Irish Life and Lore Fourth Series Kerry Collection NAME: JIMMY 'THE YANK' O'SHEA, AGE 91, BALLINACOTA, VENTRY Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 1 Subtitle: A returned Yank Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: March 2007 Time: 67:06 Description: Jimmy 'The Yank' O'Shea was born in Pennsylvania and his father worked on the building sites until 1920. His parents had emigrated there from Cahiratrant, a village in West Kerry in 1902, and when Jimmy was 4 his family returned. I recorded his memories of his early days growing up in the village. His recollections were of Killfarmogue, Reenellen and Cahiratrant. He recounted all the local field names and the meanings associated with them. He recalled the major historical events which took place in his lifetime. He sighted the first solo transatlantic flight by Charles Lindbergh - the plane flew low over his house. He also spoke about the 'black flu', which had a devastating effect on the population. The recording finished with an introduction to his wife Kathleen Boland, who grew up on the foothills of Comaleigue. NAME: SEAN O'SHEA, TRALEE (Part 1) Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 2 Subtitle: A return visit to the home place Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: March 2007 Time: 53:56 Description: Sean O'Shea, a native of Cahiratrant, brought me back to his home place to rekindle old memories. While driving towards the village of Ventry, we visited a small townland called Cahirbeshinnea, a village of 16 small farm holdings, where Sean spoke about the families which lived there. We continued our journey to Church Farm, a place which Sean had often frequented during his childhood. There, he described his emigration to New York and the difficult life he experienced there. He spoke about his return to live in Ballyheigue, where he brought up a family by selling fish and running a small tour bus, which brought people to Mass on Sundays. This marked the end of the first recording. Page IV - 1 © Maurice O’Keeffe Irish Life and Lore Fourth Series Kerry Collection NAME: SEAN O'SHEA, TRALEE (Part 2) Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 3 Subtitle: A return visit to the home place, continued Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: March 2007 Time: 30:37 Description: In the second part of the recording we continued our journey down to Cahinatrant, the village of the O'Sheas, the Murphys, the Longs and the Fitzgeralds, who had their difficulties because of continuous mutual harassment over rights of way. Sean spoke about his great-grandmother, who was Cait Brown, a woman of great strength, both physically and mentally. Our final destination was Fion Tra, looking across at Ceann Tra, we discussed local stories handed down to Sean about this place of spectacular beauty. NAME: MIKE O'SHEA, AGE 95, PITTSBURGH Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 4 Subtitle: Tracing the O'Sheas Recorded by: Sean O'Shea Date: 1993 Time: 62:30 Description: Sean O'Shea, my previous interviewee, visited Mike O'Shea in 1993 in Pittsburgh, where he recorded him as he discussed the genealogy of the O'Sheas of Cahiratrant. This recording is unique in its content and clarity. Mike O'Shea had qualified as a schoolteacher and taught in Wexford in the early part of the last century, and because of restrictions on his teaching Irish he left teaching to emigrate to Pittsburgh, where he worked in the steelworks, as did many other Irish emigrants. This recording greatly compliments the other recordings made of this part of West Kerry. Page IV - 2 © Maurice O’Keeffe Irish Life and Lore Fourth Series Kerry Collection NAME: PETER CALLERY, DINGLE Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 5 Subtitle: The Great Blasket Island Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: February 2007 Time: 44:53 Description: Peter Callery is a native of Roscommon. His father was a solicitor and farmer who died at an early age, leaving a family of four. Peter attended Blackrock boarding school, and went on to qualify as a solicitor. He married in 1962, and began to practice in Dingle, in a practice once owned by Murty Burke. This interview focuses on Peter's ownership of the Great Blasket, and his disputes with the Office of Public Works. He speaks passionately about the preservation of this heritage site. NAME: MONS PADRAIG O FIANNACHTA, AGE 81, DINGLE Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 6 Subtitle: The life story of a great scholar Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: February 2007 Time: 45:54 Description: It was a great privilege to have had the opportunity to record Mons Padraig O'Fiannachta at the presbytery in Dingle. A native of Ballymore, he is one of eight brothers and sisters, and he recalled the tragic death of his two brothers, who drowned while fishing for lobster. The life story of this scholarly man was recounted from his time at Maynooth, studying for the MA and BD simultaneously, and studying the Greek and Latin classics and Irish. He spoke about the mammoth task of translating the Bible into Irish, and continued with his memories of his time in Coolea, West Cork, and his eventual destination, Dingle itself. This was a very informative and frank interview with a man who has achieved so much in his lifetime. NAME: MOSSIE O'SCANLAN, AGE 53, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 7 Subtitle: A musician's fond memories Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: January 2007 Time: 44:30 Description: Mossie O'Scanlan, a native of Baile an Lochaigh, Ballydavid is one of thirteen children born into a tradition of music and song. This interview Page IV - 3 © Maurice O’Keeffe Irish Life and Lore Fourth Series Kerry Collection concentrates on how difficult life was in material things Mossie's early days, but it was rich in culture and tradition, which Mossie harnessed and took with him to a new world. He established the tradition of Irish dance, music and song, in centres all over Australia. In this recording, Mossie sings his favourite songs and plays his music. NAME: SEAMUS FERRITER AND MICHAEL O DUBHSHLAINE, AN GRIGH, BAILE AN FHEIRTERAIGH Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 8 Subtitle: The Ferriters of Ceann Sibéal Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: 1997 Time: 57:14 Description: On a cold, blustery winter's day, I called to the home of the late Michael O Dubhshlaine to collect the retired schoolteacher, and continued on to the home of Seamus Ferriter, where we all sat around the open fire, talking about the old butter route to Cork and great stories about Seamus's grandfather's adventures on his many journeys up to the butter market. We ventured out into the wind and the rain to travel to the Ferriter's castle, situated on a promontory nearby. This recording, made in 1997, encapsulates the history and the atmosphere of the Ferriters family's existence in the area over many generations. NAME: HUGH O'FLAHERTY, DUBLIN Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 9 Subtitle: The life story of a former High Court Judge Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: January 2007 Time: 45:02 Description: Hugh O'Flaherty is a native of Caherciveen where he was brought up by his aunt, Bridie Sheehan, along with his sister Pearl. He spoke about his schooldays and his later legal studies. His love for journalism and his position as sub-editor of the Irish Press are passionately recalled. In this interview Hugh talks about his interest in political life and the many speeches he wrote for the late Taoiseach, Jack Lynch. He then concentrated on the old traditions of the Law Library, a very conservative institution. He spoke openly about his involvement in the Sheedy case, and recalled his time as a journeyman barrister as he worked around the country. Page IV - 4 © Maurice O’Keeffe Irish Life and Lore Fourth Series Kerry Collection NAME: MIKE MURPHY, AGE 71, SURAGRANA GLEN, CAHIRSIVEEN (Part 1) Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 10 Subtitle: The Iron Man Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: January 2007 Time: 49:32 Description: This recording was made in Kerry General Hospital, where Mike Murphy was convalescing after an illness. Working life began for Mike at the age of 10, when he toiled for the County Council cutting turf. He was taught by his mother how to read and write, and never went to school. He got a job working in the quarries in Kells, Co. Kerry at the age of 14, and at the same time was involved in cycle racing for money. His racing career began in earnest in 1957 and he spoke about his many great adventures while cycling and working part-time for circus companies. He then described his first attempt at winning the Rás Tailtean, bringing the first part of this interview to an end. NAME: MIKE MURPHY, AGE 71, SURAGRANA GLEN, CAHIRSIVEEN (Part 2) Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 11 Subtitle: The Iron Man, continued Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: January 2007 Time: 40:06 Description: Mike Murphy tells stories of his days in racing in the Rás Tailtean. He describes in great detail each stage of the event, his times of exhilaration and his great disappointments. He speaks about travelling to England in 1960 to take up professional wrestling.