'In the country area where I lived we did not have mains electricity or running water until the mid 60's'

'In the country area where I lived we did not have mains electricity or running water until the mid 60's'

Ita McClelland describes the lighting amenities in Co. Armagh during her childhood.

Ita McClelland

Trinity College Dublin

1960

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Ita McClelland

Childhood and Early Life

Life Story

Co. Armagh

1960's

In the country area where I lived we did not have mains electricity or running water until the mid 60's. Prior to that people had Tilley or Hurricane lamps which were fuelled by paraffin oil and mentholated spirits and had little paper globes and wicks. The globes or mantles were very delicate and I remember always being fearful of breaking it. Some houses had gas lighting which ran from bottled gas. I remember before we got the mains electricity my father purchased a generator, promptly dubbed 'the engine' and got the house wired for lighting and certain appliances. We were one of the first houses in the area to have a television and some of our friends used to come and watch it. The Marx Brothers were a big hit then. I think it was the only programme we were allowed to stay up late to watch at the weekend. In later years my father and six or seven neighbours got together to pay for the mains supply to be brought to the area because it was so expensive.

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

Dr Kathleen McTiernan (Trinity College Dublin)

Dr Deirdre O'Donnell (Trinity College Dublin)