'I started my first job August 8th 1949'

'I started my first job August 8th 1949'

Margaret recounts her first job in Dublin and moving in with several young girls.

Margaret McLoughlin

Trinity College Dublin

1949

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Margaret McLoughlin

Work and Employment

Life Story

Dublin

1990s

I started my first job August 8th 1949. I reported to the GPO Princes Street and worked there for 3 months. I remember the first day because I was staying with an aunt in Merrion Avenue, Blackrock and not being used to traffic, I had to keep an eye, in case I would pass my stop. The Pillar was a great landmark in getting around the city. I worked there for 3 or 4 months and then was transferred to Aldborough House at the Five lamps. I used to get the train in from Blackrock, but then my aunt was moving house further out so I move into St. Kevin's Hostel, Parnell Square, which was great, as there were all girls in our teens. That hostel is now where the moving crib is. I brought my grandchildren in to see it and where the moving crib is was the dining room. Breakfast was bread and butter and marmalade but if you weren't down in time there was no marmalade left. It was run by 2 ladies and owned by the Dominicans. We had to be in at 11.30 in the summer and 11 o'clock in the winder and you daren't ring the bell if you were late. Myself and my friend didn't make it one night so we walked up to another girl's flat opposite the Bishop's palace, Drumcondra and had to throw stones at her window to waken her. We loved our time there, even though it was freezing. There was only one fire and if you didn't finish your tea quick enough, you wouldn't get near it. It didn't bother us as we never sat at it.

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

Dr Kathleen McTiernan (Trinity College Dublin)

Dr Deirdre O'Donnell (Trinity College Dublin)