Early life
Christina was born Christina Kelly in 1931. She described a typical house of the time as being a thatched house consisting of 2 bedrooms and a kitchen with an open fire. There no indoor toilets in those days. An open fire was used for all the cooking. Vegetables such as turnips and carrots were boiled on the hearth and bread was also baked on the open fire. The kitchen had an open dresser in which cups, saucers, plates and cutlery were kept.
The tilly lamp which was fuelled b paraffin provided light as there was no electricity back then. Women were kept buy by knitting and sewing making scarves, sock and jumpers for all the family. They regularly mended patches on trousers with a needle and thread.
Thatched Houses
Most houses were thatched around Castleview. Thatching was done by Pat Rabbitte and Jackeen Donnellan, (Mickeen Donnellan’s father). The tools the thatchers used were a ladder, straw and bobbeens (sticks) and a mallet. The skills of thatching were handed down from generation to generation.
Farm work
Women as well as men were always busy on the farm. They would dig spuds (potatoes) with a spade and went to the the bog to save the turf and bring it home by horse and cart. Neighbours used to help each other with oats, picking spuds, pulling beet etc. Children went away to work at 17 or 18.
Cures for illnesses
When people were ill, for coughs etc., they used to use a cough bottle and also used Vick which they rubbed on their chest. Lemonade/7up was also used and it was boiled to remove the fizz and this was for sick stomachs. If you couldn’t cure yourself, Dr. Nohilly from Tuam was called. He had to be paid when he called out – there was no such thing such as a medical card back then.
Food
Food was simple, spuds, carrots, turnips and onions. That’s all people had all week. For luxuries, women bought flour and made currant cakes on the hearth. These were usually for Christmas and special occasions. Everyone had their own milk straight from the cows.
Stations
Every house had the Stations (Mass held in the house) when Christina was young. The bed was taken out to make room for the people and returned to the room as soon as the stations were over. Stations were held every six months. Christina remarked that no-one is taking them now and they all have new houses.
Schooldays
Schooldays were from 9a.m. to 3p.m. each day. They used to walk six miles through the fields, over stiles and gates to get to ‘Barna’ (Barnaderg) and carry their books on their back in a satchel. The teachers were Ms. Delaney, Mrs. O’Sullivan and Mr. Hanrahan. Ms. Delaney lived in Barnaderg next door to the school where John Joe Wilson now lives. Some teachers were very cross and would beat the children with sticks. Children were made stand out against the wall and would get the stick across their legs if they didn’t know their lessons. “It wasn’t right”. They played football during breaks and the ball used to go out over the wall into Joyners. They would have to go out and get it. They also played “Tip to catch”.
Keeping the school warm
The school was very neglected. It was not plastered and was very rough. It is the community centre now. When they were going to school, there was no heat except for the open fire. Their Dads used to bring up a load of turf and every child had to bring turf to keep the fire burning. The teachers used to stand on front of it and their legs would be burned while the children were frozen. There was no sympathy. They just had to bear with it and go to school.
Wedding day
Christina was married at 27 and wore a coat and hat. The groom wore a suit. There were no veils in those days. The wedding reception took place at home and and was organised by the bride’s mother. There was plenty of food and drink and John Fleming played the music and was joined by local musicians. People danced the night away until they got tired and then went home.
Music in the family
Christina’s mother was a great musician and was terrific on the accordion. Her two aunts married two brothers. When she was down visiting her aunt Nora in Cloondahamper one day, she could hear her mother playing the accordion across the fields. Those were great times.
Visiting the neighbours
To relax, people used to sit and chat or visit the neighbours. On Sundays, the neighbours would come to visit. There was no such thing as holidays; people never worked on Sundays except for haymaking. It was the only time people could take a rest.
Fair
People used to walk with their cattle to the fair in Tuam and would have to walk them back home if they didn’t sell. Christina remembers her sister May was married in Lavally and he dowry was a cow in calf which they had to walk down to Lavally.
Many young people emigrated in those years. The Burkes of Imane emigrated to the U.S.A. and the Monaghan’s to Australia. They never returned. Many of Mick Courtney’s brothers and sisters emigrated too. Emigrants couldn’t afford to return.
Christina now lives surrounded by her children and grandchildren in Castleview.
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