'I had a red coat, a green dress, brown shoes with strap, a brown bag and red beret (a hat).'

'I had a red coat, a green dress, brown shoes with strap, a brown bag and red beret (a hat).'

Theresa Byrne remembers her best friends at school. She describes their uniform and classroom. She also describes the day of her confirmation, in particular, the clothes she wore.

Theresa Byrne

Trinity College Dublin

1955

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Theresa Byrne

Childhood and Early Life

Life Story

Dublin

1950s

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. For our confirmation, girls were very secretive as to what clothes they would wear on the special day. I had a red coat, a green dress, brown shoes with strap, a brown bag and red beret (a hat). We were confirmed in St. Michan's Church with a few other schools and I was asked a question by the Bishop as was every second or third person. The ceremony lasted for about two hours.

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

Dr Kathleen McTiernan (Trinity College Dublin)

Dr Deirdre O'Donnell (Trinity College Dublin)