'Brothers! - what can I say? '

'Brothers! - what can I say? '

Harry Browne remembers his two older brothers

Harry Browne

Trinity College Dublin

1955

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Harry Browne

Childhood and Early Life

Life Story

Russell Avenue, North Strand, Dublin

1950's

When I was about ten years old I saw a toy for sale in the local shop, run by the Hughes sisters. It was a plastic tank with an ingenious water powered gun which fired a plastic shell. I lusted after that tank. It cost two shillings, a not insignificant sum at the time and an amount that was beyond my expectations. I must have told George about the toy because he gave me the two shillings and I bought the much prized object. He must have been working at the time because, as I said, two shillings was big money in anyone's terms then. In my late teens or early twenties I bought myself a new pair of shoes. I carefully put them away for a special occasion, perhaps a dress dance or other significant event. One late evening some days later I was relaxing at home having been out on a date when I heard a key in the door. Tony arrived in, having been out himself on a date, wearing my brand new shoes. I was deeply unimpressed and I may have expressed myself trenchantly. He genuinely could not understand what he had done to upset me. Brothers! - what can I say?

Irish Research Council for Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (IRCHSS)

Dr Kathleen McTiernan (Trinity College Dublin)

Dr Deirdre O'Donnell (Trinity College Dublin)