Mullen Family Memoirs by Flixx Graphics

Frankie

Carmel

Geraldine

Tommy

John

Patricia Tommy & Rose

Maureen

Jimmy

Mullen Family Memoirs

Maureenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Story In this book I will endeavour to put together memories of our childhood for future generations to enjoy and I have asked my siblings to contribute.

Tommy Mullenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Paternal Family Tree

Contents MAUREEN’S STORY..............................................................................................................1 Ternascobe 1945-1950.....................................................................................................4 Maureen........................................................................................................................7 Patricia...........................................................................................................................8 Geraldine.......................................................................................................................9 Ballinahone....................................................................................................................10 Frankie.........................................................................................................................12 Longstone House 1955-1962.....................................................................................20 Carmel.........................................................................................................................24 Tommy.........................................................................................................................25 John .........................................................................................................................25 Jimmy .........................................................................................................................26 Hillhead Holidays......................................................................................................34 Patricia’s Story.............................................................................................................36 Maureen continues....................................................................................................39 Aunty Phil.........................................................................................................................40 Cranfield Holidays....................................................................................................44 Holy Communion & Confirmation..................................................................48 Maureen......................................................................................................................50 Patricia.........................................................................................................................51 Geraldine.....................................................................................................................52 Frankie.........................................................................................................................53 Carmel.........................................................................................................................54 Tommy.........................................................................................................................55 John & Jimmy.............................................................................................................56 After Communion & Convent Processions............................................................57 School Days From Longstone.............................................................................58 Toro Desart Lane 1962 - 1964...................................................................................64 Tommy’s Story.............................................................................................................66 Maureen continues....................................................................................................66 Geraldine The Red Haired Sister..............................................................................67 Summer & Part-Time Jobs........................................................................................69 Final School ...............................................................................................................71 Teenagers & The 60S..................................................................................................74 Weddings from Toro.................................................................................................84 Tommy’s Story.............................................................................................................91 Daddy and his driving. .............................................................................................93 Carmel’s Story.............................................................................................................96 Frankie’s Story.............................................................................................................98 John’s Story................................................................................................................101 Jimmy’s Story.............................................................................................................103

Ternascobe 1945-1950

(1) Daddy & Mummy, (2) Rose McArdle 1944, (3) Tommy Mullen, (4) Daddy 1946, (5)Tommy Mullen, St. Lukes Social Club Meeting, (6) Mummy 1946

ur parent’s first home, after they were married on 12th June 1945, was a small white washed one storey house with a large garden. It was in Ternascobe on the main Portadown Road, on the outskirts of Armagh City. The first of four children to be born here, was a baby boy on 28th April 1946 named after his Paternal grandfather, ARTHUR and his Maternal grandfather Paul. Sadly for our parents he only lived for 11days. This was a trying time for our parents as Daddy’s mother was dying in Derrynoose, Keady, and with poor transport, he was spending what time he had between Mummy, his Mother and work in St. Luke’s Hospital Armagh where he was a nurse. His mother died the day before Arthur was born. Years later I asked Mummy what he looked like and she gave me the impression he resembled Geraldine in looks with the red colouring of hair and fair skin. His death was due to hydrocephalus. Aunty Phil was his Godmother and Daddy’s only brother Frankie the Godfather.

Aunty Phil, Family Friend, Mummy & Daddy, Auntie Susan, Uncle Frankie

Wedding Photo 1945

Maureen The following year MAUREEN was born on my Grandmotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1st. Anniversary, 27th April 1947. Named Catherine for my paternal grandmother and Mary for my maternal grandmother.As Mummy fancied the name Maureen and, as they did not in their wisdom register this pet name forever, I have had grief from a legal documentation point of view. My Godmother was a friend of Aunty Philâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mary Lamph. She did not keep in contact with me and I only remember meeting her once as a child.

5 2

(1) Mummy & Maureen, (2) Aunty Phil, Cousin Kathleen Crummie, Maureen (3) Mummy & Maureen (4) Daddy & Maureen, (5) Daddy taking a break, (6) Maureen at play 1949.

Patricia Patricia was born 2yrs. later on 17th. March 1949. Named for St. Patrick and Philomena for Mummy’s remaining sibling Aunty Phil and Anne for Daddy’s oldest sister. Her Godmother was a lady called Nellie, a friend of Mummy’s.

(1) Maureen & Patricia 1950, (2) Maureen, (3) Patricia 1951 (4) Patricia & Maureen 1951.

At this point I would like to tell you a tale Mummy related and Aunty Phil later verified for me. Once I was given an Easter basket and a few days later I disappeared from the garden and set off to Armagh to shop, aged 3yrs. They found me later safe and unhurt as I had crossed the main Portadown Road and walked a considerable distance on my own. Another time living there I locked Patricia in Daddy’s greenhouse where she ate all the young tomatoes. 8

Geraldine The following year on 16th March 1950 Geraldine was born, named Geraldine for St. Gerald and Susan for Daddyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sister. Daddyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s older sister, Aunty Annie was her Godmother. In those days it was not always possible to have two Godparents as babies were baptised the next day or as soon as possible. All of the above children were Home Births.

2 (1) Patricia, Geraldine & Maureen 1952, (2) Maureen, Geraldine & Patricia 1950.

Ballinahone 1950-1955

s for my first memory, it is very scant. We were moving to a new home and I recall someone lifting me up into the cab of a red lorry. This new home was off the Hamilton’s Bawn Road, approx. 4 miles outside Armagh City in a place called Ballinahone Mor. This was a larger one storey house with more rooms for their growing family. As fields came with this property Daddy was able to have cattle, more fowl, ducks and geese. There was a large orchard where our parents could grow and cultivate lots of different fruit. I can remember Mummy making jams and jellies and helping to pick the ripe fruit. We helped to top and tail gooseberries, black and red currants, snuff the strawberries gather damsons, apples and pears. Daddy was a keen grower of vegetables and potatoes. They both enjoyed growing flowers and the back garden was a riot of colour in summer. There were outhouses, and barns and I can remember playing doll’s house in them when the animals were out in the fields. In the front meadow I recall giving Patricia a new hair style by cutting her hair and according to Mummy, “The child had to wear a cap the rare time she had to go to town.” Now I have never been known to be handy with a pair of scissors blunt or otherwise. Patricia, I must say, was a most willing subject. It was in this home where I was given my first sense of responsibility when our baby brother arrived.

Patricia with her new hair cut!

Frankie Frankie was born on the 23rd June 1951, again a home birth, named after Daddyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only brother Frankie, Martin and Joseph for the Saints. Our neighbour and long time friend of Mummyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lucy Mc Donald was his Godmother. Mummy gave him to me as my baby boy to look after. I took this to heart so much so that a few years later when they fell out I stepped in between them. This act was not for the faint hearted as Mummy, in corrective mode, was a formidable character.

3 (1) Patricia, Frankie, Maureen & Geraldine, (2) Patricia, Frankie & Maureen, (3) Frankie

As I grew older and started school my awareness of nature formed and if I had been an artist in later life the beautiful wild flowers growing all around would have been my subject for still life in their all season settings. Even the rushes in the meadow were picturesque. The bare trees, shrubs and hedges laden with snow and frost in winter made our home to me very scenic and beautiful. However other Winter signs in the snow made me very aware of rodents and, coupled with my Motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fear, I developed a phobia which I still have. Apart from our domestic animals we saw lots of wild animals i.e. hares, rabbits, foxes although the latter were not welcome visitors. On starry nights we could hear the owls and a few times we saw a badger. The sounds of bees and birds were thrilling to listen to, however Patricia was very scared of the bees maybe she was stung by one. A memory that will always stay with Patricia and me was the sunny afternoon Geraldine disappeared. There was absolute panic and I felt responsible, as looking after my younger siblings was my duty. Aunty Phil was visiting and after a search of all the likely places she got on her bike and rode off into Armagh stopping at the neighbouring farm for help. As there was a bottomless well in the orchard used for drawing water for household and farm usage, the adults were terrified she had somehow moved the heavy lid or it had not been replaced properly and she had drowned.They were in the act of contacting the fire brigade when another neighbour coming in the opposite direction saw her in a gate way and took her back home. It transpired a lorry was approaching up the road in her direction and she stopped in the gateway out of sight of the searchers. The relief of finding her safe was enormous and the well was given a new child proof cover. I was around 6 years and Geraldine 3 years of age. I started school at the age of 5 years and the neighbouring girl Eileen McDonald took me there. I have pleasant memories in those first years as I viewed school as a means of socialising with my peers. The teachers in the Convent run school to my mind treated me fairly and I enjoyed the learning of new subjects and the disciplined regime gave me no cause for concern.To my credit I was not slapped as my teachers had other means of correction. However the long walk to and from The Sacred Heart School was something else and Patricia had to start school early to keep me company as Eileen had moved into Armagh. We had a cooked breakfast very early, as we had a long walk in front of us, a packed lunch and we were given milk in school. I hated this milk in Winter for the teachers in their kindness warmed it up and a skin formed so thick I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t swallow so I soon learned who the girls were that liked

Patricia, Eileen McDonald, Patricia 1952.

this milk and sat beside them in order to exchange empty milk bottles unobserved by the milk monitors. Coming home in winter or on a wet day was a most pleasant memory for Mummy would have our changing clothes warming and a hot meal waiting on our return. We ate in the warm kitchen and the aromas from the cooking food still linger in my memory. Our mother was a great cook and it was around this time I became aware of just how good a dressmaker she was. I arrived home from school and announced that Rev. Mother was having a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wishingâ&#x20AC;? the next day. In those days we wore no uniform so we had to appear in our Sunday best. Mummy put me in charge of the family while she cycled to town before the shops closed for material to make me a dress.That night she sat up to hand- sew a dress for me and the next morning I was given a beautiful dress with lovely smocking stitches on the bodice. She worked on all our sweaters and cardigans and socks for Daddy when we were tucked up in bed and Daddy was on night duty. Years later in retirement we were delighted to be given oil paintings and embroidery pictures for our homes.Yes one could say Mummy was a very talented lady.

Embroidery (Mummy’s Embroidery which hangs in Maureen’s home with her oil paintings 1991.

It was here living in Ballinahone when I grasped the seriousness of sickness. Our little sister was ill and I remember a new G.P. to the practice visited often to administer medicine and advice to Mummy on how to nurse Geraldine. I can visualise a tent-like contraption over her cot which was up in the kitchen in the moist air. She was suffering from bronchitis. Mummy maintained the Lady Doctor saved Geraldine’s life. Daddy had a younger sister Aunty Lena who lived in England and when home on holidays visited us. This was a great occasion as we did not have many visitors. We dressed in our best clothes and were on our best behaviour throughout the visit. She was a lovely well-dressed lady and full of merriment. We all in turn vied for her attention but she was fair minded and displayed no signs of favouritism. There was always a camera thanks to Aunty Phil who had a passion for photography and we would line up for snaps.

1 (1) Patricia, Maureen, Frankie & Geraldine 1953. (2) Frankie 1955

Aunty Phil spent a lot of her off duty spells with us and she was more of a big sister than an Aunt. She was quite well off and spent a lot of money on us. I remember coming up to Christmas one year when she took us into town to sound out what we might like for presents. We knew they were from her and not anyone else. In the morning I was given a beautiful large doll and pram, Patricia a three wheel trike, Geraldine a smaller trike and Frankie was given a Pony express wheel toy. In spite of the generosity of these gifts I behaved very badly because I was jealous. I wanted a trike which was fun to play with while the doll was like another child for me to look after. My sisters didn’t even know how to ride them. I think I spent the whole day in a sulk. The upshot of all this was Aunty Phil didn’t buy individual presents and thereafter we were given clothes and school requirements. Our neighbours were farmers and business people and of a different religion from us. They were very kind and many a Sunday, especially in poor weather, would give us a lift to and from Mass. Their Church Service was around the same time as ours. We were taught to have respect and good manners and, of course, I reported verbatim all that I saw and heard on our journeys. Sometimes these reports got us into hot water as Mummy was aware of childish ways and we would require correction in the areas of discretion and manners while in the company of adults. Sometimes we would walk home from school together and, apart from the fact we went to an all girls school and they had a mixed school, we all learned the same subjects. The boy Albert hated school and couldn’t wait to start farming. Some summer afternoons they would take us on a trip to Cranfield and on the 12th July to Armagh to see the Orange Bands returning from the Field. We enjoyed these occasions; after all we were only very young children.

1 (1) Patricia, Frankie, Maureen & Geraldine, 1954 (2) Patricia, Frankie & Maureen 1954

Two other little cameos from life as a 7 year old. The first making my 1st Holy Communion. Mummy made my dress and two pretty ones for Patricia and Geraldine, the former in pink and the latter in blue. Frankie had a lovely outfit of blue and cream. Mummy had a beautiful gold brooch of a horse and carraige on her dress. The medal I wore was given to all my siblings on their first holy communion and my children have wore it on theirs. After the Mass I went to the convent for Breakfast with Mummy and then home to collect the others for town, where our parents had arranged to have photographs in Allisonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Studio. On the way out Frankie ran into the swinging glass doors that I had just gone through and split his lip. Daddy was able to sort him out but he was unable to smile later for the photographer. We were all looking so well in those photographs.

Patricia, Daddy & Frankie, Mummy & Geraldine, Maureen 1954.

The second was the day Mummy discovered in winter that Geraldine and I were eating the meal for the cattle which was laced with treacle and tasted very sweet. She went wild with annoyance because she was aware that rodents could have been in the bins before us. I’m sure she was worried for our welfare over the next few days. The last summer we spent in that home Mummy had a Summer School for us. In many ways this was pre-school for Geraldine and refresher for Patricia and me. If I close my eyes I can picture the blackboard propped up in the back garden surrounded with flowers. I remember not being able to concentrate with the sounds of nature all around and the sun shining brightly. Mummy found out I was not on the same reading book as Eileen McDonald had the previous year. So at the start of the new term she went to school. My teacher reassured her I was in the top reading grade. I didn’t dislike this summer school as we were outside enjoying Mummy’s company especially when she played games with us.

Maureen at the Gate into the Meadow

Longstone House 1955-1962.

n the year 1955 we are on the move again to a new home and this time I have vivid memories, as I was 8 yrs. of age. This time we were in a taxi and I was in charge of a black pot of stew which would be our first meal in our new home. The excitement in the car was palpable for, in the first instance, car journeys were rare and, in the second, I had them agog with the thought of a flight of stairs. Now in school the stairs were out of bounds to the juniors and I fancied running up and down unhindered. We came down a winding lane over a hump back bridge and under a big railway bridge and approached the two iron gates that were opened already and the largest beech tree I ever saw was in full view.

To the left was a meandering river with two bridges, a small one under the Newry railway line and a bigger one under the Belfast railway line continuing on to St. Lukeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.We curved on up the drive which should have been tree lined but all that remained were tree stumps.The drive was quite steep leading up to the house and, just on the turn down the field, was a gate leading to the Belfast railway line and across this line a small door in a grey stone boundary wall. This was to be a very significant entrance as our parents and Aunty Phil would use it for going in and out to work in St. Lukeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital. The house was huge and no wonder it was named Longstone House. Daddy had bought it from his sister and her husband Annie and James Crummie. We climbed out of the car, walked through a small green gate and up a flight of steps to an enormous green front door. Through the door there was a terrazzo floored porch with a glass door leading into a long hall with doors left and right to dining and sitting rooms and stairs leading up to bedrooms with fireplaces enough to accommodate all the family and Aunty Phil. Downstairs, at the back of the stairs, there was a corridor with doors to a phone booth with a black working telephone, another to the dining room and to the bathroom with a full suite, running water and a shower. Can you imagine the excitement when we had our first bath and our hair washed under the shower with running water and a toilet that flushed by pulling a chain? Of course Patricia and I were sophisticated, after all we did go to a modern school with toilet facilities. The last doors led to a large tiled floor kitchen and a Range cooker that had Mummy in raptures of joy. Our Aunty was waiting to welcome us and wish good luck to our parents. Leading through the scullery and out to the back yard which was enclosed with outbuildings, a big farm gate paved the way to fields and one field had a large standing stone from the Druid Age. What a surprise! There was also a very big orchard and vegetable garden. Daddy now had the opportunity to branch out into deep-litter hens, pigs, more cattle ducks and a cow for household milk. Once again he excelled with his fruit and vegetables and his proud moment was when his crops were the first to ripen and be harvested. Mind you I was not happy when he took Patricia and Geraldine to help him and left me with household chores. Though I did not mind helping Mummy I felt left out and my knowledge of gardening was not up to the standard of my siblings.

5 (1) Cathedral View (2) Big Tree, (3) The Short Cut, (4) The Long Stone, (5) The Newry Railway Bridge

Carmel Carmel Theresa was the first born in our new home on the 30th May 1955 but it was not a home birth as Mummy was taken ill and went into a maternity hospital in Portadown with blood pressure problems.This was my time to shine as a good replacement but as I was only eight years old, older people were in control. Granny came to the rescue and Aunty Phil when she was off duty. It was around this time when we were instructed to call her Phil. We so enjoyed her visits to childmind us as she was not such a disciplinarian as Granny and good fun. When Mummy arrived home with a beautiful baby again she put me in charge of looking after her in my childish way. She was named after Our Lady Of Mount Carmel and St. Theresa. Her Godmother was our cousin, Kathleen Crummie. Carmel was a beautiful toddler with dark ringlets and Frankie was very protective of her.

The next year Mummy had a miscarraige and I being always very aware of any changes in the normal household regime went to look for her and found Nurse Mc Neill the midwife attending to her. I demanded to know what was happening. Mummy explained how her baby became very ill in the womb and died and went back to heaven to wait for us all.I was satisfied with this explanation and continued with my chores for the day.

(1) Carmel, (2) Patricia, Carmel & Maureen, (3) Carmel & Frankie, (4) Mummy 1964.

Tommy Tommy was the next to be born and while Mummy had blood pressure problems she was able, with nursing care, to stay at home for a home birth and I was on good terms with the Mid-wife Nurse Mc Neill. He was born on the 22ndAugust 1957 another lovely baby brother to care for. He was named for Daddy and Joseph for the saint. His Godmother was our oldest cousin, Maura Crummie. He was born in the late afternoon and when Nurse invited us to come and meet him we asked if it would be O.K. to visit after Champion the Wonder Horse was over on TV. You see in those days there was no means of recording a television programme and this was our favourite. He was a good baby who loved to be cuddled and funny as he grew up. Also he was left handed and I made a study of him with regard to dexterity when he was using his hand in an exercise.

John

Tommy, Geraldine & John 1961.

John was born on 19th August 1960, another home birth. He was named after Mummyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only brother John, who sadly died at the age of 10 months and Malachy for the local Priest Fr. Coyle. He was a very black haired baby with lovely dimples. As a toddler he was a nightmare to look after. He wanted to run before he could walk. John loved eating butter with his fingers and was able to prise the cupboard door open by reaching over the top of his walker.

Jimmy The last child to be born in Longstone was James Gerald (Jimmy) on 24th April 1962. Mummy was ill weeks before his birth and was back in the maternity hospital. I was 15 years of age and well able to organise our home and travel to the hospital on public transport to visit Mummy. She almost died after the birth and I was really very frightened and prayed in earnest for her to return to good health.The baby was not in great health, though not critical. Eventually they both came home and I was given the honour of being Jimmyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Godmother and Daddyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s friend Jim Loughran, after whom he was named was his Godfather.

Jimmy

When Mummy was in hospital we all had our chores and Phil and Granny helped out when Daddy was on duty or visiting Mummy. I wrote to her and gave a report on how we were all helping and years later she gave me back the letter. Baking bread was one chore I was not good at and Daddy encouraged me to keep trying and the hens ate the bad stuff. Hand washing was a difficult task as my hands were not strong enough to ring out the water from the heavy woollen clothes but the wind came to my rescue as they dried on the clothesline. One task I was good at was doing the groceries and carrying the heavy shopping home.

Living and growing up in Longstone I was very happy and we had lots of fun. Sure there were times that were unpleasant and tempers were raised but none that left me scarred for life. A memory which comes to mind was the Halloween Frankie and I fell out. I pushed him through the French doors in the dining room while we were waiting for Daddy to finish his shift of duty and come home to light our fireworks. We were rather frustrated as the families who lived in the estate across from us had theirs lit hours before. One summer while fishing in the river, boys from the estate had catapults and one splintered the jam jar Patricia was holding in her hand and the glass hit her between the eyes. She was very lucky not to lose an eye and was only left with a scar between the eyes. Another memory was seeing something white and heavy floating down the swollen river from heavy rain. I thought it was one of the cattle. I ran from the window to tell Daddy. My Parents told me to close the curtains and keep the children from the windows and stay in the back of the house. Later they explained to me that a patient who was mentally ill had taken her life. They were very good at reassuring me for I have no memory of a post - traumatic episode. Around this time I was rather fond of writing plays and they were tailored round my brothers and sisters who were bored in the long summer months. I even used the farm animals for props and characters when necessary. Our parents were the audience. Mummy was a great support helping with costume outfits. Out in the orchard we spent all summer looking for four leaf clover so we could model ourselves on Enid Blyton and her Famous Five. Of course we were lucky to have in our back fields a Long Stone standing since Druid times and it gave food for thought for my active imagination of fairies, pixies, druids and leprechauns. We girls adopted new names for ourselves. Mine was Catherine High-Honour, Patricia was Dina a girl in school and Geraldine was Susan her second name. So our school holidays were full of adventure and lots of fun. Physical exercise played a big part in our recreation, though we did not see it like that. We could play hide and seek for hours hiding in the farmyard and fields. Running races in the fields and obstacle races in the yard were great fun when the fields were out of bounds. We were very fond of playing circus acts and used any of the farm equipment that came to hand as apparatus. On the left of our land ran the disused Newry train line and to the right the Belfast train line. I do remember trains running on this line and how we loved to stand on the highest rung of the gate and 28

becoming dizzy as we counted the goods train coaches swishing past. We were so like the Railway children in the TV. Drama and so disappointed as we had no one to rescue. Continuing on this theme of exercise I took my siblings on a walk on the disused Newry train line which I had done in the past but this time I felt we needed to go much further. In my mind I thought the two railways joined up and we could come home on the Belfast line. Now most of you know I do not have a built-in compass. So on we walked for a very long time and as the light was starting to wane I felt very, very concerned and said a prayer to my Guardian Angel. I felt confident of walking further on and eventually we came to a lane and climbing up the banks onto the disused track of the Belfast Line towards Armagh I hoped and prayed that we would get home safely. By now we were all very tired and how we managed to pull poor Carmel along who was only a toddler I have no idea. It only goes to show her stamina was powerful. Eventually we arrived home safe and well to the sheer delight of our mother who was out of her mind with worry. She had no way of following us or getting help so once again the power of Prayer came to our rescue. There was no punishment handed out that evening and I will encourage all to pray to their Guardian Angels when in trouble. Once more on the Newry train line Frankie thought it would be fun to do a circus act on the bridge which had a drop of ten feet. He made it to the

Newby Railway Bridge leading to the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Glenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

other end without mishap but to this day I can’t go near a precipice or a height with no railings. We owned fields under the bridge and out of sight from the house. Many an hour was spent playing houses for the girls and cowboys for the boys using the cattle as targets and the undergrowth as cover. We had the makings of a hide-out which Daddy was questioned about because someone thought that it was being used as a base by unsavoury people. This special place was known as “ The Glen.” I would like to tell you of a strange encounter. The rule when staying late in school for plays and concerts was, when we reached the top of the estate where there was a public phone box, to ring home and Mummy would walk down the field to meet me. It was very dark in the lane, under the railway bridge, on towards the hump back water bridge, around the bend, and into the mouth of the lane. This night I felt it was not fair to disturb Mummy who would be sitting down after another busy day and due to a full moon I felt there would be sufficient light to see my way. So feeling bold I walked fast and soundless into the bend and on towards the hump back bridge where two males were standing smoking. I never faltered in my step or looked back as I turned into the railway bridge and sprinted like a gazelle into our field and up home to safety. I never did find out what those men were about but it must have given them a shock seeing a young girl on her own at night soundless as a panther and swift as a deer. Running was a sport I got medals for on sport days. One of my favourite memories was, after a spell of sickness being allowed to go to Mass in the little Church just inside the grey stone boundary wall of St. Luke’s Hospital. The patients would also be there. At other times we attended family days and parties for staff. Here we had an opportunity to mingle with patients. Occasionally I went to the wards were my parents worked and got talking to the patients and it was in this setting I found my vocation in psychiatric nursing. A few years later I would follow my parents, Aunty Phil and Daddy’s sisters into this occupation. Our father had part time occupations: farming, gardening, furniture maker (he made my cot and baby chair) and builder. The out-houses and barns would require repairs and painting as also did our home. He spent his off duty and holidays fencing, cutting weeds, trimming and brairding hedges as well as white-washing the farm buildings. On top of all this he was a first class gardener with flowers, vegetables and fruit. He was very proud when his peas, beans and potatoes were the first to be harvested before neighbours and friends. Mummy, apart from childcare duties and 30

household chores, helped with the outside work tending to the animal welfare. She took charge of the sale of eggs to the Co-op. We children were able to help, though I was not great with the pigs. I loved the day old chicks and helping to settle them in their new environment under the Infra-Ray lamps listening to the sound of them cheeping. Kittens, ducklings and calves were adorable and fun to watch. Now a memory springs to mind. Daddy had taken ill and was in bed and Mummy had gone back to Nursing in St. Luke’s and as it came to milking time Frankie and I thought it would be helpful if we milked Daisy the pet cow. We prepared for the task as we had observed our parents on numerous occasions doing but when I sat down on the stool Daisy was fidgeting and swishing her tail and I lost confidence and poor Daddy had to rise up and milk. Another time when both parents were on duty or sick I decided to kill the old broiler hen for dinner. Again this was a task we had seen performed on many a weekend so I proceeded. I wrung her neck and hung her upside down by the legs for the number of hours required and then it was time to pluck the feathers off using boiling water. After taking the hen down and putting her into the bucket fetched the boiling water and began to throw it over her feathers. The hen flew up and out of the bucket and escaped into the yard. I was in shock! From that day I never attempted to procure food by that means. Of course the hen had only ever been stunned as I was only 13yrs. Once, after a sow had a litter of piglets, Daddy gave me the “runt” of the litter to look after which I did. I called him Misery for it was so puny and delicate. I hated collecting the eggs from the clocking hens in the deep-litter as they would wickedly peck at your hand but when Tommy was old enough he took over this chore. Feeding the orphan calf meant it had to suck the milk in the bucket through my fingers and the feel of his mouth and tongue took a bit of getting use to. At the age of 15yrs. I knew I would never be a farmer’s wife. The animal welfare and muck were just too much for me! The final nail in the farming coffin was the morning the cattle lorry broke down and Daddy had to walk his cattle to the market which we passed on our way to school. He required extra hands and we were all roped in to help. Oh the sheer embarrassment I cannot describe. The fear of meeting up with school friends. I am sure they would have laughed at me. A few years later a boy fancied me and he thought he would impress me by showing up in the family tractor and to chat me up. No chance! I made off for home as fast as I could walk. No, I am not a snob I just can’t stand muck, dirt, fowl smells and animal welfare no matter how wealthy the farmer. 31

Our lives were taken in a new direction when Mummy returned to nursing. This decision was not taken lightly and we the older children were asked for our opinion. Sure we had no objection as the incentive of pocket money, school trips and style were important to us. So we were fine with the extra chores and responsibility. Mummy and Daddy worked very hard to provide for us. I do remember friends of theirs visiting and the food Mummy prepared was out of this world. We got the left overs for school lunches. Daddy was a good card player and Mummy a great singer. In her youth she sang in the local parochial halls and at functions was called on to sing. I loved to hear her singing as she did the weekly hand-wash and ironing. Occasionally she went to the pictures with Phil who was an avid picture goer. Daddy and Mummy went now and again to the hospital social dances. They were both good dancers and that was the extent of their social life.

2 (1) Daddy & Mummy 1970, (2) Daddy & Mummy.

I must relate an incident which I am not very proud of. I was responsible for putting Patricia into a state of mental anguish. Once again I was put in charge of the family at home because Mummy and Daddyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shifts overlapped and Phil was unable to cover for them. This arrangement only happened rarely as our parents strived to work opposite rotas. Patricia and I had a disagreement over what I have no memory but I encouraged Geraldine and Frankie to support me. We ganged up on her to such a degree she took the only option open to her and gave a performance that would have been in the running for an Oscar, screaming, trying to climb the walls and wailing. We were so shocked and tried every inducement we could think of but to no avail.We could not get her to snap out of this turn and as Mummy was due home soon, panic set in.There was only one thing left to do and that was to pray for help. The three of us got down on our knees and offered a prayer and to say how sorry we were and Patricia returned to us like her former self to our relief. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not sure if it was the power of prayer or the fact that Patricia saw our genuine distress and felt sorry for us which resulted in her quick recovery. Normality was reinstated just in time before Mummy came home and fair play to Patricia she never told on us. I confessed to Mummy years later but she put the blame on herself for not having an adult with us. I was the oldest and should have known better on how to behave. Christmas was a special time for me in Longstone as I was involved in all aspects of the festive time, present shopping, baking, and decorating the tree which both parents enjoyed as well as carol singing.The best time was Christmas Eve going to Midnight Mass in the snow walking wrapped up in my new coat, hat, scarf, gloves and boots. I remember watching the stars and the moon on our way to the Cathedral and returning home again to the smells of turkey cooking and Mummy having a hot supper ready for us. I can still conjure up the excitement when Christmas comes around each year.

Hillhead Holidays

ur holidays in Granny’s were in the Hill-Head, a farm house in Clady near Markethill, a bus ride from Armagh. The house was at the end of a long winding lane and surrounded on three sides with fir trees which can been seen from the bus stop miles away. From my point of view these holidays were fine while Aunty Phil was with me but as we grew older and we went up to Granny’s on our own they were boring. Granny did not want any chores done so time went slowly. The shop was a long way off, so rather than take us walking at a child’s pace she would put us in an outhouse with paper, pens and colouring pencils to amuse us until she returned.We were not allowed to leave the barn and as this was the last house in the lane no neighbours were likely to venture up. Granny always brought back sweets and goodies on these trips. Patricia loved these holidays and I can’t remember what Geraldine thought but Frankie hated sleeping in the house and attempted to escape through the small upstairs window. He was taken home the next day and I don’t think he ever stayed overnight again. When we were older Granny took us to “The Milltown” for shopping, and as we were great walkers, we returned not tired out. We helped her to fetch water from the neighbour’s well but she never stayed to gossip. They seemed friendly enough but Granny kept her distance.

5 (1) Maureen, (2) Granny & Maureen, (3) Grandad & Maureen, (4) Maureen & Granny, (5) Aunty Phil & Maureen

Patricia’s Story. The loud chime of Big Ben and the rich, deep voice of the newsreader, “News from the B.B.C.” echoes through the house. Jump out of bed, bend low to look through the small pane of glass in the window onto the Hill Head and take in the scene. Soft rolling green hills of Clady touch a pale blue sky dappled with white cotton wool clouds. Downstairs the kitchen is dim, the sun is not high enough in the sky to cast it’s rays through the open door and windows. At the table I pour milk onto the porridge Granny Mc Ardle has put into my blue and white bowl. As I eat I watch Granda scrape out the spent tobacco from his pipe, with his penknife cut strips of fresh tobacco from his Walnut plug, rub the strips into flakes in the palm of his hand and carefully pack them into the bowl of the pipe. He lights the pipe, inhales, enjoying the taste, puffing out clouds of familiar smelling smoke. A silver cover is placed on the bowl. From the table he lifts the silver tin, lunchbox with the battered green lid plus Thermos flask, thrusts them into his bag and swings it over his shoulder. From the door we watch him bob and swivel down the lane to work on his bike. Lots to do, dishes are washed, fire in the black shinny range stoked, cow milked, chickens fed, eggs collected and Ned the donkey given some greens for today is churning day. Two large crocks of milk are poured into a churn, a tool resembling a giant round wooden potato masher goes in the churn. A wooden lid threaded over it’s handle seals the churn. Granny soon establishes a rhythm and you hear the swish, swish as the milk hits the sides of the churn. After what seems forever the sound changes to slosh, slosh. Granny lifts the lid. Floating on the top of the milk are bright yellow blobs of butter.With care they are strained into a bowl and covered. Now we have to be quick to get fresh spring water, down the lane, across Mc Nally’s yard and over the field to the well. On the way back no time to talk, just to wave to the Mc Nallys. Back in the house Granny stirs a generous handful of salt into the butter, dips wooden butter paddles in the cold spring water, divides and pats the butter into shape. Lunch is fresh soda farls, this butter and homemade jam Mummy had sent to Granny. Afternoon is spent playing outside with a firm warning not to stray, go near animals or flax holes. I had a dread of these, whether I was told or 36

imagined. You would be sucked in under that green slime and drown or maybe it was the thought of Charles Dickens’s Lucy been sucked into the quick sand on Great Yarmouth beach, I’m not sure. Searching through Granny’s button box was a treat; she had a story for each button in that box. Tea was made, potatoes we dug up earlier were cooked. I enjoyed them with vegetables lots of butter and egg but the thick, salty, fatty bacon was hard to swallow. After tea the Family Rosary was recited. I buried my head in my hands trying hard not to laugh at Granda’s lilting tone. Then terror struck with the realization the third decade was looming. I would have to lead it! Would I forget the Our Father? Would I miscount the 10 Hail Marys? My plan was big breath, go as fast as I could, it would be over quickly. If I ever made a mistake Granny or Granda never said. Then the Kitchen was tidied, range stoked, the Tilly lamp lit. Granda left for his ceili with the Mc Nallys, Granny picks up her Ireland’s Own. She reads aloud ‘Kitty The Hare’. I sit up spellbound, hanging on her every word. She reads so beautifully, the characters come to life. They were there with you in the ‘Hill Head’ kitchen. Something moved in the yard, a flicker of the light, a crackle from the fire and you would be on the edge of the seat, holding back a scream. Kitty The Hare was a woman of the roads who walked from townland to townland always down bog roads. She called in homes bringing news from the big town and neighbouring parishes. There was always a witchy old woman, grumpy old man, and young men playing pranks and a villain on the run from the police in her stories. Story over, cocoa and bed, I was relieved to hear Granda walk up the yard and firmly bolt the door. Next day after breakfast, Granda has gone to work, the kitchen tidied, cow milked, hens fed we dress in our best clothes for a trip to the Post Office in Milltown. Down the lane Granny stops for a chat with Mrs Mc Nally. The sound of a high pitched, ‘Hello’ makes me turn round and I get my first sight of Nelly Valley a hunched figure hanging over a half door, a black scarf on her head, her bony fingers tapping on the wood. Granny goes over to her. I’m thinking, No! No! She’ll get you! Trying not to look at her. I look through her hedge, see green slime, alarm, flax Hole, a dilapidated barn- anyone could be lurking in there just like in Kitty The Hare stories. Looking back at Granny I notice she is taller than Nelly’s door and Nelly’s head is just about at Granny’s waist so I reason. Nelly has no legs, she can’t chase us. Thereafter I was ready with my Guardian Angel prayer to get me past Nelly’s door. This ordeal does not spoil the day out as Granny is soon telling tales of the Penal Days when children went to the Hedge School.They were given the secret location at the Mass Rock on Sunday. The Hedge school gathered in the field on the

given day. A lookout had to signal the approach of a stranger. Berries and stones were used as counters, twigs as pencils to write in the dirt, tables and spellings recited. I thought I would like this school but on reflection I could not deal with having to go barefooted and I wondered about what happened in wintertime. 23rd March 2012.

Granda Paul 1969 and Granny Sarah-Mary

Maureen continues Years later when Granny moved to Armagh to live with Phil I would go up regularly and spend time with her. These were great times and we bonded. I think she would have liked to have been a teacher of Irish history and Culture. She taught me ballad songs. When I left home to go to Downpatrick we corresponded by letter. Granny and Granda moved to Markethill to live and when his eyesight diminished Granny asked me to buy his car. This was less painful for him than selling it to a stranger. The car was a Ford Prefect with 3 forward gears and a reverse. His final words to me as I drove away, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Always drive on the crown of the roadâ&#x20AC;?. I think in the 60s he thought we were the only road users. When Granny went into hospital some years later I visited as often as possible and helped to feed her. I was able to help out when both she and Granda died.

Aunty Phil

unty Phil played a big part in our lives, and at times, she was more like a big sister; she always had a room in our homes. However this changed with the family growing up and she moved to a flat in town. She took us on sleepovers, to the cinema and treated us to high tea in the Rainbow cafe. These were huge treats. School uniforms, bills and household equipment were items she insisted on providing. Phil was a very generous Aunt, Sister and Sister-in-Law. Everyone got on well with her.

(1) Aunty Phil receiving certificate R.M.N., (2) Aunty Phil as a Matron in St. Lukes, (3) Granny & Paul McArdle, Dermot Bestman (Friend), Robert Costello, Phil McArdle, Bobâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (Friend), Maureen Mullen, Granny Sarah-Mary Mc Ardle, 12th September 1964.

In 1964 she announced that she was getting married to a Psychiatrist, Dr. Bob Costello and I was to be her bridesmaid. A big, big occasion for me which nearly did not happen because on the big day 12th September 1964 the taxi I was to travel in had a puncture and, with no mobile phone in those days, the ceremony started without me. I just made it in time for their vows and ring ceremony. As Phil hated to dress up and the fuss of special occasions we were dressed in very formal suits but this in no way took away from the honour of my role.We always kept in contact by mail and to this day I keep in contact with her sons especially the oldest Michael. He attends all my big family occasions.

Patricia, Geraldine and I spent summer holidays in her new homes in Carlow and Portlaoise.

(1) Patricia, Phil, Maureen, Dermot (Bestman & Sister) 1965, (2) Geraldine & Patricia.

Thankfully we were in a position to help her boys when she was dying in hospital in Dublin and Uncle Bob was dying at the same time in Portlaoise hospital. They died within four days of each other. A very traumatic time for the lads. The parents died of unrelated diseases.

1 (1) Leonard, Phil, Michael, Uncle Bob & Declan, (2) Boys & Maureen, (3) Phil & Maureen. (Glenside Portlaoise)

Cranfield Holidays

olidays were something very important for our parents. In Longstone we started our long association with Cranfield. Our first house was a long way from the beach but close to the shop and Church. Carmel learned to walk for me that summer. Patricia was car sick on these journeys and Mr. Jack Reid tried hard to distract her by asking us all to look for monkeys in the trees as we passed by. That first summer I took Frankie fishing in the nearby White river. Over the next years our parents took a house close to the beach but the house had no electric and only dry toilet facilities but this added to the quaintness we were to experience. The elderly neighbours who lived in the adjoining house thought children should only be seen and not heard; not so for eight lively children! One year our cousin John Crummie and his friend arrived for an unplanned visit to us and caused quite a stir. They were teenagers, full of life and Mummy and Daddy had their hands full looking after them. Daddy took them on long walks and they returned tired and hungry. One day they somehow coaxed me to join them in a rowing boat that belonged to one of the local families. We rowed out for a while and the sea was changing colour and then the tide and swell changed. We became fearful and the local lad had great difficulty in rowing us to shore. Lots of people were lining the shoreline including my parents. I was put straight to bed and the next day Daddy took the boys back to Armagh.

(1) Georgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s House (2) John, Tommy, Friend & Carmel. (3) Tommy & Carmel.

The weather at times was very wet and these days were spent playing all sorts of games, reading, art and listening to the radio. My first radio play was THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES which was played on a wet and windy night. That play had an effect on me that no other to date can match. Mummy didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like these long weeks away from her home and also Daddy was only able to join her for the last weeks of his annual leave. Once again walking was the mode of transport in the early years. My only 45

(1) Patricia, Frankie, Carmel, (2) Jimmy & Frankie, (3) Carmel, (4) Carmel, John & Tommy, (5) Jimmy & Geraldine, (6) Frankie, Tommy, John & Jimmy, (7) John.

chore with Patricia who alternated with Geraldine, was to walk the three miles to the shop for groceries a few times a week. Other times I babysat to let Mummy go herself as the post office and telephone were at the shop and Mummy could phone home and post mail. When Daddy joined us it was great fun for he could take us on hikes and long walks. In later years they bought a caravan on a prime site close to the beach and with a car these holidays were very different. We could now add day trips to our itinerary. My 21st Birthday was held in the onsite cafe with my boyfriend Jim Fitzsimons and the family returning to the caravan.

(1) John, Patricia & Jimmy, (2) Cranfield in the 60â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, (3) Grandparents, (4) Jimmy, (5) Jimmy, (6) Daddy, Mrs Evans, Tommy, John, Jimmy & Mummy, (7) Tommy, John, Carmel & Jimmy, (8) Carmel & Jimmy.

Holy Communion

& Confirmation

made my First Communion in Ballinahone but apart from that the four eldest made their First Communions and Confirmations in Longstone. Our dresses were all made by Mummy and the tea parties we had after them would make Delia Smith and others pale into insignificance when Mummy cooked. No wonder then that Patricia and Frankie took up catering as their careers. We saw a master at work daily in our home. Years later Jim Fitzsimons was heard to say, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the table groaned with the weight of food.â&#x20AC;? She also made our Wedding Cakes in later years.

Maureen

(1) Geraldine, Maureen & Patricia (2) Maureen 1954, (3) Ballinahone

Patricia

2 (1) Geraldine, Maureen, Frankie & Patricia 1956, (2) Maureen, Patricia & Geraldine.

Geraldine

(1) Geraldine 1957, (2) Maureen, Patricia, Geraldine & Frankie (3) Maureen & Geraldine, (4) Frankie & Geraldine, (5) Cathedral Grounds.

Frankie

(1) Frankie 1958, (2) Frankie at Blind Asylum (3) Geraldine, Patricia, Carmel, Maureen & Frankie (4) Maureen & Frankie..

Carmel

3 (1) Carmel, (2) 1966, (3) In Toro, (4) Cardinal Conway.

Tommy

1 (1) Tommy 1964, (2) Carmel, Frankie, John & Tommy, (3) In Toro, (4) John, Frankie, Tommy & Jimmy, (5) Tommy, John & Jimmy.

John & Jimmy

(1) John 1967, (2) In Toro, (3) John, Mummy, Jimmy & Daddy 1970, (4) John & Jimmy.

After Communion & Convent Processions

(1) Anthony Crummie, Maura Crummie & Maureen 1958, (2) Geraldine, Anthony, Jommy, Maureen, Patricia & Carmel 1957, (3) Maureen, Carmel & Geraldine, (4) Carmel.

School Days

From Longstone.

chool was more accessible and we had a few choices on which way to walk; through the lane past the housing estate passing the back of the Girl’s High school on towards Alexander estate up Windsor Place to English Street towards The Shambles, on up Abbey Street past the City Hospital, down Callan Street and up the hill to Mount St Catherine’s Primary school. Another way was up the Belfast rail line onto Railway street up Mc Cory Street onto the Moy Road and up the back of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, around the side and down onto the Cathedral Road all the way to the low Desart to the Sacred Heart Convent and then our school. We could also, when we reached Railway Street, go up Banbrook Hill, down to Lr.English Street, up to The Shambles and so on towards school.

Maureen front row 3rd from the left P6 -1957

Primary school was fine as I have already stated until I reached P.6. and realised that I was not going into P.7. I had been doing well in my studies and was shocked to find out that I had to do an entrance exam for the grammar school which I passed and no explanation given to me as to why I could not do my final year in primary school. My mother did go to school for progress reports as there were no Parent Meetings in those days but she was not able to give me a satisfying explanation other than my date of entry to school was mixed up. Missing that vital year was detrimental to my knowledge of mathematics and related subjects thereafter. All new subjects I got to grips with and enjoyed English winning awards in Form 1, but sadly I had to leave after 2 years and go to the Secondary school

which belonged to the Sacred Heart also. I attended to my studies made a few friends and was given the honour of being Head Girl in my final year.

Geraldine, Maureen (Head Girl 1963), Patricia.

English and drama were my favourite subjects and I was lucky to be chosen for lead roles in plays, singing in the choir and reciting on special occasions for Rev. Mother. I joined drama groups and musical societies outside of school.

Maureen (2nd Lt.) Drama Days

I kept an interest in both for years after I was married and while the children were growing up. In fact my family have always supported me. My next favourite subject was Domestic Science and my two teachers really inspired me. They were really good and encouraged us in our attempts with cookery and dressmaking and we ended the year modelling our creations. Sometimes our baking made it home for the family but most times we ate it on the way home. On occasions when we would walk home around the Cathedral pathway we would encounter Cardinal D’ Alton out walking praying his Breviary and he encouraged us to greet him in our new languages of French and Irish. Of course Mummy had us primed to address him as “Your Eminence”. He was a nice person, though to me he was rather frail and I felt he should have company when out walking. Soon after moving to the Desart I joined The Children of Mary Society and for a time I thought that I had a vocation to Religious Life. I was confused thinking

my devotion to Prayers and things Religious were a calling. My vocation turned out in later years to be Marriage. I enjoyed all sport and excelled in running and relay races winning medals on Sports Days. It was in Longstone we girls were sent to piano lessons and while I worked at my lessons I was no pianist. Now Geraldine on the other hand was very talented and could play by ear. Every time our cousin Maura Crummie called Mummy would have her playing the piano. We also went to Irish Dancing lessons which were fun but I had no interest in practicing my steps. Unknown to us children our home was in need of major repairs and refurbishment which would cost a lot of money. Mummy who was a great believer in the Rosary, made a novena to Our Lady for help in this matter. Prayers were answered for the Northern Ireland Hospital Authority were extending St. Lukeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and offered Daddy a good price for the adjacent land including the house. They did not require the Glen which gave Daddy an interest still in grazing a few cattle. We left Longstone in1962 after 7years of happy childhood times.

Toro Desart Lane 1962

1980 (Top Row) Jimmy, Maureen, Patricia, Frankie. (Middle Row) John, Daddy, Mummy, Tommy. (Bottom Row) Carmel, Geraldine.

his was our last home as a family. It was in a new, privately owned semi detached housing estate off the Cathedral Road. The semi detached had good size bedrooms, a very large living room, kitchen and bathroom. The rear garden ran the full length of all the front row of houses giving Daddy the opportunity to erect a greenhouse and have an area for fruit, vegetables and flowers. Apart from having the Glen

3 (1) Toro in winter, (2) Back garden in summer, (3) Mummy & Daddy.

for cattle grazing Daddy went into partnership with Cecil Oliver a work colleague and they rented land on the Keady Road which we called the Ponderosa after the TV.Show.The boys know more about this venture as I was not really involved. Tommy gave me a memory of the Ponderosa.

Tommy’s Story. I remember Daddy pinching me awake, telling me to “shush”, and going to cattle markets in Armagh, Keady, Newtown Hamilton, I would enjoy going with him, but never knew why the secrecy. At some of these markets he would buy or sell bullocks. I think a guy called Tommy Waite transported them for him. During the bidding he would tell me who to watch, guys he pointed out. He would tell me what to look out for. He would then pretend to be distracted and I would tell him when they were bidding, a tilt of the cap, a nod of the head, raising a stick, touching their nose or chin, I was totally fascinated with their behaviour.

Maureen continues.

In a short time after we moved I named the house TORO the first two letters from both our parents’ names, Tommy and Rose. The appliance of science with a washing machine, fridge and vacuum cleaner made household chores easier as Mummy was to continue working in St. Luke’s and our lives somewhat free to pursue teenage activities. Daddy was now the proud owner of a new blue Ford Zephyr car. He was very good at transporting me to carnival dances, visits to cousins and up to Grandparents in Markethill. When off duty he collected us from school though this gesture was not always appreciated as we might have something planned for after school with our friends and parents were not always appraised of our plans. Indeed there was one incident when Daddy was waiting for Geraldine he spied her smoking but, to his credit, he dealt with her without making a whole drama of it. The fact he was a smoker himself might have something to do with his leniency.

Mummy off duty

Geraldine The Red Haired Sister. As Geraldine is dead since 9th May1992 and cannot contribute to my book I shall relate little stories. Our sister developed a love for smoking and as pocket money did not always stretch she invented a means of getting 20 cigarettes a week from Daddy’s supply. In those days Daddy got 20 packets of cigarettes in a carton from the local supermarket and as the packets were sealed Geraldine opened each one from the bottom thus not breaking the red tape and taking one out. This went on for some time until one day Daddy announced in all our hearing that from that day on he was going to count each packet’s contents and if there was only19 he would report this matter to the manager. She panicked when this was stated and confessed. Of course he had sussed this discrepancy but needed to know who the culprit was. Daddy was a hoarder of his chocolate egg at Easter and he would talk of still having his for weeks after Easter. This was too much for Geraldine, who ate his egg from the back and to all, the egg still looked intact. It was around this time she got a parttime job in Pat Kearney’s shop, a dream she had from childhood days of having a shop. In later years she had her own shop in Ogle Street and was in her element working in it. I would like everyone to know how great an artist, song writer, pianist and guitar player she was but like most talented people she was never satisfied with her own work and as she died suddenly we have no keepsakes of her talents. Geraldine could be very funny and her accounts of people she encountered would give us hours of laughter particularly relating events which occurred at the Dances.

(1) Jimmy & Geraldine, (2) On Hols, (3) Posing, (3) Jimmy, Frankie, Geraldine & John, (4) At the bridge, (5) Geraldine, Maureen & Patricia 1970 (6) Party in Toro, (7) Geraldine & John, (8) Geraldine, Sinead & Ursula 1991, (9) Geraldine & the Boys, (10) Formal, (11) Geraldine & Maureen, (12) 21st, (13) Passport.

Summer &Part-Time Jobs. My first paid Summer Job was in Raffertyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on their Moy Road Fruit Farm, snuffing strawberries. I was able to walk from Longstone House taking a short cut over the disused Belfast railway bridge, down onto the Lougall Road over a hilly laneway and onto the Moy Road to the farm. I worked very hard for a month taking my wages home with great pride to my parents. Daddy drew to my attention to the fact that, as the weeks went by, my wages did not reflect the long hard hours I worked snuffing strawberries.We were paid by the amount we snuffed and not by the hour. He suggested that at break times I was to keep an eye on my produce and sure enough the older women were helping themselves to my hard work. No doubt they were trying to make a decent wage. The month of August turned out a very good wage for me and I had learned a valuable lesson about working relationships. When we moved to TORO I worked in Fruitfield the Jam Factory and made a lot of pocket money. This was a nice environment as indoors was much better than toiling in the fruit fields in all weathers.

(1) Frankie, Patricia, Jim Crummie, Carmrl & John.

I was keen to get a part time job and, as Aunt Annie knew the manager in the local supermarket Quinnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s The Milestone, she put in a good word for me. He employed me until I left to start my Nursing career. I got on very 69

well in this store doing all the tasks that staff do. Mr Cox with his wife tried unsuccessfully to train me for a retail career. I was not to be dissuaded from my chosen path. This was a great time in my life and my parents started to allow me to attend school hops, ceilis, the cinema and school trips to Dublin for a week. I tried not to break the house rules and put my parents under pressure. I also knew that I would be the one to suffer and be grounded. Our cousin Jim Crummie and I were of the same age, and he was well thought of by my parents, we were able to help each other. On occasions Daddy gave him the car and he would at other times escort me to dances before Patricia was allowed to go with me. Jim and I bonded very well and have always stayed in contact. I had other babying sitting jobs for neighbours which were well paid.The children were very good for me and I enjoyed my duties.At Christmas time I helped Aunty Annie to bake her cakes and babysat her Grandchildren when there was a family wedding and her family were home from England. We looked forward to parcels of second-hand clothes from our cousins in England via Aunt Annie. They were so up-to-date. In the summer I remember Daddy would take us on our annual visit to his brother and sister who lived on each side of the Border in South Armagh. In the years before he owned a car his friend Johnny Meikleham took us up to Keady. We must have been coming home late for I remember a blanket over us and we were encouraged to sleep. The visits when we were older were full of excitement and as before, we were always dressed in our best and looking forward to meeting our cousins. John McQuaid told me this little story years later. Aunty Susan, his mother, after making us welcome told us to go out and play; obviously the adults wanted a chat in private and we all played our favourite game Hide-and-Seek. Well I for one stepped into the dunghill and my sandals were covered in muck. I nearly died with embarrassment when Aunty Susan took off my sandals and socks and washed my feet in a basin. What I wasn’t aware of was that my siblings and the Crummie cousins who had travelled up with us had flattened the newly stooked field of corn sheaves. John and his father Uncle Tommy, had from dawn, mowed and tied in sheaves and stooked in bundles of eight in neat rows. A lot of hard work for the two of them and it only took a short time for the “City Cousins” to undo their good work. We were never reprimanded for this misdemeanour.

Final School The 3rd and final school I attended was from the Desart.The local Technical College had campuses on the Mall, Market Street and Lonsdale Street. I really enjoyed my pre-nursing course subjects and the sports field. My new friends and I formed a debating society and designed new scarves which can be seen in the photos. Our English teacher was fresh out of University and mad about drama and a male. As all my other teachers had been female, this and the fact that there were boys in class was a big culture shock. One or two of the girls had crushes on the male teachers but not me. Anyway we now formed a drama club and presented plays for the school. One, The Merchant Of Venice, was given a modern take and I had the part of Nemess.

(1) The Scarf 1964, (2) Margaret McCullough, (3) Sheelagh McCann & Breda Grimley, (4) The Tec.

School Drama 1964

By this time I was aware of the opposite sex and had a liking for one or two boys. My friends and I would meet up for a shared Fanta and discuss our options in the Rainbow cafe. It was from this school I had my first trip away to Skerries. We encountered English school boys on the trip and we had good fun. However on the last day our rebel girls planned a party in an unoccupied cabin and somehow after lock up the two teachers accompanying us were distracted. Our girls tried in vain to get my friends and me to join them for the party but we were so scared of getting caught out we stayed in bed. The upshot was the teachers caught them and on returning to school they were expelled. Oh I was so glad I had taken the decision to stay put for if I had been expelled I would not have been able to face my parents with the shame I would have brought on the family. My boyfriend at this time was a very nice person but, as time went by, we drifted apart. I had already started to plan for a nursing career and he was going off to Queenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s University. Our romance faded out after I left for Downpatrick.

(1) Maureen & Ann Finnegan, (2) Sheelagh McCann & Friends, (3) School Trips 1965, (4) City Hall Dance 1965 (Maureen 8th from left), (5) Maureen School Trip, (6) Mary Finnegan & friends.

Teenagers &The 60S. Of course there were times when the pressure of raising a teenage family in the 60s could not have been easy. Even our next door neighbours, who were spinster ladies, were only but kind and did not report on us when the loud music and even louder voices in argument were raised quite a few decibels. I can clearly remember our parents falling out for days and not speaking over decorating the living room. Another time Tommy and I nearly came to blows with the fire poker and the three bulb centre light was broken and required an explanation from our questioning parents. Mostly our sibling disagreements were verbal but I am sorry for the time I hit John because he refused to help me tidy his room. I was always aware of the work Mummy had to do. I, for my part, enjoyed pleasing her with little surprises of household tasks completed before I was asked to do them. This act was not appreciated by my siblings. Patricia worked in the kitchen and it was a great treat after a big cleaning spell to sit down and partake of a tasty dish. I remember Daddy being totally exasperated regarding Geraldineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s infatuation with Ringo Starr of The Beatles.

(1) Jimmy, (2) Geraldine, (3) Maureen, (4) Patricia, Carmel & Geraldine

7 5

(1) John, (2) Tommy, (3) Mummy, Mona Crummie, Daddy, Patricia, Jim Fitzsimons, Geraldine, Aunt Lena & Frankie. (4) Patricia, (5) Geraldine, (6) Carmel, (7) Maureen.

(1) Patricia, Jimmy, Daddy, Tommy, Mummy & John, (2) Back Row: Carmel, Geraldine, Frankie, Tommy, Front Row: Daddy, Jimmy, Mummy & John, (3) The Brothers, (4) Carmel, Jimmy & Tommy, (5) Frankie, (6) Tommy & Geraldine, (7) Geraldine & Jimmy.

Once Daddy had to travel to Waterford to collect Frankie, who was working in a hotel, and take him home for his annual leave. As Daddy hated driving in cities he and I spent time plotting a route avoiding any major towns and, in particular, Dublin. We managed this venture successfully. In August 1965 I left home to commence my Nursing career, returning back home for my annual leave and when I had a long weekend off duty. I was a good letter writer and kept in touch with my family and at times by phone.

(1) Downshire Hospital, Downpatrick, (2) Maureen 1969, (3) Ward Female 3

(1) Maureenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Room 1967, (2) Ground Floor 1965 (3) Maureen, Marie Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Donnell & Bridget Kernan. (4) Maureen & friends, (5) Maureen & nursing school friends.

On a few summers I took John and Jimmy to the caravan for holidays when Mummy and Daddy were working. By now I had a new boyfriend who was to become my husband. On the 1st. May 1971 I returned back home to be married to Jim Fitzsimons. All of my family really liked him from the very first time they met him in 1966. To this very day he is still respected by them.

(1) Jim Fitzsimons 1966, (2) Maureen 1966, (3) Maureen & Jim first formal 1969.

Weddings from Toro

Wedding cakes baked by Mummy and decorated by Patricia & Mummy.

Patricia, Geraldine, Carmel and John were all married from our home â&#x20AC;&#x153;TORO 7, DESART LANE.

Jimmy lives there today, a bachelor in the year 2012.

Maureen 1st May 1971

(1) Maureen, (2) Mullen Clan, (3) Maureen & Daddy, (4) Daddy, Frankie, John, Geraldine, Pat & Jim Fitzsimons, Mautreen, Paul Fitzsimons, Patricia, Mummy, Carmel, Tommy and Jimmy.

Patricia 30th December 1972

3 (1) Patricia & Daddy, (2) Mummy, Garry McGuirk, Patricia and Daddy. (3) Maureen, Jim, Carmel, Jarlath (baby), Mummy, Tommy, Garry, Patricia, Daddy, Geraldine, John and Jimmy. (4) Bridget McQuaid, Frankie Mullen, Lena Mullen, Tommy McQuaid, Gary & Patricia, Katheen Hesse, Maura Conran, Annie and Kathleen Mullen.

Geraldine 10th September 1976

(1) Brideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Maid, Geraldine, Daddy and Carmel (2) Geraldine and Daddy, (3) Geraldine in Toro. (4) Mummy, Frank McArdle, Geraldine and Daddy..

Carmel 15th July 1978

3 (1) John, Carmel and Damian McKinney (2) Carmel and Daddy, (3) Jim, Jarlath, Geraldine, Maureen, Tommy, Mummy, Mandy, Daddy, John, Patricia, Jimmy, Gary, Sharon, Damian, Cathy, Carmel and Olivia..

John 15th June 1985

3 (1) Tommy, John and Jimmy (2) Tommy, Patricia, John, Geraldine, Fidelma Hughes, Carmel, Mummy, Jimmy and Maureen (3) The extended Mullen Clan

Tommy’s Story. I was born on 22nd August 1957 at Longstone house. I have few but some very clear memories of Longstone House. We moved to Desart Lane in April 1962, I was 5 ½.

My earliest memory of Longstone House was of my older brother Frankie being involved in an accident with glass when helping Daddy glaze the green house. To me Longstone seemed to be a huge house, in the middle of a 10acre field. When I saw the TV programme Father Ted, the house in the titles remind me of how I think Longstone House looked. I remember the house sitting on top of the hill with views of Alexandra Park estate, St Luke’s psychiatric hospital, or the wall surrounding it. I can still see the small door that Daddy used when going to work. The slope of the hill from the house appeared steep, and the field ran flat by the river which ran around the edge of one side of the field. Half way down the field was a large beech tree. The river ran under a railway bridge before entering St. Luke’s hospital. I believe the trains stopped running in 1956. From the top of the hill by the house, you could clearly see the drive way, gate, and 2nd railway bridge. The gates had a large pillar on either side. The gates were mostly closed and I remember a piece of one gate missing which I used to climb through. The drive ran across one side of the field, turned right up the hill to the house. There was a tree stump at the bottom of

the straight before the corner. This was a favourite place for me to play. I could see who was climbing the hill to the house and I could wait for Daddy coming home from work. As I looked to the left of the gate the hill

2 (1) Tommy, on tree stump (2) The Long Stone.

started to climb up to a point where railway sleepers were used to replace the hedge giving access to the railway line and then on to the Glen.To the back of the house was the orchard with the Long Stone. When Maureen first told me of her idea, I thought it was great, and I called it “Maureen’s Project”. I have had many thoughts and memories, some I’m not sure whether they were actual, dreamed or someone else’s story. So after much deliberation and talking with everyone, sometimes splitting my sides with laughter, I have decided to tell some tales of “Daddy and our cars.” When I think back, I feel that every weekend we went on long drives in the Blue Zephyr 4. At times going with Maureen to Downpatrick and the Downshire Hospital. Patricia going to the catering college in Portrush and later Frankie going to the catering college, and driving also to the 92

caravan in Cranfield. I remember sitting in the car while Maureen was being interviewed, feeling sad and happy. Sad that if she was successful she would be leaving home, happy, that Downpatrick was so far from Armagh and there would be many drives. I got to know the road to Downpatrick so well from Daddy and later Jim Fitzsimons when he would pick me up from Armagh for a weekend visit. I loved the night time drives but always got frightened on the bends of the road for fear we would crash into Lough Island Reevy outside Castlewellan on the Newry road. This was quite a deep Lough. When Patricia went to Portrush and later Frankie, the drive seemed to take all day. When Frankie was hitching home from Portrush I used to pray that he would get stranded, phone home and we would have to go and pick him up. I thought the Zephyr 4 was huge and beautiful. I felt I spent many hours washing, T-cutting and polishing it. I feel my place in the car was in the backseat behind Daddy.

Tommy and John

Daddy and his driving.

I thought Daddy was an excellent driver, though he would take risks. We (Carmel, John, Jim and I) would take down number plates on jotters, sitting in the back. Daddy would say â&#x20AC;&#x153;have you got that oneâ&#x20AC;? and then would overtake to chase after the next car. I remember having pages and pages full of number plates. It must have been after 1969 and the army coming to Ireland that he would tell us to stop copying number plates in 93

case it appeared suspicious. As Daddy would drive up behind another car he would say “What has that yoke got?” (meaning what size engine the car had). We would say it has ONLY got!!!!! He would then overtake it; some of his overtaking was a little hairy (scary). Daddy bought the Hillman Hunter car from a local garage owner Pat Kearney. The night before Geraldine was taking us (Carmel, John, Jimmy

Geraldine and Tommy

and me) to Salthill Co. Galway for a week’s holiday; Geraldine crashed the car into the pillar of the driveway. Geraldine said that she lost her confidence and couldn’t drive. Daddy gave her great reassurance and got Pat to fix the car overnight so it was ready for the journey. It was such a memorable holiday and Geraldine, although initially nervous, drove without incident. Another memory was walking home from college with pretty girls on either side of me, by the Cathedral gates, smoking a cigarette, thinking I was “so cool”, when I recognised Daddy in the new car. I ditched the cigarette, got into the front seat of the car. We talked about the new car. He said nothing about me smoking and as he turned into 7 Desart Lane he said “Don’t tell me you weren’t smoking” I was speechless and thought I had got away with it. I think it was later that night, going to mass at St. Malachy’s, at the bottom of the lane he stopped, intending to go along the Low Desart. It must have been a risky move with oncoming traffic and he accelerated hard, I think he scared himself and put his hands up over his eyes, crying out “CHRIST ALMIGHTY!”, but then recovered and took control of the car. He later blamed it on Chrysler Motor Company for making the car too light.

The Red Audi 100- again I remember washing, T-cutting it and polishing it many times. I knew every groove and chrome piece. I remember being in the car with just Daddy. I think I must have moved to England and, returning on holidays, I remember going to Cranfield with him. After driving on Granda’s road (the part of the main Armagh to Newry road after Markethill that he worked on before retiring) and instead of using the old road, I talked him into using the new road, which was not open yet. We drove half way toward Newry when we came upon a small mound across the road, as the road was not yet completed. A work man nearby came up to the car saying no problem, reverse back and take a race at it. Daddy reversed back a good distance and raced towards the mound at about 3mph, when the front wheels cleared the mount the car got stuck and a number of road workers had to come to our rescue and push the car over the mound. Daddy said, “God’s curse you! Why did you make me come this way?”. I’m not sure if it was on the return journey, possibly another occasion, when coming home from Cranfield, on the same road, on a long decline, he decided to turn off the engine, saying he was saving petrol. When the steering lock engaged, we were heading to a left hand corner. He went into a panic, crossing the road, luckily no oncoming traffic, scary but, we survived, luckily he had quick reactions. 21st March 2012

Tom, Mummy, Tommy and Katie

Carmel ’s Story. Here are a few of my memories, I didn’t write about Bertie Williamson building the greenhouse when Frankie got his face cut. LONGSTONE HOUSE, December early 60s, Frankie was sick and I went up to Billy Smith’s shop to get him some medication. I took my Christmas present with me.That year I asked Santa for a little red lunch/handbag. I was very pleased with myself as I set off down the lane to the shop swinging my little bag. By the time I made it to the tree stump I was aware the cows were following, I walked a little f aster. That didn’t work so I started to run dropping my little red bag. Making it safely to the hole in the gate I went on to the shop, thinking how to get back to the house avoiding the cattle and came up with a plan. As it turned out, my plan didn’t work as there were more cattle in the ‘Glen’. They were gathered around the other gate thus blocking my escape route via the Glen and into the other field over the railway lines. All this took place around feeding time. Well how did I get home? I took a few steps inside the front field opened my mouth and roared like a jackass for help.

Carmel, Mummy and John

TORO DESART, I am not sure of the year. I was playing Hide and Seek with Frankie, Tommy and John when I locked Frankie in the boot of the Zephyr (I think Daddy was in hospital having vein surgery on his legs.) It was some handling. George Clark had to be called from work as he had the spare set of keys. I thought I had killed Frankie because he had stopped shouting for help. He was freed after a very long time and he never let me forget what I had done for a few years.

John, Carmel, and Tommy

Toro and Friday nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s evening meal. Mummy peeled 1/2cwt of spuds for chips. Mum used to cook seconds and thirds. We were so spoilt and unappreciative that we used to argue about each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s portions. It got so bad that Mummy took to weighing the chips she put on each of our plates. Good luck and lots of love. Carmel X X X 19th March 2012 Mummy

Frankieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Story. It is hard for me to know where to start because there were so many good memories of Longstone, Cranfield and Toro. I remember at an early age playing in the field at Longstone with Maureen, Patricia and Geraldine. We would have races up and down the field which Maureen usually won. I tried really hard to win but Maureen was just too fast. We liked to play ball games, which usually ended up in a fight. That reminds me. One day Maureen was throwing snow balls against the front wall of Longstone House. After a while she got tired and went inside. I then started to throw a tennis ball against the same wall but I made a mistake and broke an upstairs window. I started to panic because I knew that I would get punished. Then I got a bright idea. I made a

Longstone with broken window

tightly packed snowball, crept upstairs and placed the snowball inside the girl’s bedroom, removing the tennis ball which I hid up in the big tree. Maureen was blamed and I avoided a hiding {sorry Maureen} One Easter Sunday Maureen and I had a disagreement which ended up in a fight and Maureen’s head shattered a window. There was a time there where we had bad luck with windows. It would seem, that in those days, Maureen and I would often get into trouble because almost every week {I think on Saturday or Sunday} our suitcases would be packed and we would be told that we would be banished to Middletown Convent and St John Bosco. These were Correction Schools for disruptive children. Still at Longstone, one day I decided to milk the cow for Daddy. I sneaked out to the byre, put on the Milking Coat, got out the small stool and bucket for the milk and tried to warm up my hands. I must not have warmed up my hands enough because when I touched the cow’s udder she let go a powerful back kick which send the bucket to the ceiling. I was so scared and ran into the house and, of course, straight to bed. It took Daddy hours to settle the cow before she could be milked. In those days the highlight of the year was the holiday to Cranfield. We would get so excited when we were told that in a few days we would be going. As I recall, we didn’t like the packing so much but we were really happy when we saw Jack Reid in his big black car coming up the road. It was a bit of a squeeze.We had to sit on the blankets and I think sometimes on the floor because I remember thinking that we were going around in circles. Patricia would feel sick and Mr. Reid would try to make her feel better by telling her to look out for the monkeys. I suppose in those days we thought that there were monkeys swinging from tree to tree in the Mournes. One year we had Christmas lunch at the Lighthouse Cafe. It was a cold day but everyone had a great time. We had great times at Longstone although we had to look out for Mousey Duffy on the railway lines. We had lots of fights but at the end of the day we would tell each other that we were sorry and would ask for forgiveness and we would swear to each other that we would not tell. This worked most of the time. We always ended up good friends. Maureen has been a great friend to my family and me over the years. She has visited us several times and on one occasion took our mother to visit us in St. Maartin. In 2009 Maureen and Jim sent us three tickets

to visit Ireland. We were put up in the best hotels had great food and entertainment and toured parts of Ireland which I had never seen before. We had a fantastic time which we will never forget Love Frankie. 19th March 2012 SAINT MAARTIN

3 (1) Frankie and Jimmy, (2) Joseph, Mummy, Deita and Frankie, (3) Frankie.

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John’s Story. In the late 60’s Mummy decided a new dining set was required and since she was in full time employment wanted to pay for the said set herself, as Daddy was notorious for not spending money on new furniture. She entered into a deal with the Salesman in Lennox to pay monthly but, to her dismay, such a deal required the signature of a Guarantor, and of course, this had to be Daddy, which peeved her. Document was duly signed and, no doubt, Daddy got a lot of mileage with ribbing her about the deal. The table and four chairs arrived to the Desart to great rejoicing and the promise of looking after them with great care and no abuse.With ten of a family this was a big ask! Numerous family parties, Christmas lunches and the summer parties, especially when Frankie was home on holidays, eventually took its toll on the set which had stood the task well but began to show its age. Under advice a new Formica top was laid and a rib of plastic was glued around the edges. As it turned out Mummy never liked it but was happy the scorch marks were no longer visible. As time went

John, Patricia, Frankie, Mummy, Carmel and Jimmy.

by Mummy was really fed up with the look of the table and we decided to refurbish it.Tins of paint stripper were purchased from Ted Harte’s and John and (his big mouth) were put in charge of the project. The Formica resisted but my thick wit won the day and after many coats of paint

101

stripper and sanding, a tin of varnish applied and Mummy was suitably pleased. Next the chairs, three were completed and the fourth was at the last stage of its refurbishment with plenty of evil smelling paint stripper, sitting in the garage waiting sanding. Around this time Jimmy had started to mechanic and buying various cars. He would walk to work in Corr’s garage and return home sometimes changing cars on a weekly basis. A red Mini with a gold roof appeared with a straight through exhaust installed. He could be heard from the Desart leaving Corr’s at lunchtime and hometime. As any other day Jimmy could be heard coming home, multiple revs as he came down the gear box, getting into Desart Lane “full of the pipe”, over the small hump at the cowshed and again at Tom Bratton’s gate and Stanley’s gate. Down through the gear box, full throttle round Johnny Elliott’s corner, slight lift, shave the pier and gate into our drive. Daddy had been in the garage checking on the progress of the work on the final chair and possibly/probably heard Jimmy’s motor. Shuffling on his walking stick, one hand behind his back, he emerged from the garage and, as he made his way for the kitchen window, yer man’s gold top Cooper shot past Daddy into the garage, brakes full on and used the fourth chair to stop at the top of the garage! Reverse gear engaged, gold top Cooper reappears with crumpled grill and chair in bits. Jimmy asks “What’s that chair doing there?” 4th February 2012

(1) Jimmy the Mechanic, (2) John.

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Jimmy’s Story. My earliest memory of my childhood is being in Cranfield in George’s house. I was around the age of 5-6 years old.There was a thunder storm. Mum, John, Carmel,Tommy and me were under the stairs, hiding in the dark. Another memory is staying in the caravan.We would go to the caravan most weekends and holiday times. I liked to go to the beach and collect crabs, I had two big buckets, a stick which I used for the crab to pinch and then I could put it in the bucket. The best time was when the tide went out and I would go to the rocks and catch mussels, cockles and crabs. On a good day I would have six or seven large crabs plus small ones and a full bucket of mussels and cockles. No one in the caravan would eat them so I took the crabs to Hugh Wilson he cooked them for me, keeping a few for himself. I cooked the cockles and mussels myself and sold them to Mr White in the back field for £5.

(1) Driving in Cranfield, (2) Jimmy at the Caravan

Around this time back at home in Toro I was growing lettuce, carrots, parsnips and rhubarb. I would go around the neighbours selling the lettuce 10p, a head, carrots, parsnip and rhubarb, 20p a bundle and at the end of the day what was not sold was handed into our home free. I learned years later that members of my family were convinced I had charged Mummy for the produce.

103

In 1977-78, my last year at school, Mummy and Daddy decided to send me to Chester in England for the holidays to stay with Geraldine and Frank. They had a sofa bed in the corner of the living room where I spent my time sleeping and eating. On a few occasions I stayed with Tommy who lived in the Nurseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Home and slept on the floor of his room. John joined me for the last two weeks of the 1 holidays and took me home. In September Elvis Presley died. Everywhere we went people were playing his music. I went back to school until Marchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;78 and, as I had a part time job with Pat Speers working as an apprentice mechanic in his garage the school let me finish three months early. Carmel was living over the Plough Pub in English Street and I would go most days to her at dinner time. One day walking down the Mall homeward bound, a few lads began to chase me; though they never caught me Mummy was unhappy about me working in this part of town and advised me to give in my notice. 15th April 2012 1

2 (1) Jimmy with Toy Cars & Lorries, (2) Long Distance Transport

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I hope the accounts written in this book will be informative for and of interest to, future generations about The Mullens growing up in the late ‘40s, ‘50s, and ‘60s. I have inserted maternal and paternal family trees of our mother Rose Mullen who wrote an account of her family of which each of my siblings has a copy. My grateful thanks to Patricia, Frankie, Carmel, Tommy, John and Jimmy for their contributions. My love to you all. Maureen xxx

I would like to acknowledge Jim Fitzsimons (Husband) Eílís Fitzsimons (Sister in Law) Daniel Sommers (Friend) Damian McKee (Flixx Graphics) for their encourgement and support in helping me with this book Maureen Fitzsimons September 2012.

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106

Rose Mullenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Maternal Family Tree

Rose Mullenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Paternal Family Tree

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Ternascobe Ballinahone

Longstone

Toro