Irish Life and Lore First Series Carlow Collection

Home , Carlow, Carlow (barony), Leighlinbridge, Tullow

NAME: MICHAEL CONRY, AGED 72 CHAPELSTOWN Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 1 Subtitle: Carlow Stone (Part 1) Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 39:32 Description: The conversation begins with a description of Michael Conry's own background, and his reasons for deciding to come to Carlow. His work as a geologist focused his attention on research and study of the Carlow stone and he has published many books on this subject. We toured the county, visiting the localities which featured stone fencing, unique to the county of Carlow. Michael spoke warmly and admiringly about the stone-cutters and their incredible craftsmanship.

NAME: MICHAEL CONRY, AGED 72, CHAPELSTOWN Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 2 Subtitle: Carlow Stone (Part 2) Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 40:20 Description: In this recording, my journey with Michael Conry continued to Milford, to Duckett's Grove Lodge entrance, where we viewed the workmanship involved in building with magnificent Carlow granite in the 19th century. Our next stop was at the back of Duckett's Grove Castle, where Michael spoke about a type of walling known as a 'Scotch fence' which is characteristic of the landscape. Our journey came to an end at the outskirts of Carlow town, close to Michael's own home in Chapelstown, to view a very fine example of a column-crusher.

NAME: MARTIN NEVIN, AGED 80, CARLOW ROAD, LEIGHLINBRIDGE Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 3 Subtitle: A local historian's account of the area Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 66:28 Description: While walking along the banks of the Barrow close to Leighlinbridge, Martin Nevin provides a chronological account of the major events which took place in the area. He describes the arrival of the early Christian monks, the milling and malting

Page XXII - 1 © Maurice O’Keeffe Irish Life and Lore First Series Carlow Collection houses, the bridge, which is seven centuries old, and butter making, for which Leighlinbridge was renowned. Among the famous people who emigrated from the area were Myles Keogh, John Tindall and Cardinal Patrick Moran. The interview concluded with a discussion of the monuments erected in the People's Park, dedicated to the memory of the local people who died in the First World War.

NAME: ALAN DORAN, AGE 89, BALLYKNOCKAN, LEIGHLINBRIDGE Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 4 Subtitle: A sense of place (Part 1) Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 79:53 Description: Alan Doran's home was built by himself on the slope of a hill overlooking Loughlinbridge. In this first meeting with Alan Doran, he spoke about his early days growing up in the town, the local National School and its teachers, and the background of his ancestors, who came from Old Leighlin. Recorded in great detail are the events which took place here in the late 18th and 19th centuries including eviction and landlordism. The conversation then focused on his father's work with the maltsters, and later in a pub and grocery business in the town. In this recording the many characters of the town are mentioned, and Alan recites a poem about these people.

NAME: ALAN DORAN, AGE 89, BALLYKNOCKAN, LEIGHLINBRIDGE Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 5 Subtitle: A sense of place (Part 2) Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 40:39 Description: A visit to the old graveyard at Leighlinbridge with Alan Doran provided some fascinating stories about the people buried there over the last two centuries. While standing over the gravestone which gave us the name of the person, their birth and death dates, and recalling the incredible lives they had lived, we felt the past gently enfold us.

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NAME: ALAN DORAN, AGE 89, BALLYKNOCKAN, LEIGHLINBRIDGE Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 6 Subtitle: A sense of place (Part 3) Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 64:47 Description: Alan Doran is a man with a great wealth of local knowledge. I walked with him through his beautiful landscaped garden, through the garden gate, which led us to the banks of the Barrow. There we spoke about the way of life in the early years of the 20th century in the town, and the many clear memories he has of the type of class distinction which existed between the rich and the poor.

NAME: SISTER ANTHONY (CARMEL McCABE), AGE 82, THE MERCY CONVENT Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 7 Subtitle: Convent life Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 54:10 Description: I paid a visit to the Mercy convent at Leighlinbridge to meet Sister Anthony, who entered there in 1943. We sat and spoke about the rules and regulations in the convent, the habit they wore and the teaching of music and song to the infants over many years. It was interesting to record the teaching practices and the conditions in the classrooms, half a century ago. Sr. Anthony spoke about her own great love of music, and the playing of the organ in the local church. Finally, I recorded her account of her involvement in the Pioneer Association, which was set up in 1910, for which the register has been continuously kept.

NAME: SISTER DECLAN (MAIRE B. DE PAOR), AGE 79, BAGNALSTOWN Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 8 Subtitle: A special vocation Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 74:45 Description: I visited the Presentation Convent in Bagnalstown to meet well-known author Sister Declan, to record her life experiences, both in the convent, and in her journey of discovery of the writings of St Patrick, whose 'Confessions' she

Page XXII - 3 © Maurice O’Keeffe Irish Life and Lore First Series Carlow Collection researched and edited. Her life as a nun proved to be unrestful in that she had a vocation to work in London looking after the poor, but this ambition was thwarted by her Superior, who advised her to do research at Maynooth on the Celtic tradition. In this recording Sr Declan also speaks about her own upbringing in Tramore, Co Waterford.

NAME: ART O'LEARY, AGE 61, BALLINAGRANE, BORRIS Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 9 Subtitle: A family history Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 45:48 Description: I paid a visit to the home of Art O'Leary, who informed me that the townland, Ballinagrane, translates as 'the townland where the sun always shines'. Art is a retired schoolteacher who spent five years of his life studying for the priesthood. The recording began with stories of his upbringing in Graiguenamanagh, the family bakery there, and the contentment and happiness enjoyed by his family despite their lack of material possessions. We walked down a passageway towards the banks of the Barrow, and the beautiful sunny autumn morning provided the perfect background to Art's reminiscences on his family history, which included stories about John O'Leary, President of the Archaeological Society in Kilkenny, and John O'Leary's sister Kate, known as 'Kate the Poet'.

NAME: FRANK CLARK, AGE 73, GLYN, ST MULLINS Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 10 Subtitle: The customs of the Parish of St Mullins Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 48:22 Description: On a visit to St Mullins, I met local historian Frank Clark, who has written many accounts of the parish. In this recording Frank provides an overview of the folklore relating to St Moling, and to the Pattern Day, which falls on the 25th July (St James' Day), when many people still gather to commemorate the local saint. Many stories about the MacMurrough Kavanaghs, the local chieftains, were related as we walked through the graveyard, where burials have taken place for over 1300 years. Frank also talks about his own experiences in the milling industry, initially in Tipperary and later in the local mill, where he became manager in 1961. Frank's experiences there create a picture of the rural milling

Page XXII - 4 © Maurice O’Keeffe Irish Life and Lore First Series Carlow Collection business and its importance in the area at the time. He went on to explain the reasons for its decline, and the eventual closure of the mill.

NAME: MICHAEL MURPHY, AGE 74, BANSHA, ST MULLINS Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 11 Subtitle: Farming traditions Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 44:07 Description: Michael Murphy farms 150 acres of good quality land at Bansha, flanked by Co. Kilkenny on one side and Co Wexford on the other. The place name translates as 'wood of the birch' and Michael explained that there is birch still growing in the area. Michael Murphy's story is a fascinating one, involving his success in ploughing championships, his great knowledge of the area, and his family history. He is now involved in pig rearing, which was always part of the family's business, and it was interesting to record the changes in farming practices, as well as the family's obvious ability in passing on the farming business from generation to generation.

NAME: AGNES BYRNE, AGE 80, GLYN, ST MULLINS Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 12 Subtitle: Sixty years as a publican Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 48:19 Description: Agnes Byrne grew up in Templepeter. She spoke about her schooldays there, and her teachers, and later she moved to Graiguenamanagh, where she met her husband. For over half a century, she served behind the counter in the James Byrne pub in the village of Glyn. Agnes proudly showed me the interior of the pub, which has not changed for many years as she described the beer and spirits which were sold in the past, and recalled the village people who frequented the pub. It was a meeting point for the local people which made it a very important part of the life of the community.

NAME: PATRICK DOYLE, AGE 81, NEW TOWN, BORRIS Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 13 Subtitle: Muintir na Tire Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe

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Date: 2007 Time: 58:38 Description: The Doyles of New Town trace their history back through many generations. In this recording, Patrick Doyle describes the small farmers' existence in a cluster of farm cottages, where all the inhabitants were related to one another. He goes on to talk about his 37 years promoting Muintir na Tire, travelling to a great many parishes around Ireland. He describes his achievements in this area, and one of his great successes was organising the vital task of listing tombstone inscriptions in Duiske Abbey Cemetery, which pioneered the organisation of this important work in other places.

NAME: MOLLY CARROLL, AGE 85, BALLYLING, GRAIGUENAMANAGH Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 14 Subtitle: Life in a railway cottage Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 54:20 Description: There has always been a tradition of railway work in Molly Carroll's family. Her grandfather Paddy Walsh came into the railway cottage in the mid 1800s, and her father was involved in laying down railway tracks. Molly- recalls his long walks to New Ross, where the management picked the men for railway work on a regular basis. Molly's own involvement was in labelling the beet wagons, and supervising the loading of the beet. She recalled many stories of her house's use for early morning breakfast by the railwaymen. She described how busy the line used to be, three trains a day would pass - a special train, goods train and one for beet. This was indeed a very important recording which captured the lost details of life in a railway cottage.

NAME: PETER KEALY, AGE 82, DRANAGH, ST MULLINS Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 15 Subtitle: A hill farmer Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 50:07 Description: Peter Kealy's farm cottage stands on the foothills of the Black Stairs Mountains. The recording took place as we walked through Peter Kealy's farm. The local folktales were told in abundance and Peter sang local ballads which contained stories handed down from generation to generation. He has a passion for hurling which he played for the county for 15 years in the 1940s and 1950s. The self-

Page XXII - 6 © Maurice O’Keeffe Irish Life and Lore First Series Carlow Collection sufficiency of the small farmer on the hillside was described as were the pastimes in the difficult years of the Emergency period.

NAME: SEAMUS MURPHY, CARLOW TOWN Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 16 Subtitle: A family history Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 63:47 Description: Seamus Murphy's people came from Wexford and settled in the outskirts of Carlow town having been evicted by the Cromwellian forces during their settlement in the 1600s. I recorded in some detail the movement of his ancestors over the mountain. Historically these events typify the migration of clans around the country during the turbulent 16th and 17th centuries. I recorded many stories of Seamus Murphy's grandfather, who was a valuer of property during the Land League period for the tenants who wanted a fair rent. His father's interest in antiquarianism was recalled. With Father Miller, he photographed many historic monuments in the county of Carlow in the 1920s.

NAME: JIMMY O'TOOLE, AGE 58, KILKENNY ROAD, CARLOW Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 17 Subtitle: The work of an author and historian Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 57:32 Description: This is a most interesting recording with Jimmy O'Toole, who is a native of Rathbawn, Tullow. He begins by describing his research into the Knights Hospitallers and their purpose in the area. James was educated at Grange National school, and has researched and written about the local football club and its community. The town of Carlow itself, its people and its workplaces are described in this recording.

NAME: MARY FARRELL, AGE 90, ROSCATT, TULLOW Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 18 Subtitle: Memories of Tullow Town and its vicinity Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 55:50 Description: Local historian Tommy Kirwan introduced me to Mary Farrell at her home, situated on a narrow boreen, which runs through an old estate. Mary's recording begins with her memories of

Page XXII - 7 © Maurice O’Keeffe Irish Life and Lore First Series Carlow Collection her upbringing in the early days of the last century in Ballinkellan. Her father was a sheep herder and had very little money. She moved to Baltinglass, where she stayed with her grandmother and she recalls stealing turnips and eating them on her way to school. She later found a position working as a cook for the local landlord, Samuel Cope, in Castlemore, and describes her work there. Finally, she recalls the division of the estate by the Land Commission, following from which her father was allocated six acres.

NAME: THOMAS BUTLER, AGE 85, BALLAUGHMORE, BALLON Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 19 Subtitle: The first rural council cottage Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 55:42 Description: Thomas Butler lives alone in the oldest council house in Carlow, built in 1892. I recorded Thomas's stories in front of the open hearth, where he amazed and delighted me with his local knowledge of past traditions. He served his time with a coachbuilder making traps, common cars and wheels in the workshop. He spoke about his days working for Duffy's in Packetstown, as a lorry body builder, and for the Army Board of Works. He recalls how in 1937 he travelled to an All-Ireland final played in Killarney, when the long journey south was made with a group of local lads in the back of a truck.

NAME: JIMMY QUINLAN, AGE 73, BALLYNOE, ARDATTIN Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 20 Subtitle: A life of collecting Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 56:13 Description: Jimmy Quinlan has a passion for collecting artefacts from the past, as well as for recording the memories of older people. His father worked on Ballynoe Estate for Captain Jack Adare and he lived in the gate lodge. The recording centred on stories relating to the 'Big House' and local place- names, and we visited the council cottage which houses his collection of memorabilia.

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NAME: DAN CARBERY, AGE 68, GREEN ROAD, CARLOW TOWN Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 21 Subtitle: A generation of builders Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 58:09 Description: Dan Carbery grew up in Pembroke Road, Carlow, one of 13 children. He himself is managing the building business in which his father and grandfather were involved, as is his son. Dan traced his people's ancestry, mentioning the Governey family, who were involved in the mineral water and boot factories in the town. His great- grandfather was evicted from their lands in Laois. His father came into the town of Carlow from Athy in the 1930s, and helped in the building of the first urban estates in the town, as well as in the construction of churches and schools in the county. Dan described the changes in the styles of buildings locally.

NAME: JAMES MORAN, AGE 80, BURRIN STREET, CARLOW TOWN (PART 1) Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 22 Subtitle: Railway stories Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 48:34 Description: James Moran joined the railway in 1950. In this recording he speaks about the work he was involved in, which focused mainly on the beet wagons, delivering the beet to the factory. This was all night-shift work. James recalled the people who used the train, the railway houses, the railway road transport, the 'Northern Special' and the 'Wexford Special'. He spoke about the railway staff and 'characters'. James has a passion for collecting local historical items, including a very rare manuscript entry book associated with the Fever Hospital in the early 1840s.

NAME: JAMES MORAN, AGE 80, BURRIN STREET, CARLOW TOWN (PART 2) Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 23 Subtitle: Railway stories Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 44:26 Description: James Moran was recorded where the siding was located, a quarter of a mile from the railway station in Carlow town, fronting the old beet factory. His surprise is evident when he arrives here for the first time since he retired in the 1970s, at

Page XXII - 9 © Maurice O’Keeffe Irish Life and Lore First Series Carlow Collection finding that nothing remains of the original track, or the hut, which consisted of a big railway carriage with three compartments. Nothing remains where six tracks had been. He clearly describes the traffic, the movement of trains and the participation by railway men on location during night shifts when the beet carriages were overloaded with beet being drawn from the countryside to the beet factory.

NAME: LIAM WOODS, AGE 71, ST KILLIAN'S CRESCENT, CARLOW TOWN Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 24 Subtitle: Railway stories Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 78:10 Description: James Moran introduced me to Liam Woods at his home, where I listened to Liam as he recalled his experiences as a carriage-man working on the beet line from Wexford to Carlow. He named all the stops on the line, and described his own work in the last cabin of the steam train, and the many mishaps suffered along the line. It was a very cold and lonely occupation, working by night but his great sense of humour allowed him to laugh and joke about his career.

NAME: KITTY MAHER, AGE 93, GOWRAN NURSING HOME Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 25 Subtitle: A scullery maid in Borris House Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 46:05 Description: Meeting Kitty Maher was indeed a great privilege. She began the recoding by recalling her days working for Major Kavanagh in the Big House. She entered domestic service at the age of 15, having grown up in a small country farmhouse near Graignamanagh. She describes the lifestyle of the Major and his wife, the butler, the maids, the cooks, the chaffeur, the nannies and the governesses. While looking at a photograph of the Major's family, she told stories about each individual. She worked in Borris House for 25 years, and for 20 years continued to look after Mrs Kavanagh at Gowran, where she moved after the death of the Major. She recalled witnessing the sudden death of the Major as he arrived back home one day from hunting.

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NAME: ANDREW McMURROUGH-KAVANAGH, BORRIS HOUSE, BORRIS Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 26 Subtitle: A family history Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 47:38 Description: Having recorded many people in the Borris area associated with the Kavanagh family, I made my way to Borris House, to meet with Andrew Murrough Kavanagh. We sat in the drawing-room where he spoke about his long lineage, recalling some of his ancestors, and his affection for these people. Other topics covered included the artefacts associated with the family, the extended family name and the employees in the house in his grandfather's time. Finally, he spoke about his feelings of security and belonging in his ability to trace his ancestors back to 1590, and he also spoke about the estate today.

NAME: SEAN O'SHEA, AGE 77, CARLOW TOWN Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 27 Subtitle: Work in the Local Authority for 50 years Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 49:28 Description: This recording began with recollections of Sean O'Shea's early days and his education. He entered the Civil Service in Carlow, having come from Tipperary, and he worked as a housing officer with the Urban Council for 20 years. He recalled the overcrowding of houses after the war years, and his responsibilities in the re-housing of people in the newly built Council estates. We spoke about piped water and septic tanks, which were innovations at the time, and which he helped to introduce locally. During Sean's time he succeeded in paying off a big debt owed by the Council and this was one of the big achievements of his career. Finally, he spoke about the big changes which have taken place since his time as Town Clerk and the small staff numbers in former times with those in the Local Authorities today.

NAME: PAUL HORAN, AGE 38, SEAMUS BYRNE, AGE 61, PEADAR BIRMINGHAM, AGE 52 AND CATHERINE KELLY, AGE 43, CARLOW TOWN Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 28 Subtitle: The Carlow Workmans Club Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 49:43 Description: The Carlow Workmans Club was

Page XXII - 11 © Maurice O’Keeffe Irish Life and Lore First Series Carlow Collection established in 1898 in Brown Street, and is today one of the last Workmans Clubs in existence in this country. The recording with Paul Horan covered the history of the Club, and Peadar Birmingham spoke about the members of the Club. Catherine Kelly was the first lady to become a member of what had always been a men's club, and she described her experiences there. Seamus Byrne, now the longest serving member of the Club, tells of his memories of his long membership of a great Club.

NAME: EDDIE McDONALD, AGE 73, CLONMORE, HACKETSTOWN Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 29 Subtitle: Family traditions Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 49:36 Description: The home of the McDonalds, for many generations, is an old farm cottage which was originally thatched. There I recorded Eddie McDonald's stories associated with old methods of farming, and the survival of many local farmers down through the most difficult times during the last 200 years. Other subjects discussed were field names, the spring well, and the local cow doctor.

NAME: MICHAEL WHELAN, AGE 81, CARRIGNAMEIL, KNOCKNANANNA, HACKETSTOWN Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 30 Subtitle: A hill farmer Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 55:25 Description: Eddie McDonald, brought me through narrow winding country roads to the home of the Whelans, who have lived here since 1876. I sat and spoke to Mike Whelan in the company of his wife Kathleen, and I recorded Michael's memories of the rugged landscape and the small sheep farmers. Kathleen spoke about the work of women at a time when there was no running water, electricity, septic tanks, or motor transport. This interview provides a clear sense of a strong race of people who survived as hill farmers.

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NAME: JAMES TALLON, AGE 89 AND SHEILA TALLON, AGE 82, TALLON, BALLYSHANE, HACKETSTOWN Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 31 Subtitle: Land allocation Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 53:33 Description: Having driven about a mile through the old estate in Ballyshane to the home of the Tallons I recorded stories and memories associated with the large estates and their subdivision by the Land Commission. James Tallon also spoke about his memories of the Civil War and his days in the Irish Army during the Emergency period. Later he worked as a rent collector from 1954.

NAME: TOM O'BRIEN, AGE 80, GREEN LANE, CARLOW TOWN (Part 1) Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 32 Subtitle: The family tannery business Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 72:33 Description: I met Tom O'Brien at his own home, where we spoke about the day his father started work in a tanning factory in Limerick city, run by the O'Callaghans. He described his father's early days growing up in the city, and his involvement with the Garryowen Rugby Club in the early 1900s. The family moved to Dublin in 1927, where his father set up business as a wholesale leather merchant under the title of Kennedy O'Brien & Co. Ltd (Kennedy was his father's christian name, a name which can be traced back in the O'Brien clan). Tom himself began work in his father's tannery in Milford in 1948.

NAME: TOM O'BRIEN, AGE 80, GREEN LANE, CARLOW TOWN (Part 2) Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 33 Subtitle: The family tannery business Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 33:04 Description: In this second recording, Tom O'Brien recalls his experiences while living in Green Lane working in Milford Tannery, and his involvement with the local rugby club. This interview with Tom O'Brien provided me with an enormous store of information on the tanning business of Ireland in former times.

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NAME: PAT MURPHY, AGE 75, BALLINAGRANE, BORRIS (Part 1) Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 34 Subtitle: A historian-farmer Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 61:35 Description: In the farmyard of Pat Murphy at Ballinagrane, we chatted about local history. His wealth of knowledge of events of the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries is clearly evident in this recording. He spoke about the 1798 Rebellion, landlordism, evictions locally and his own father's involvement in the Troubles and he spoke at great length about the McMurrough-Kavanagh family.

NAME: PAT MURPHY, AGE 75, BALLINAGRANE, BORRIS (Part 2) Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 35 Subtitle: More recollections of a historian-farmer Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 19:52 Description: In this recording Pat Murphy focuses on political activity in the 19th century to the early part of the 20th century, and the effects on the local people. We also spoke about the Farmers' Federation, and how Arthur Kavanagh stood for the Farmers' Party in 1927, and got a large vote locally, though he failed to be elected. Pat describes his father's internment in Curragh Camp, and his incredible escape from the camp in 1923.

NAME: WILLIE HAYES, AGE 84, KILCOLTRIM, BORRIS Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 36 Subtitle: The memories of a small farmer Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 43:17 Description: I visited the home of the Hayeses, a house built in 1911 by the local council. I spoke to Willie Hayes and his wife Maura, and recorded many stories about the house itself, where Sinn Fein courts used to sit. In the early 1940s, Willie moved up to North Offaly and Kildare to work for the Turf Development Board, during the months of February to October. Here he met many contemporaries from all over the country. We also spoke about emigration from the local area, and Willie's time in the Labour Party, which he joined at the age of 16.

NAME: WILLIE WHITE, AGE 86, CLONEGAL (Part 1) Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 37 Subtitle: Memories of a local historian Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 56:55 Description: Local historian Willie White traces back his ancestry and speaks at great length about one of his uncles, who passed on to him his own vast knowledge of historical detail. Willie talks about his time in forestry, in a recording which was truly enlightening and very informative.

NAME: WILLIE WHITE, AGE 86, CLONEGAL (Part 2) Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 38 Subtitle: More historical memories Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 61:16 Description: In this recording, historian Willie White focuses on the local history of Clonegal, narrating the events in chronological order from prehistoric times to the present day. His strong convictions about unearthing information associated with the area are what makes Willie White a great historian. He recites one of his many own poems about the people of Clonegal.

NAME: JIM NOLAN, AGE 85, BALLINBUSH, MYSHALL Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 39 Subtitle: A local seanachie Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 56:11 Description: I met Jim Nolan at his home where we sat and spoke about many of the local traditions, customs and beliefs. The local family of the O'Neills who lived for many generations nearby, were his mother's people. They were gifted bonesetters and this gift remains with them. He recited a fine piece associated with the area which he had composed himself.

NAME: MAURICE O'NEILL, BALLYKEALY, BALLON Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 40 Subtitle: Memories and stories about Ballon Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 63:21 Description: Maurice O'Neill's ancestors were evicted from the Clonegal area. They settled in Ballykealy in the early 1800s and built a mud-walled cabin, the house in which Maurice himself was born. The discussion centres around local lore, and the rivalry between the rural and the urban people. Also included in this recording is a discussion on the Land Acts of the 19th century.

NAME: TED JOYCE, AGE 85, BORRIS Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 41 Subtitle: A life long interest in Gaelic football Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 43:36 Description: Ted Joyce played for Carlow in the 1944 All-Ireland Football semi-final against Kerry. He is one of the few survivors from the team. His parents were publicans in the town of Borris and he played for Ballymurphy, a local football club. His passion and love for the game are clearly evident in this recording.

NAME: JOHN ENGLISH, AGE 72, KILKENNY ROAD, CARLOW TOWN Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 42 Subtitle: A former County Engineer's memories Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 43:04 Description: John English was born and grew up in Wexford Town, and is steeped in the tradition of hurling. He joined the Civil Service and began work for the council in Carlow in 1962. He worked in housing, sanitation, planning and road design. The roads at the time needed a lot of attention and it gave him great satisfaction to see the development of the roads in the county. He worked under six County Managers, and he recalled his colleagues in the council.

NAME: TERESA ENGLISH, KILKENNY ROAD, CARLOW TOWN Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 43 Subtitle: Recollections of a telephonist Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 40:30 Description: Teresa English, nee Walsh, grew up in Paulstown, Kilkenny. She joined the Civil Service in 1959 and worked in the Post and Telegraph section, at the switchboard in Carlow Town. The conditions and technology there at the time were very primitive in comparison to communications today. This interview gives a detailed account of the life of a telephone operator nearly 50 years ago, from 1959 to 1967.

NAME: WALTER COLEMAN, AGE 56, CHARLOTTE STREET, CARLOW TOWN AND JOHN BYRNE, AGE 54 AND BEATRICE BYRNE, AGE 50, DUBLIN STREET, CARLOW TOWN Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 44 Subtitle: Carlow Town's old stock Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 54:39 Description: I met Walter Coleman at Charlotte Street where his grandfather started a motor business in 1903. The building is the same as it was in those days and now houses a bike business. The Colemans have been in business in the town since 1859. My journey then took me to the Byrne family in Dublin Street, where stories were recalled about the old shopkeepers along Dublin Street in earlier days.

NAME: OLIVER FEIGHAN, AGE 76, KILKENNY ROAD, CARLOW TOWN Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 45 Subtitle: County Council memories Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 55:42 Description: Oliver Feighan provides a wonderful account of the life of a County Council engineer. This interview is a continuous narrative of engineering work in the counties of Mayo, Leitrim, Laois and Carlow and gives a clear indication of the problems encountered due to the lack of government funding for roads before the days of the Celtic Tiger.

NAME: MARY MORAN, AGE 83, CASTLE GARDEN, GOWRAN Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 46 Subtitle: A historian's life in Gowran Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 52:09 Description: Mary Moran grew up beside the castle in Gowran. In this recording she recalls her impressions and memories of walking through the grounds on her way to and from school. In 1955 she married James Moran, a farmer, and they subsequently bought, through the Land Commission, the castle and grounds which had previously been occupied by Col. Fowler. Mary also discussed her time in Wexford while working as a poultry and dairy instructor.

NAME: THOMAS KIRWIN, AGE 64, BALLYMURPHY, TULLOW, (Part 1) Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 47 Subtitle: A historical tour of Tullow and its vicinity Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 56:38 Description: During this tour of Tullow and its vicinity, Thomas Kirwin describes the Fair Green and its activities in the past, the townlands names and their meanings, old street names now long gone, the varied occupations of the people and the class distinctions which prevailed in former times.

NAME: THOMAS KIRWIN, AGE 64, BALLYMURPHY, TULLOW (Part 2) Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 48 Subtitle: Business women in the early 1900s Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 40:39 Description: The Kirwin house in Tullow was the venue for this fascinating recording. Local historian Thomas Kirwin studied the families and careers of local businesswomen during the late 1800s and the early years of the 20th century. This recording provides an informative narrative on the way of life of some formidable and able women of earlier times in Tullow.

NAME: TOMMY CLARKE, AGE 78, ST CLARE'S ROAD, CARLOW (Part 1) Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 49 Subtitle: Carlow in Medieval times Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 44:11 Description: Tommy Clarke is a well-known local historian who has spent many years researching history in local and national libraries, to piece together the history of Carlow in medieval times. This recording shows his real passion for local history.

NAME: TOMMY CLARKE, AGE 78, ST CLARE'S ROAD, CARLOW (Part 2) Title: Irish Life and Lore Carlow Collection, CD 50 Subtitle: Carlow in Medieval times Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 2007 Time: 52:48 Description: This recording begins with a short interview with Tommy Clarke's wife, Breda, who tells a story about her father's life spent as a gardener at a large Carlow estate. Tommy Clarke then reads some information he discovered in the National Library providing information on social aspects on life in Carlow Town in the 12th and 13th centuries. Tommy also recalls his days spent working as a postmaster in Carlow Town.