Irish Life and Lore Meath Oral History Collection MEATH ORAL HISTORY COLLECTION _____________ CATALOGUE OF 50 RECORDINGS IRISH LIFE AND LORE SERIES Page: 1 / 27 © 2010 Maurice O'Keeffe Irish Life and Lore Meath Oral History Collection Irish Life and Lore Series Maurice and Jane O’Keeffe, Ballyroe, Tralee, County Kerry e-mail: [email protected] Website: www.irishlifeandlore.com Telephone: + 353 (66) 7121991/ + 353 87 2998167 Recordings compiled by : Maurice O’Keeffe Catalogue Editor : Jane O’Keeffe Secretarial work by : n.b.services, Tralee Recordings duplicated by : Midland Duplication, Birr Printed by : Midland Duplication, Birr Privately published by : Maurice and Jane O’Keeffe, Tralee These recordings were made between October and December 2009 This series of recordings was solely funded by Meath County Council Page: 2 / 27 © 2010 Maurice O'Keeffe Irish Life and Lore Meath Oral History Collection NAME: MARK BRADY, NAVAN, BORN 1941 Title: Irish Life and Lore County Meath Collection CD 1 Subject: An emigrant’s story Recorded by: Maurice O’Keeffe Time: 60:49 Mark Brady was recorded while home on holiday in Navan from his work in Mexico. He was born and raised in Flowerhill, Navan, where his parents ran a general grocery business. He describes his initial decision to study for the priesthood and his later decision, after four years study, to follow another path. He worked with his father at the business known as The Golden Goose, and also taught in England for three years. In the 1980s Mark decided to leave Ireland, travel for a while and, when he arrived at Tarahumara in Mexico, enthralled with the place and the people, he decided to stay and do his best to help the people, who were almost destitute. He has devoted twenty- six years to this work, helping to raise funds for the building of schools and infrastructure there. Page: 3 / 27 © 2010 Maurice O'Keeffe Irish Life and Lore Meath Oral History Collection NAME: LIAM MCCARTHY, LISMULLEN, NAVAN, BORN 1936 Title: Irish Life and Lore County Meath Collection CD 2 Subject: A Life in the postal service Recorded by: Maurice O’Keeffe Time: 51:24 Mallow in Co. Cork is the birthplace of Liam McCarthy, and it was here that he began his career as a post office clerk in 1954. Shortly afterwards he was transferred to Wexford where he spent two years, and then to Navan in 1958. While in Wexford he worked in the telephone exchange, and he describes the early days of the system and the advancements which came about at that time. Navan in 1958 is detailed in the recording, its people, the workplace and the class order which prevailed in the postal service. Liam is retired since 1996 from An Post and has taken a different path, working in accountancy in the private sector. He discusses his impressions of the differences between employees in the public and private sectors in Ireland. NAME: JACKIE BUTTERLY, FRENCH LANE, STACKALLEN, BORN 1936 Title: Irish Life and Lore County Meath Collection CD 3 Subject: The Big House Recorded by: Maurice O’Keeffe Time: 71:17 Jackie Butterly has spent all his working life at Stackallen House. At the beginning of this recording Jackie fondly recalls John Woods, a neighbour who was well-known for his local knowledge and skills. Jackie’s father worked at the Glebe Estate, and Jackie details the history of this fine place. As a young man he himself began work at Stackallen where his uncle was also employed. He discusses the previous owners, firstly the Downers and then the Burkes for whom he worked. Major Burke died in 1964 and his wife ran the estate until her retirement in 1992. Jackie celebrated a half century of employment at Stackallen during his working days there. He describes his work, the changes, the staff at the house and the farm. Page: 4 / 27 © 2010 Maurice O'Keeffe Irish Life and Lore Meath Oral History Collection NAME: STEPHEN MARKEY, NAVAN, BORN 1943 Title: Irish Life and Lore County Meath Collection CD 4 Subject: Recollections of a miner Recorded by: Maurice O’Keeffe Time: 47:17 Ardmulchan Estate is the place where Stephen Markey spent his childhood, and where his father was employed as a herdsman and dairyman. The family moved to Navan in 1950, and Stephen recalls the reasons for the move. In 1961 Stephen emigrated to Birmingham, where he worked for an engineering company but returned to work in Navan after a short time. In 1974 when mining began at Navan he was employed as a jumbo driller. He recalls his training and gives a great account of the conditions and challenges of the workplace. Shifts were from 8.00am to 4.00pm, 4.00pm to 12.00am and 12.00am to 8.00am. His occupation as a miner gave him great satisfaction, and he says that he cannot imagine any better employment. NAME: MARGARET MARKEY (née CREIGHTON), NAVAN, BORN 1918 Title: Irish Life and Lore County Meath Collection CD 5 Subject: A long and interesting life Recorded by: Maurice O’Keeffe Time: 60:30 Margaret Markey is a native of North Leitrim, where she grew up on a hill farm. She recalls the difficult times there and her move to take up a position on the Lambert Estate at Beauparc where she worked as a domestic. After her marriage to Stephen Markey, she moved to live and work with him at the Fletcher’s Estate at Ardmulchan. Margaret has some interesting photographs of the house, the owners and staff. In 1961 she decided to open a small grocery business at Windtown Old on the outskirts of Navan, where she also provided lodgings for foreign miners. In 1987, she changed direction again, sold her business and moved to New York where she became a lady’s companion to a Mrs. Newman. She has now returned and lives in Navan. Page: 5 / 27 © 2010 Maurice O'Keeffe Irish Life and Lore Meath Oral History Collection NAME: PAT TRAVERS, NAVAN, BORN 1939 Title: Irish Life and Lore County Meath Collection CD 6 Subject: Navan Carpets Recorded by: Maurice O’Keeffe Time: 49:52 Pat Travers recalls his background and schooling, and his employment with Navan Carpets in 1963. He was to spend his entire working life of forty years with the company. He describes Navan town in the 1950s, the shops and the workplaces. He also recalls his first taste of work in his teenage years in the landmark Woods’ clothing shop in Navan. At Navan Carpets he spent the first four and a half years on night shifts as he trained in weaving, and he later progressed from small looms to 12 foot looms. He talks about the rules and regulations, the wages and work practices, and remembers colleagues and management. The customers, the different orders and the types of carpets made are all recalled as are the Unions and the challenges that the workers faced. Pat retired in 2002 and declares that if he had his working life to live again he wouldn’t change a thing. NAME: BOB DIER, NAVAN, BORN 1942 Title: Irish Life and Lore County Meath Collection CD 7 Subject: A career in Navan Carpets. Recorded by: Maurice O’Keeffe Time: 51:06 In 1963 Bob Dier began his long career at Navan Carpets, a career which ended in 2004. He recalls the Navan Carpets premises as it was in his early career, the staff and the management. Life began for him in Wexford in a faming background and he recalls working at Goodbody’s Jute Factory in Clara, Co. Offaly. After four years he moved to Navan Carpets. For a short time, he was sent to learn his trade in Scotland. He discusses the history of Navan Carpets, and the wool factory at Celbridge. He also discusses the production of carpets, their patterns and designs. The changes within management and the takeover by Youghal Carpets are recalled, as is its effect on the local workers. He remembers fondly the social scene at Navan Carpets which had its own amateur dramatic society and football team, and he describes in detail the great disappointment at the closure of the factory. Page: 6 / 27 © 2010 Maurice O'Keeffe Irish Life and Lore Meath Oral History Collection NAME: BRIDIE McENTEE (née McGUINNESS), NOBBER, BORN 1918, Title: Irish Life and Lore County Meath Collection CD 8 Subject: Nobber in earlier times Recorded by: Maurice O’Keeffe Time: 78:11 Bridie McEntee was born into a family in Nobber who were merchants, publicans and post office officials. She traces her family back several generations and describes her early days, her education, and the beginning of her career in the family business in 1943. She worked in Nobber Post Office for 65 years. She recalls the first factory in Nobber, Gypsum Industries, established in the early 1900s which created great employment. She talks of the big houses and the class order in earlier times, the years of The Emergency, the influx of migrants due to the work of the Land Commission, the people of the village and their occupations and Fair days on the third Tuesday of each month. She discusses local folk cures and the medicines supplied by certain individuals. NAME: JOAN DEMPSEY, ATHBOY, BORN 1927 Title: Irish Life and Lore County Meath Collection CD 9 Subject: Love of theatre and performance Recorded by: Maurice O’Keeffe Time: 57:52 Joan Dempsey lives in the original family home where her mother ran a boarding house in former days, and which Joan continued to run for some time. She recalls her father who drove a hackney car and the struggle to make ends meet.