(Recollections and Stories together comprising a social history of Dublin and Ireland in the 20th Century)
Assembled in Clareville Day Centre
Available
in the Centre and on Amazon
____________________________________________
Assembled in Clareville Day Centre
Available
Available
in the Centre and on Amazon
Killeen, Teresa
Clareville Centre Story
Clareville Centre is owned and maintained by Dublin City Council (DCC), but is run by a local voluntary organisation with corporate status (Clareville Centre Limited) …
“… (Clareville Centre)
demonstrated what the judges believe is a model of best practice in caring for
the elderly in their own place. Here was shown the attention to all aspects of
the older person’s needs in a dignified and high quality environment …”
McDermott, Sean
How do you spell “Cat”?
The Story of a Stroke
I
The 10th
of January 1999 was a bitter cold day. It was, also, the day that changed my
life forever. I had an appointment with a legal litigation eagle in Fitzwilliam
Square at three o’clock that afternoon. Fate was about to play a very
unexpected part. It was nearly two ten when it happened, as I was walking east along
Pearse Street, Dublin 2.
The first
significant indication that something was wrong started with my right leg
becoming stiff, then my right foot refusing to leave the ground. I was totally dumfounded for a split second,
until my upper body inclined to one side giving me the feeling of having no
balance. My left arm reached out, grasped a bollard to steady myself, when I
discovered my right arm was not responding to orders. An aura of lightness and
total numbness enveloped me, as if I was in a cocoon, plus I realised that I
was going nowhere fast under my own steam …
Boland, Bernadette
The Place I would like to call Home
September is that time of the year when Dad can leave home
in the city and drive to Roscommon to visit his mother and brother.
The family all share the same house down the country, which
is on the grounds of Clonalis House, the home of the O'Connor Dons of
Connaught. This house survived all the troubles in Ireland down through the
years …
My Teenage Years in Old Ballymun
September 1943, the All-Ireland Gaelic Football Final came
round again. Mam and Dad were natives of Roscommon. Mam was expecting her first
child. They were seated in the back of the Hogan Stand, delighted with the
result. Roscommon won. Perhaps I heard everything.
I made my entrance into this world on the 24th March …
Sudden Retirement
The Irish Glass Bottle
Company started in Ringsend in 1871, making black bottles for porter with sand
from Dublin Bay and lime and clay from Clontarf. These were mixed with salt
rock and soda and melted in a huge tank furnace. It employed a great number of
people. However, in 2002 it closed its doors forever and this marked the end of
glass bottle making in Ringsend.
I enjoyed
my lunch in the Bottle House restaurant, among many workers. We all returned to
our desks at 2 pm approx, admiring the beautiful autumn day, with some
sunshine.
Our Personnel Officer phoned me to call to her
office immediately …
Buckley, William
The Coming of Mary
Opening pages of William’s
book The Dowry, which tells the story
of his mother, Mary Buckley, née Walsh.
The morning of November 14th dawned with the sun shining
bright and early. Anyone would think that the country was in for beautiful
weather. As the day rolled on, however, the sky began to change, and ominous clouds
began to form in the sky …
Boarding School
An extract from William’s book: A Fistful of Memories
At this point, three of my brothers had finished school.
One day, Mammy asked me if I would go to a Christian
Brothers school, where her cousin was teaching. She said that I could not stay
at home as there was not enough work there for all of the family. Mother told
me that she had approached Jimmy and he said that he would go also.
We met the Brother a couple of
weeks later. He seemed to be very nice and friendly …
Byrne, Sharon
Sharon’s Story
My Dad was an Irishman; his name was Robert David Byrne. He
grew up and went to school in Ireland.
My Granddad used to work for the railway lines in Zimbabwe;
he went in the 1930’s and, when my dad finished his education in Ireland, he
followed my Granddad to Zimbabwe.
My Dad was trained as an
engineer; and worked in Africa where he met my Mam and got married …
Carroll, Nora
From Jamestown Road
My name is Nora Carroll. I am 85 years old and was born in
Clontarf on 4 January 1932.
I was the eldest of seven children. I had one sister and
five brothers, of whom only myself and two brothers are still alive.
I came to live on Jamestown Road
in Finglas when I was very young …
Downey, Brian
My Dad
Hello, Teresa. I know it is the weekend, but I want to send
my story to you; so I hope you get it on Monday morning when you go in to work.
Let me know on Monday if you received it.
This is a story about my father,
to whom I was very close. He looked after me since I was a baby. He was always
there for me, and he even discovered me being blind …
Doyle, Jack
The Golf Ball and other Adventures
Some people think it is easy to write a story. Most people
can do so with ease.
When I saw that a story would have to consist of 1,500 words
or more, I thought that was a hard job, but however, I decided to have a go anyway.
Lots of things happened to me, so I decided to put several of these events into
one story, and that would fulfil the requirements.
The Golf Ball
People are very fond of saying there is something they wish
to do before they die. I had often heard the saying; but it was not until I had
to spend some time in hospital that I came across the fact in true life. …
Lily Fagan
“The heart of good nature! The heart of the roll!”
Lovely Dublin sayings! But when I came across kindness and
love from a young girl, when I was in hospital, it was proven to me that the
saying was really true …
To Rob The Cross
Ag Dul Siar ar m’Aistear!
Maybe the spelling is incorrect, but the thoughts are still
the same.
When I was about 10 years old, this was thought to be a
school lesson. I thought I would be too young to go back on my memory, and
would have to be at least 70 years old to recall my memories; and that would be
a whole lot of years away. Now, at the age of 91, I have enough memories to
fill about a dozen books …
Childhood in the Liberties of Dublin
Life is really funny!
When you think that the powers-that-be are putting a charge
on sugar because children are getting too obese, a nice word for fat!
When we were young, there was no fear of the children
putting on weight, and I will tell you the reason. Life was free and easy for
children as they could roam round the roads without fear of being molested and,
as there was very little traffic, play their games on the streets.
For the girls, the main games were skipping and QUEENIE-I-O,
WHO HAS THE BALL? This
was a grand way to keep fit …
The Turkey and Ham
“Christmas! Christmas! Humbug!”
So says Scrooge and, if he had lived until today, he would
be about 200 years old, and die of a heart attack with the price of his
electricity bill. But the Christmas Carol
had nothing to do with Christmas in our house.
Usually, on Christmas Eve, Dad came home with the turkey. He
always left it late, as he said he could get it cheapest at the last minute.
Then, sleeves rolled up, he would proceed to clean the
turkey. We would, some of us, stand and look in awe at his skill …
The Bus Pass
When it was decided that a Senior Citizen would receive a
Bus Pass, we were all so pleased!
At first, the pass could only be used between the hours of ten
o'clock in the morning and four thirty in the evening. This was all grand; and
then it was found that the pass was no use for an appointment in the hospital
at ten o'clock; or to use if delayed in the hospital after four thirty. After
much lobbying, it was decided, by the Government, to allow the use of the Pass
for all day and night. Enough said.
My wife, who was a little older
than me, not a lot, received the Pass and I could travel with her, free. We
were very pleased. We now could travel to Galway, Cork, or any place in the
twenty-six counties, free …
Engledew, Mary
A Varied Life
Chapter 1: Early LIfe
I was born in Kiladysart, County Clare on the 14th
of February, 1923, as part of twins to Vincent and Mary Hehir.
My sister, Patricia, and I were
the eldest of six children …
Ingoldsby, Seán
Highlights and Not-So-Highlights of a Young Life
The Tommies
One of my very earliest memories, and vague enough, was at
five years old.
I was with my father on the Clontarf Road, and we sighted,
as we often did later, a passenger-steamer moving down the Liffey past the docks,
and we could hear, wafting across the water, the cheering and singing of the
occupants.
My father told me that this was
the "British Tommies" going home …
Keyes, Pauline
Never Say Die
The story of my life: where do I start?
I was born and reared in the country. I was brought up on a
farm in County Laois. I had four sisters and one brother. Life was wonderful.
…
At 16, I went to Surrey and got a dental job. I did not like
England. I returned home at 18.
I got Polio then; and thought it
was the end of the world. The Doctors told me I would not walk again, but I
proved them wrong! …
Killeen, Krunchie
Big Boys’ School
I was eight and a half years’ old when, in September 1951, I
started in Big Boys’ School, the senior-boys’ section of St Peter’s National
School, Phibsborough.
If you were a stranger visiting the Big Boys’ School, you
would have a hard time finding it. Yes, you would see the imposing Victorian,
yellow-and-red-brick building, but neither of the two visible entrances would
lead you to the Boys’ School ...
 |
| St Peter's School, Phibsborough |
One Tea Bag
One tea bag can furnish
Many cups of tea.
That they waste so many
Is a cause of concern to me ..
Lyons, Maura
One Boy and his Dog
“Honestly, dad, just have a look at him: he is a fine cut of
a dog – and has lovely brown eyes and a shiny brown coat.”
“Is that so?” Johnny said, his mouth turned down, his nerves
at breaking point; “Will you for God’s sake wake up, you bloody Idiot.”
“But, dad,” Thomas
said …
It’s Not All About Money
Maura tidied the shelves, her blue eyes sweeping about the
charity shop she volunteered to help in two afternoons a week. There was little left to do and less left to
sell.
It
was Christmas Eve, and after a hectic past few weeks in the shop, with its
cheery Christmas Tree in a corner, and garlands of holly and ivy decorating the
walls …
Myers, Patricia
A Touch of Magic
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual
persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
“Timmy; it’s seven thirty, time to get up for school.”
June Smyth sighed; she looked at her three year old daughter,
smiling up at her.
“OK, Amanda, I’ll get your breakfast. Timmy, come on; you
don't want to be late.”
“I'm coming; stop yelling!” …
O’Connor, Seán
Macker
It was three o’clock on a Friday afternoon that Jack called
me – at my office. That was the first thing that surprised me: where on earth
had he got my office number? The voice was the same.
“Hi ya, Tony! How are things with you?”
“Jeez Jack, long time no see. How has life been treating you?”
“Fine, Tony, Fine. Listen, I’ll be killed. Our class
re-union is tomorrow afternoon and you must be there …
Pol Gorm
Sitting here
on the edge of the world,
Watching the
gulls, listening to the sea;
On the bay a
schooner with sails unfurled;
Here I find
peace and serenity …
On Infinity in the World
I was
halfway up Sliabh-na-mBan and the sun was shining across the valley spread out
beneath me. And then it just struck me that I was here on the side of a
mountain while the rest of the world went about its business down below.
To me at the time, this was a rather
profound thought. It struck me also that I was here at a particular point of
time that never was before and never would be again, for we formulate our own
history, second by second, minute by minute, on to Eternity …
O’Doherty, Betty
Happy Days
Chapter 1
O how I wish to be young again!
Those were such happy days,
especially in the Summer time. I loved going to the bog with the dinners and
teas to my dad – and our good neighbours, who gathered together to save the
turf for the winter fires …
Oerlemans, Hendrik Jan
A Sea Captain
To Whom It May Concern, 11/04/2012.
It all began on the 14th of April 1942 in Arnhem,
Holland, and I had an average normal childhood until the 6th of May
1959, as the youngest son.
On that day
(6 May 1959) I went to my first ship as a deckhand, and stayed at sea and loved
it …
An Interview with Captain Henk
This is an account by a
student of Dublin Institute of Technology, on placement in Clareville Day
Centre, of an interview with Hendrik.
Henk grew up in The Netherlands
in a city called Arnhem. Arnhem is bigger than Amsterdam, with over 20,000 Irish
people living over there now …
Porter, Mary
Old Finglas
I was born in Finglas Village, at 1 Chapel Lane, in 1934. I
lived in a small cottage with my mother, father, and two older brothers. The
house was very small, with just two rooms and an outside toilet. My
grandparents lived next door to us, and there were only 5 little cottages in a
row.
My
mother was born in the house next door, and moved to a flat in Mayor Street
when she got married to my father …
Rickard, Maureen
A Dublin Life
I was born in 1926,
the third child in the family. I had one older brother and an older sister.
Then came a younger brother and sister. Here comes the sad era of my life.
Mother died in 1933, the day she gave birth to twins, who sadly died a couple
of months apart from each other.
I had to go
on a tram to tell the two grandmothers the awful news …
Take Your Time
Take your
time to be aware of your surroundings,
Before each
little thing you do,
Whether
eating or drinking or having fun,
Whatever the
task that needs to be done,
Just
take your time …
Rooney, Angela
Our Van
It was such a good friend and,
like all good friends, it would never let you down. But today is a very sad
day; I am sorry to say, our van has been stolen, the same van that has taken us
around the country on so many lovely holidays …
Rooney, George
A Girl Called Susan
Susan was a very pretty, 22 year old, girl who was the
daughter of Margaret and John Boyle, and lived in a small town in the west of
Ireland …
I Got Sacked for Being Santa Claus
My name: Rasher Byrne
Age: 65 years
Retired
You might well ask where the
name “Rasher” came from. Well, I live in a small basement flat just off
O’Connell Street …
Shaw, Ethel Walker
Mattie and Sammy, the Jack Russell
Story 1
Mattie Lane became homeless when he could no longer pay the
rent for his single-bedroom flat.
Each night, he bedded down at about 11.30 in a doorway in
Anglesea Street, off Dame Street, and he was lucky that a kind person would
sometimes give him a breakfast roll …
The Narrow Door
I wandered
down strange pathways to Perdition.
I stole a
backward glance at those behind.
My mother
stretched her arms in sad beseeching,
As I
travelled down those dark and eerie ways …
The Fate of Fred, the Bantam
When Tim McCarthy and
Katie O'Brien became engaged, they decided that when they got married, they
would keep hens. They had both lived all their lives in the country, so, when
they came to live in a Dublin suburb, they were delighted to find that, not only
was there a large back garden, but, beyond it was a vast expanse of lovely
green fields, in which cattle grazed …
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