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Irish Life & Lore - Voices from the Archive
Memories of Farming Life in Ireland 1950s - 1960s
Over many years Maurice O'Keeffe of Irish Life and Lore has travelled the roads of Ireland meeting and compiling oral history recordings with members of the farming community for our organisation Irish Life and Lore. The changes witnessed on Irish farms during the 1950s and 1960s are recalled and discussed in these recordings.
During these years the farming women worked just as hard as did the men, working in the dairy, milking the cows and churning the butter, among other tasks. Nothing was wasted by these industrious women and recycling was the norm.
Meal bags were recycled as covers for feather mattresses and the bags were also cut open and two sewn together in the middle to make sheets; chickens, geese and turkeys were reared and plucked; reeds were gathered and dried for basket weaving; straw rope was fashioned for Sugan chair seats; patchwork quilts were sewn using cut-off scraps of cloth; bacon and mackerel were salted; chaff was separated wheat; meals were cooked and water boiled for clothes-washing over the open fire and water was drawn from the well.
All of this industry, and much more, is recalled in this podcast which features the voices of some of the hard-working women of Ireland of former days.
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Ronnie Delaney - Olympic Gold Medallist 1956
37:03|An Irish Olympic champion for the ages, Ronnie Delaney won Gold in the 1500m at the Summer Olympics in Melbourne in 1956. He was recorded for Irish Life and Lore in 2019 at the RDS in Dublin. This podcast features details of his young life, leading up to that memorable gold medal win.Muriel MCcCarthy (1931- 2021) Keeper of Ancient Books at Marsh's Library, Dublin
32:29|Muriel McCarthy was indeed an institution at Marsh's Library, having worked there for 44 years. She was responsible for the upkeep and survival of a national treasure. Muriel was recorded at the Library in 2012.Irish Life and Lore - Migration from Kerry to the Midlands with Vincent Garvey
31:39|Vincent tells a fascinating story about his father, his naval experiences during WWI, and being unable to settle after returning to his farm in Kerry. His subsequent migration to Meath, leaving his family behind, is discussed in detail.Desmond Guinness (1931-2020) Co-founder of the Irish Georgian Society
33:58|A descendant of the Guinness brewing family, Desmond Guinness was a conservationist who achieved much in helping to save some of our fine Irish Georgian buildings from falling into ruin. His legacy is extraordinary.Landlords and Tenants in Ireland in Victorian Times - Borris, County Carlow
37:27|This podcast features sound clips of an oral history recoding we compiled with Andrew Kavanagh, a descendant of the ancient Irish McMorrough Kavanagh family who retained possession of their lands at Borris, Co. Carlow since the 16th century. The podcast also includes the voice of Pat Murphy, who farmed the land as did his people before him, near the Borris Estate.Mons. Hugh O'Flaherty - The Irish Priest in the Vatican who saved the lives of thousands of Jews during WWII
24:51|Using sound clips from the Irish Life and Lore Archive, in this podcast, Kerryman Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty and his extraordinary and dangerous work is recalled by Sr. Noreen Dennehy who speaks for the first time about her experiences of working with him in helping to shelter Jews from the Nazis in Rome during WW11.Monsignor O'Flaherty's nephew, also named Hugh O'Flaherty, is also included in this podcast.Dr. James Sheehan, Orthopaedic Surgeon and Co-founder of the Blackrock and Galway Clinics
35:39|In a gripping recording compiled at his Dublin home, Dr. James Sheehan recalls and describes exciting in medicine in the 1960s and 70s in Ireland. He grew up in Kerry and in adulthood he became fascinated with bioengineering artificial joint improvement.Working in the U.K.under Sir John Charnley, recognised as the founder of modern hip replacement, in the U.K., he brought back to Dublin his expertise which he put to excellent use in Ireland.John Bellingham of Glencara and the Hill of Howth
35:50|John Bellingham was a remarkable man. He lived at Glencara, Mullingar and in a 19th century cottage on the Hill of Howth, Co. Dublin. This podcast includes excerpts of recordings compiled in both locations. John was a wonderful conversationalist and his recent passing marked the end of an era among the Irish Landed Gentry.Madoline O'Connell Recalls Cork's Old Elite
32:28|Madoline O Connell has some brilliant stories to recall about the social history of old Cork’s elite society. She relives those years when the City was alive with the preforming Arts and other activities.