'I joined different things, I did a first aid course and did my Leaving Cert with Kilroy College by correspondence'

'I joined different things, I did a first aid course and did my Leaving Cert with Kilroy College by correspondence'

Margaret recounts how she and her husband spent most of their time and which hobbies they enjoyed.

Margaret McLoughlin

Trinity College Dublin

1970

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Margaret McLoughlin

Marriage and Family

Life Story

Bettystown, Co. Meath

2000s

I was always busy as I made my own clothes and knitted for the children but that was very much the norm then. I joined different things I did a first aid course and did my Leaving Cert with Kilroy College by correspondence. I did typing courses in Marino and also French and Spanish. When the children were small we spent all our summer holidays in Dromahair. While there if they weren't playing at the river we would take a trip to Rosses Point, Strandhill or Bundoran. When they got bigger we joined the Caravan Club and would go away for a weekend every two weeks. We didn't go to commercial sites, we went to colleges mostly. Every province had a centre and the weekend was called Rallies. We would arrive on a Friday night and have a cup of tea around the flag pole and the on Saturday we visited a place of interest which was wonderful as we got to see places all over the country and the children got to know a bit of history. We both served on the committee and would have to arrange a rally for a particular which included also a social on the Saturday night and having a supper and entertainment. We also had a teenagers committee which was very good. We still have friends from that time as also my sons. My husband and I loved ballroom dancing as he was mad keen and had medals before I met him so I also went to Morrisini Whelans. We also did the sequence dancing all over the city and we went to Blackpool and the Isle of Man.

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

Dr Kathleen McTiernan (Trinity College Dublin)

Dr Deirdre O'Donnell (Trinity College Dublin)