Irish Life and Lore Fourth Series Kerry Collection

NAME: JIMMY 'THE YANK' O'SHEA, AGE 91, BALLINACOTA, 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, (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 , 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.

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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.

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NAME: PETER CALLERY, 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, 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, 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.

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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. Mike Murphy later retired to to the old farming cottage, living in very frugal circumstances and looking back to the memories of better days.

NAME: TIM KELLY, AGE 80, (Part 1) Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 12 Subtitle: A solo sea voyage Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: February 2007 Time: 43:04 Description: I met Tim Kelly at his mobile home, where he informed me that 15 years earlier he had sailed from Australia to Ireland, a story that I was fascinated to hear. It was interesting to listen to him relating the circumstances that led to his emigration

Page IV - 5 © Maurice O’Keeffe Irish Life and Lore Fourth Series Kerry Collection from in South Kerry, at the age of 18. Arriving in Sydney, he went north to work in the sugar cane farms. He married a local woman there and had 3 children. Finding that he was unable to settle there he left everything behind him to travel to Melbourne where he began a new job as a mechanical engineer. This lasted for 20 years, until he felt that he wanted to return to Ireland. He built himself a boat which he knew would be capable of making the mammoth trip from Australia to Ireland. This brought to the end of part 1 in this two-part recording.

NAME: TIM KELLY, AGE 80, FENIT (Part 2) Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 13 Subtitle: A solo sea voyager, continued Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: February 2007 Time: 38:44 Description: Tim Kelly was 62 when he finally set sail on his boat, on the adventure of a lifetime heading back home from Australia, a dream which finally came true. He told me, in much detail, how he built the boat single-handedly, and I was interested to find out if there were any sea-faring people in his family. He informed me that two of his uncles had died while fishing near . He himself had had very little experience of sailing, but had no fear of the sea. His voyage began at the port of Brisbane and he sailed up the Great Barrier Reef and across the Gulf of Carpentaria and into Darwin. Tim continued with his fascinating story about his voyage across the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, to reach Ireland 2 years after he left Brisbane.

NAME: TIM KELLY, AGE 80, FENIT (Part 3) Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 14 Subtitle: A sea voyager continues with his story Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: February 2007 Time: 59:22 Description: Returning again to Tim Kelly's mobile home, I wanted to hear more details about his adventures, sailing across three oceans to reach Ireland two years after he set sail. This interview took place on as we walked across the beach, quite close to the point where he finally completed his voyage. He spoke again about building the boat and setting off from Brisbane, sailing first to Darwin and then across the Indian Ocean. He rounded the Cape, swung north and crossed the Atlantic Ocean to Brazil, after which he sailed north to Newfoundland. From

Page IV - 6 © Maurice O’Keeffe Irish Life and Lore Fourth Series Kerry Collection there he travelled across the Atlantic to landfall in Ireland at Banna Beach. Tim talked in great detail about all of his experiences at each port of call, the difficulties he faced during the long days and nights on his own, until finally sighting the south coast of Ireland. He describes his pure elation knowing that he had finally completed his amazing journey.

NAME: DIARMUID RING, AGE 81, VALENTIA (Part 1) Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 15 Subtitle: A submarine cable technician Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: February 2007 Time: 47:32 Description: I recorded Diarmuid Ring on a previous occasion, when he spoke about his father, who operated under cover in the cable station at Valentia, taking commands from the I.R.B. at Easter 1916. On this occasion I was more interested in recording the life story of Diarmuid himself. The conversation began as he recalled some of the characters who lived on Valentia, and his time spent working with the Western Union International Company. He explained the breaking up of the company, when it sold out to Norman Ross, who at the time was the owner of the Royal Victoria Hotel on the island. In 1966 Diarmuid emigrated to London for a short time to work with the same company and when he returned to the island with his family, he took a job in , working for a German industrial company. This conversation continued in part 2.

NAME: DIARMUID RING, AGE 81, VALENTIA (Part 2) Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 16 Subtitle: An islander's reminiscences Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: February 2007 Time: 35:05 Description: Diarmuid Ring continued this discussion on the Cahirciveen factory 'Special Knives', which had a very colourful and brief existence. The conversation came around to island life, and the ways in which the island has changed over the years. That brought the recording to an end. It was an entertaining and informative one which gave a great insight into the manner in which the people lived and worked on .

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NAME: MAURICE CURRAN, AGE 94, Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 17 Subtitle: A woman's compassion and strength Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: February 2007 Time: 65:29 Description: Maurice Curran was born into a large family, and he declared that his mother was a very patriotic woman. He remembers her standing up to the Black and Tans, on one of their raids when they came looking for her son, brother and a friend, who were then in the Volunteers. His mother was a fluent Irish speaker, and composed poetry which she did for each one of the family when they finally left home. Events which took place locally during the Civil War were spoken about in great detail, including a story about Maurice's brother, and a friend and neighbour, who were on opposite sides, after having fought side by side in the War of Independence. The interview concentrated on the Kerry football teams who played in the 1920s and 1930s and who travelled on to New York to play against many of the emigrants who had left the locality in previous years.

NAME: MONTY O'NEILL, AGE 74, (Part 1) Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 18 Subtitle: The life of a fisherman Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: March 2007 Time: 57:19 Description: Monty O'Neill traced the O'Neill family back for four generations. The family were of the Protestant faith. This interview took place by the sea- shore at Cromane where many a large haul of cockles and mussels were brought in. In this interview, the life of a fisherman is examined. There were seasons in the year for salmon netting and mussel fishing. In the winter months, time would be spent in England pulling beet. The local cottages were thatched with the white straw from the sand dunes of Rossbeigh across the way. Monty names the local families who survived on this way of life for many generations.

NAME: MONTY O'NEILL, AGE 74, CROMANE (Part 2) Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 19 Subtitle: The life of a fisherman, continued

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Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: March 2007 Time: 32:43 Description: In this recording, Monty O'Neill talks about the local rowing regattas and the great success enjoyed by local fishermen in the events. Puck Fair is also spoken about, and all its activities down through the years are described. Another aspect of this recording was the relating of place names and their meanings, and some local historical events which took place in Cromane and its vicinity were recalled.

NAME: NICHOLAS CURRAN, AGE 52, REENALAGANE, Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 20 Subtitle: A water keeper's experiences Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: March 2007 Time: 36:01 Description: This recording took place beside by the Carragh River. Nicholas Curran has for many years looked after the water for fishermen who come to fish there from all over the world. He is also fighting a legal case to allow the river to be used without any interference. All his work is voluntary. He explained that his own father worked on the railways between 1933 and 1969, returning as a ganger to Cahirciveen just before the railway line was closed. I finished the recording by talking to some of the French fishermen who were fishing the Carragh River on a beautiful spring day.

NAME: MIKEY TIERNAN, AGE 76, DOOKS Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 21 Subtitle: A fishing and farming existence Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: March 2007 Time: 40:40 Description: From a very early age Mikey Tiernan was fishing with his father, and the family lived on a 33-acre farm. He learned the ways of a fisherman's life from the local men, and followed their routine in netting salmon and harvesting mussels and cockles. When that season finished, he would go to England, picking beet with the local men from his area. This was the way of life for himself and his neighbours in those days.

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NAME: JOHN ROCHE, AGE 87, REENALAGANE, GLENBEIGH Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 22 Subtitle: A cockle and mussel merchant Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: March 2007 Time: 55:25 Description: To find John Roche, I travelled out of Glenbeigh on a long and narrow bohereen until finally I came to an isolated cottage situated right on the bay, home to the Roche family for many generations. The family fished all their lives for shellfish. John told me in this recording that he learned from his mother how the local women would leave the area on an ass and cart, and travel into with their load of shellfish, and sell it by the side of the road. John took up the practice, bringing his catch to Tralee, where he was known as 'The Cockle Man'. For many years he stood in the Square selling his cockles, mussels and periwinkles. When the season finished, he would travel to England working on the beet, and at other times he would travel to the county of Offaly, and work for Bord na Mona, cutting the turf. In more recent times the mussel beds in the bay have been fished out.

NAME: PAT O'SULLIVAN, BALLYCLEAVE, Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 23 Subtitle: A basket-maker's craft Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: March 2007 Time: 51:04 Description: The O'Sullivans of Ballycleave were renowned for their basket-making for the years. Pat O'Sullivan's grandfather passed on the craft to Pat's father, who continued supplying baskets to the farmers for potato-picking and for carrying the turf, and to the fishermen for lobster-pots. As a young lad Pat helped his father, and recalls the days he would spend preparing his baskets for the local farms in Cahirciveen and Killorglin. He told me they would travel to the edge of the river near Castlemaine, to collect the sallies for the rods. Pat proudly described the technique of basket-making, and showed me samples of his work, explaining how he could get different colours into the rods by skimming them. Pat suggested that I should travel the short distance down the road to the old family home, where I would meet his brother John, which I did.

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NAME: JOHN O'SULLIVAN, BALLYCLEAVE, KILLORGLIN Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 24 Subtitle: A basket-maker's home Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: March 2007 Time: 49:01 Description: I arrived at the farm of John O'Sullivan, who brought me to the old thatched stone-built cottage which had been the home of Sean O'Sullivan, his father. He described to me the types of baskets he would make, including the puckeen, which was used to cover the calf's mouth, turf-baskets, pigeon carrier baskets and picnic baskets. John's own interest lies in the farm, and in growing cabbage, which has a widespread reputation for its excellent taste. This would be taken to fairs as far away as north Cork on a regular basis. People generally around Ballycleave were always better off because they could rely on cabbage growing and the turf cutting. People would come in their horses and carts, and later in their lorries, to collect the turf and the cabbage from the farmers.

NAME: GEORGE RICE, CLAHANE, TRALEE Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 25 Subtitle: A retired schoolteacher's return to Clounalour National School Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: October 2006 Time: 61:15 Description: In this recording the principal of Clounalour National School Tralee welcomes George Rice to 4th class, where the children's questions were answered by George. His father led the Volunteers in Tralee during the 1916 Rising, and took an active part in the War of Independence and the Civil War, taking the Republican side. This was a very interesting question and answer session, since the class was mostly comprised of non-national students.

NAME: DAN KEATING, BALLYGAMBOON, TOM HUSSEY, BANNA AND MICHAEL LYNCH, TRALEE Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 26 Subtitle: Remembering the 1916 Rising in Kerry Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: November 2006 Time: 45:16 Description: The Principal of Mercy Mounthawk Secondary School invited me to work with the

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Transition Year students on a history project about events here in Kerry at Easter 1916. During the course of six months, we travelled to Banna to interview Tom Hussey, a local farmer, about his first- hand information regarding the arrival of Roger Casement on the beach there. We also visited the County Library, where we met archivist Michael Lynch and Dan Keating, the IRA veteran. Many questions were put to Dan about his time fighting during the 1916-1922 period. Our journey took us to the City Library and archive in Dublin, to find out what happened at Easter 1916 in Dublin.

NAME: SR EILY KELLY, AGE 97, MERCY CONVENT, TRALEE (Part 1) Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 27 Subtitle: Remembering the War of Independence Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: February 2007 Time: 38:08 Description: Sr Eily Kelly grew up in Knockbrane, near . In 1888 her grandparents were deprived of their land because of parental disapproval of their marriage. A number of local people built a house for them and gave them an acre of land, where they survived. Sr Eily's own mother died young, leaving her at the age of three to be brought up by her grandparents. She had three first cousins who were all deeply involved in the Black and Tan War. This interview deals with many local events which took place at that time, and which left a deeply rooted antipathy towards the English. The recording continued with talk about the Civil War, and provides a good insight into the activities of the North Kerry Flying Column.

NAME: SR EILY KELLY, AGE 97, MERCY CONVENT, TRALEE (Part 2) Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 28 Subtitle: Remembering the early part of the twentieth century Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: February 2007 Time: 45:13 Description: This recording began with Sr Eily's vivid memory of the first radio to come into the Knockbrane area in 1926 when for the first time the local people were alerted instantly to world events. She recalled some of the local families, including the Deans. Sr Eily's reminiscences are very clear in their content, and she spoke of times now long gone, when life was

Page IV - 12 © Maurice O’Keeffe Irish Life and Lore Fourth Series Kerry Collection very different to that which we live today.

NAME: SIAMSA TIRE, TRALEE Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 29 Subtitle: Tearmann Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: January 2006 Time: 45:15 Description: Over a period of three months I interviewed the cast of 'Tearmann' from its inception to its performance. This was the first time in the history of Siamsa Tire that a script writer from outside the company, Michael Harding, wrote the script for this magnificent re-enactment of life in a poorhouse during the Famine times. Interviews took place in Siamsa Tire with all the members of the cast who participated in the performance, along with members of the crew.

NAME: MUIRIS GUITIN, AGE 87, KATE BEGLEY AND EDMUND FITZGERALD, WEST DINGLE Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 30 Subtitle: The Great Blasket Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: January 2007 Time: 41:04 Description: In the introduction to this recording we hear a song about the Blasket Islanders, sung by Muiris Scanlan. The purpose of this recording was to find out more about the way people lived on the Blaskets and what became of them after they finally left the island in the 1950s. Muiris Guitín is the last living male islander and now lives on the mainland near Ventry, where he spoke to me about his experiences. Kate Begley is the daughter of one of the women born on the Blaskets. Edmund Fitzgerald from Tralee spent all his spare time visiting the island in earlier days. The recordings with these people collectively gave a great insight into the life of an islander.

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NAME: DR ANNE SHEEHAN, MILLTOWN Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 31 Subtitle: The life of a rural GP Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: April 2007 Time: 69:18 Description: In 1953, Drs Eamonn and Anne Sheehan arrived in Milltown to set up in practice. This interview concentrates on the changes in medical practice over the years, and the prevalent illnesses encountered. Anne spoke about the treatment of brucellosis, the difference pasteurised milk made to the health of the community, and her late husband's work in osteopathy, which was frowned upon by the people and thought to be a form of witchcraft. Later in the interview Anne's daughter Gillian joined us. She was also a practising doctor, but retired when her father died in the 1990s.

NAME: MARY O'NEILL AGE 67 AND LUCY O'NEILL, AGE 70, CROMANE (Part 1) Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 32 Subtitle: Reminiscences of life by the sea Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: April 2007 Time: 46:25 Description: On a visit to the home of Mary O'Neill I met her sister-in-law Lucy. They both grew up in the village of Cromane where Mary's father was a tailor in the village, and Lucy came from a farming and fishing background. It was interesting to record facts about tailoring life in the countryside, as well as the seasonal fishing and farming practices of the local community. The fishermen would drag the mussels beds while far out at sea up onto the boats and into shore, where they would prepare mussels for the market by cleaning and tanking them. In this first part of the interview, other local customs were recalled.

NAME: MARY O'NEILL AGE 67 AND LUCY O'NEILL, AGE 70, CROMANE (Part 2) Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 33 Subtitle: Reminiscences of life by the sea, continued Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: April 2007 Time: 51:28 Description: This recording begins with a story about a great storm which destroyed many thatched cottages in the area and killed a number of livestock.

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Also in this interview some of the local characters were mentioned, as were the 'knights of the road'. Local pastimes included visits to houses in the evenings playing cards and throwing rings. This brought an end to a wonderfully entertaining and informative interview with two great ladies. Mary spent all life in Cromane, and Lucy spent her childhood there and returned after a stay in England, to spend the rest of her days in the village of her childhood.

NAME: DAN O'CONNOR, CALLAHANISKEA, GLENCAR Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 34 Subtitle: A hill farming existence Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: April 2007 Time: 64:57 Description: The O'Connors were hill-farmers in the Glen area for many generations and this interview took place by the shores of Carragh Lake. Dan spoke about the local place names and their meanings and interestingly, on his ancestral land, there was a quarry which was used for the construction of most of the roads in the area. There was mention of the black mule, which carted loads of stones from the quarry to Killorglin each day. Dan also told me about the drawing of rocks across the lake for the building of houses in the second half of the nineteenth century. We walked the short distance to the old family cottage, high up in the hills, where he pointed out some of the houses of the landed gentry, and spoke about their way of life. He also pointed out another O'Connor home in the distance and strongly recommended that I go there to collect more information about the area.

NAME: MIKEY O'CONNOR, AGE 83, OULAGH, CARRAGH LAKE (Part 1) Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 35 Subtitle: A retired immigrant Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: April 2007 Time: 48:31 Description: This first interview with Mikey O'Connor concentrates on his father John, who emigrated to Australia in 1898 when he was 18 years old. Mikey spoke about his father's passage to Australia and when he arrived, he was picked up by a local farmer, who gave him work for a number of years after which

Page IV - 15 © Maurice O’Keeffe Irish Life and Lore Fourth Series Kerry Collection he then worked in the railways. This most interesting interview then takes us to Nevada, where he worked for ten years in the gold mines. He returned to Ireland at the age of 62. Having made a match with a local girl, he lived out his life in Glencar. In part 2 of this recording this story is continued, with more memories of Michael's father, John O'Connor.

NAME: MIKEY O'CONNOR, AGE 83, OULAGH, CARRAGH LAKE (Part 2) Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 36 Subtitle: A returned immigrant, continued Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: April 2007 Time: 66:14 Description: In this recording the story about Mikey O'Connor's father John continues, beginning with his return in 1922. Mikey remembers his father discussing his adventures with the other local men around the open fire and there was a story about the time when he was nearly shot by a Free State soldier. Mikey himself spoke about raising a herd of Kerry cows, and how Carragh Lake was a very popular tourist resort during the late 19th and early 20th centuries when there were two Great Southern and Western Railway hotels.

NAME: DIN JOE O'SHEA, AGE 80, CASTLEMAINE Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 37 Subtitle: Remembering the migrants Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: May 2007 Time: 62:55 Description: I visited the cottage of Din Joe O'Shea on a day when the turf fire was burning and the door was wide open, typical of how country cottages always used to be. We sat by the fireside, and spoke about the Fitzgeralds, the Cronins and the Evans family, who migrated in 1929 to Edenderry in Co Offaly. I was most interested in hearing this, because I already had a recording of the Evans family and their story from the time they arrived in Edenderry. Din Joe spoke about his own father's work, the picking of apples in the late summer, and selling them

Page IV - 16 © Maurice O’Keeffe Irish Life and Lore Fourth Series Kerry Collection in all the fairs around up to the end of March. Din Joe himself worked for the Land Commission, looking after the banks of the rivers in the locality.

NAME: NICHOLAS SCOLLARD, LISTELLICK, TRALEE Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 38 Subtitle: The Ballyduff Horse Fair Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: May 2007 Time: 68:35 Description: On the morning of the Ballyduff Horse Fair, I drove musician Nicholas Scollard to the fair, recording on the way his family's history, and some stories of the local townlands we passed through. Arriving in Ballyduff, we called to the home of Batt Lyons, a local character and ballad-singer. I recorded some of his songs, later we walked down the street of Ballyduff, talking to some of the horse dealers who have attended horse fairs around the countryside for many years.

NAME: JOHN O'MAHONY, AGE 73 COOLROE, GLENBEIGH Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 39 Subtitle: A seaside resort Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: June 2007 Time: 49:51 Description: John O'Mahony grew up in the village of Glenbeigh and has a great knowledge of the village people and their occupations. His own father was a small farmer, and ran a dance-hall in the village. While looking over the strand at Rossbeigh, he

Page IV - 17 © Maurice O’Keeffe Irish Life and Lore Fourth Series Kerry Collection recalled the local women, who would pick cockles, mussels and periwinkles, and cart them on donkey and cart to Killarney for sale. He also spoke about the mass emigration out of the place after the Emergency period. This recording concluded with the history of horse racing on Rossbeigh Strand.

NAME: PADDY O'CONNELL, AGE 78, CAHERLEHELON, CAHIRSIVEEN Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 40 Subtitle: A hill-farmer's existence Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: June 2007 Time: 59:38 Description: The O'Connell's have lived in Caherlehelon for over 200 years. Paddy pointed out the old family thatched cottage which is now a cow- house in the farmyard. This interview centres around the life of a hill-farmer, and his day-to-day routine, which has never altered. Now at his advanced age he still climbs the mountains with his sheep-dog, and he explained that he knew every square inch of the many miles of mountain in the area. He says that things now are good, but that in the thirties and forties, survival was very difficult indeed.

NAME: CAIT MORAN, THOON, FYLEMORE Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 41 Subtitle: A woman's memories Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: June 2007 Time: 49:07 Description: I called to the ancestral home of the Morans to meet Cait who I heard locally would have a lot of information about the area. We began our interview by tracing some of the local families, and spoke about her schooldays and the exceptional education they received in those days. Cait's life and work in the home farm was described to me in great detail and she spoke about her marriage and continuing in the tradition of local farmer's wives who lived in financially difficult times in the middle of the last century.

NAME: PAT PIGGOTT, AGE 73, TREANMANAUGH, GLENCAR Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 42 Subtitle: Reminiscences of a hill farmer Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe

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Date: June 2007 Time: 46:16 Description: Pat Piggott lives with his brother John in an old farmhouse, nestled into the side of the mountain. Both brothers are extremely shy. I interviewed Pat at his home in the company of his friend John O'Mahony from Glenbeigh. He spoke first abut his father, and Mike O'Connor's wife, who was a Foley. Both came from the same townland in Dromid. He then recalled his early memory of his two baby sisters being buried in a Killeen for unbaptised babies on an island in Caragh Lake. The brothers would rarely leave their farm, which consisted of 100 acres of mountainy terrain. Occasions like Puck Fair and the journey to the village of Glenbeigh were indeed special outings. Stories about the pisheogs and superstition in general were recorded before I left the house, which has stood unchanged for nearly 200 years.

NAME: JOHN O'CONNOR, AGE 80, DRENAGH, DROMID Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 43 Subtitle: The Coomliagh-O'Connor Clan Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: July 2007 Time: 61:30 Description: While collecting oral history in the Dromid area, I found it difficult to distinguish between the many O'Connor families in the area. The tradition there for many generations had been to nickname families in order to identify each clan. As John told me, there were the Whiskers-O'Connors, the Bolas- O'Connors, and the Coomliagh-O'Connors. Also included in this interview was a friend of John's named Mick Clifford from Filemore, who made interjections from time to time. Stories were recorded about the lake near his home, the local hedge- schools, teaching traditions, and his own schooldays. The local place names and their meanings were explained and John recommended that I interview his older brother, who would have a longer memory.

NAME: MIKE LUCEY, AGE 89 AND MARY LUCEY, AGE 75, TEEROMOYLE, KELLS Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 44 Subtitle: A dwindling population Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: July 2007 Time: 61:28 Description: This interview took place in the ancestral

Page IV - 19 © Maurice O’Keeffe Irish Life and Lore Fourth Series Kerry Collection home of the Luceys, where we first traced the Lucey family back to Mike's grandfather, a man who married three times. Mary's own homeplace was "over the water", i.e. over the bridge in Cahirsiveen, from the townland of Toomore. Fascinating stories about her father's fishing life were related to me. The conversation concentrated on all the abandoned farm cottages in what had once been a place of great vibrancy and activity, with people cross-road dancing and visiting each other's houses, in one of which Mike was to meet his future wife Mary. The game of football was the local pastime in the area. This recording gives a clear insight into the many changes in which have taken place in country life and in the landscape.

NAME: MIKE TADHG O'CONNOR, AGE 89, TOORSALEEN, MASTERGEEHY Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 45 Subtitle: The Whisker-O'Connor Clan Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: July 2007 Time: 56:30 Description: Meeting Mike Tadhg O'Connor was indeed a great pleasure, because his ability to dig deep into the local customs, and trace families, made this recording very informative. He spoke about the Famine, and the use of commonage in the area. His family and his neighbours were cut off from any outside influences for the majority of his lifetime, they had no newspapers or radio until the 1950s. There were nine children in his own family, one of whom was Jack, the Kerry football manager. Mike pointed out that there wasn't much time for playing football because of the many hours spent tending sheep and cattle on the hillside. I left promising that I would return one day and make another recording with this remarkable man.

NAME: MARY JOHNSON, AGE 77, Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 46 Subtitle: Stories from a historic house Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: July 2007 Time: 76:49 Description: This interview was recorded in one of the oldest houses in Kerry where we sat surrounded by wall-to-wall antiquarian books. I asked Mary Johnson about her father, Judge Richard Daniel Fitzgibbon Johnson, who sat in the courts in Kerry for many years, after having been appointed in 1922 by Kevin

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O'Higgins. She spoke to me about his involvement in the Sinn Fein courts and the many threats which he received. She recalled his many hobbies - fishing, shooting and hawking. His other interests lay in local dramatic productions, and in the Gaelic League. Mary then spoke about her own life and we toured the house and talked about its long history.

NAME: DENNIS O'CONNOR, AGE 86 AND HANNAH O'CONNOR, AGE 74, COMMLIAGH, MASTERGEEHY Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 47 Subtitle: A hill farmer's life story Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: July 2007 Time: 52:41 Description: The O'Connor family were known as the Coomliagh O'Connors and I had previously recorded Dennis's younger brother, John. Dennis traced back his family tree to his great-grandfather, who came into the area in the early 1800s. The size of his farm, on the side of a mountain, was 420 acres. Dennis told me how TB had struck the house in his grandparents' time when five of the children, along with Dennis's grandfather, died of the disease, leaving Dennis's grandmother, father and mother as the only survivors. Hannah spoke in this recording about her people who were the Dalys from Ballinaboy, three miles away and her mother was an O'Connell from Cahirlehellon. This recording took place in a very remote area and this family provided such an interesting account of the area.

NAME: MARTIN HOULIHAN, AGE 69, CARRNAN, CAHIRSIVEEN Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series,

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CD 48 Subtitle: Growing up in Coomaspere Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: July 2007 Time: 47:02 Description: The Houlihans of Coomaspere were one of the last families in the townland to farm the land there. This recording made with Martin Houlihan provided great information on the locality. The local people, their names and nicknames, the places where they came from and their houses which are now closed up, were described to me in great detail. In this recording Martin also spoke in the vernacular, and his ability to work his many sheepdogs, was spectacular to watch.

NAME: MAURA SHEEHAN, AGE 88, BUNADREEN, MASTERGEEHY, MASTERGUAGH Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 49 Subtitle: A forgotten village Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: July 2007 Time: 60:37 Description: In this recording, Maura Sheehan evokes the atmosphere of her local place as it was in her great-great-grandfather's time, when he first came into the area in 1840, having been evicted from . Patrick O'Shea, her great-great-grandfather, with his seven sisters, lived in a thatched cottage, which is now the cow-house in the farmyard. Her own earliest memory is of knowing nine families, who lived in the cluster of thatched cottages at Bunadreen. She and her children are all who survives of that village today.

NAME: WILLIAM MANGAN, AGE 86 AND KATHLEEN MANGAN, AGE 74 TOORACLADANE, MASTERGEEHY Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 50 Subtitle: The final interview in the Drommod/Mastergeehy area Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: July 2007 Time: 48:46 Description: The Mangan ancestral home is reached by a meandering bohereen, over a river, and then uphill. William Mangan was indeed the final link in this collection of recordings, in that he provided an overall view of how life was lived by the hill-farmer down through the centuries in the area, encapsulating the traditions, the customs, the beliefs and the unity

Page IV - 22 © Maurice O’Keeffe Irish Life and Lore Fourth Series Kerry Collection of the local community. This was quite evident in the story that I recorded about an event which took place in the valley in 1928, when the sheriff from Cahirsiveen visited a local farmer to take his herd of cattle from him for not paying his rent to the Irish Land Commission. The people from the valley all came out in his support. I drove from the Mangan's farm which has been farmed by the family for six generations, knowing that the recordings made from the area would be a valuable resource for Irish folk history.

NAME: AGNES O'SULLIVAN, AGE 56, GLEESK, KELLS Title: Irish Life and Lore Kerry Collection 4th Series, CD 51 Subtitle: Schooldays remembered Recorded by: Maurice O'Keeffe Date: July 2007 Time: 43:44 Description: Agnes O'Sullivan, neé Lynch, grew up in Kells. On a fine summer's morning, we walked the mile from Kells Bay to the local school recalling Agnes's memories of her schooldays, and recalling all the former activities associated with the walk to the school, closed since 1968. Agnes worked in the local post office for a Mrs Goulding and she also worked in the telephone exchange in Cahirsiveen. This provided some interesting stories from the days of wind-up phones. This recording provided a view into rural schooling and the many benefits associated with that form of education.

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