met Sheila Dunne in the Metropole Ballroom on 13th May 1963. This was a pivotal moment in my life. She was, and still is, a slim dark haired, supremely confident girl, not long up from Kells in Co Meath. I…