Archive (44 life histories found)
'Holidays of obligation were rigorously observed in our house. There was no question of anyone missing Mass, no matter what.'
The first of November was always a holy day of obligation and we all went to Mass. We were off school of course, and often I was in Dungiven.The second of November, All Souls' Day saw us at the church for hours, making visits for the Holy Souls in…
'Getting my first car was a great achievement and a memorable one.'
Memorable occasions were the Christenings, the First Holy Communions, the Confirmations, the first days at school, the weddings and the birth of my grandchildren.Getting my first car was a great achievement and a memorable one. I bought it in a…
Tags: Christening, Communion, Confirmation, family, McClarens Buggy, Mini, religion, wedding
'At that time, central heating had not arrived n schools and these very cold classrooms were extremely large with high ceilings and windows that seems to stretch forever up into the sky.'
A lone coal fire was the only form of heating in schools then and we took turns to pile on coal to keep it glowing. I was lucky enough to be seated on that side of the room, but usually the teacher's desk and blackboard helped block the heat…
'I had a red coat, a green dress, brown shoes with strap, a brown bag and red beret (a hat).'
My best friends at school were Marie Heaphy, Eileen Kidd, Mary Carthy, Marie Troy, Phyllis Mackey and Betty Spain. We wore a navy gymslip with a blue sash, white blouse and royal blue jumper. The school desks seated two girls and a shared inkwell. …
Tags: Bishop, Confirmation, Fashion, religion, school
'A heavy set nun, she was, I remember clearly, very fond of the cane or her long black leather strap worn around her waist which came to hand very easily when the cane was not to hand.'
At four years of age, I started primary school and attended the Holy Faith Convent in Little Strand Street, Dublin, where I remained until I was fourteen years old. I walked to school with my sister and brother. Being a convent school, we were…
Tags: Bullies, Cane, Communion, Confirmation, Handwriting, Nuns, religion, school
'In Rome, we stayed in a convent and slept in dormitories and raided the nuns' kitchen at night.'
Growing up I didn't have a favourite toy apart from some games like _�� snakes _��n' ladders or ludo'. Neither did I have a pet! My most significant relationships and memories of my childhood were being a member of a choir, a junior one…
Tags: ballroom dancing, Barry's Tea, Choir, cinema, Creamery Butter, Fashion, friendship, Games, Hobbies, Ludo, Music, Pets, Photography, Pope, religion, Rome, Snakes and Ladders, toys
'A lesson for life: Never point a gun or rifle at anybody, especially yourself, unless you mean it.'
There ends a short version of my life. There are many things that I remember. My oldest brother,my uncle Franz,whom I last saw in the concentration camp,both of them perishing in the gas chamber? (assumption). No records were available after the war.…
'Once on landing in Dhahran Saudi customs found a girlie magazine left behind by one of the passengers. They went berserk threatened to jail the whole crew and impound the aircraft '
As with most Arab countries any goods from Israel or any companies with a suspected Jewish connection were prohibited. These ranged from Outspan oranges, Cadburys chocolate to Ford cars. The problem was no one knew what companies were on the black…
Tags: alcohol, Bahrain, girlie magazine, laws, religion