This photograph of Carrabrowne National School was taken in 1936 and shows, back row, left to right: Pete Keane, Carrabrowne; Jimmy O’Brien, Kiloughter; Davey Corcoran, Carrabrowne; Willie Glynn, Kiloughter; Francis Corcoran, Carrabrowne; Stephen O’Brien, Carrabrowne; Mattie Casserley, Kiloughter; Willie Higgins, Ballindooley; Stephen O’Brien, Kiloughter; Mickey McGrath, Ballindooley; Tom Costelloe, Kiloughter; and Stephen Birmingham, Kiloughter.
Third row: Maureen Birmingham, Carrabrowne; Maggie Hogan, Ballindooley; Mary O’Brien, Kiloughter; Annie Costelloe, Kiloughter; Mary Feeney, Curraghmore; Annie McDermott, Carrabrowne; Nellie Birmingham, Carrabrowne; Mary Diviney, Kiloughter; Mike Cody, Kiloughter; Tom Cody, Kiloughter; Willy and Paddy Keane (twins ) Carrabrowne; and Lawrence Cody, Kiloughter.
Second row: Mary Maloney, Angliham; Bridie Maloney, Angliham; Nellie Fallon, Ballindooley; Nora Crowe, Ballindooley; Margaret O’Brien, Carrabrowne; Bridget Birmingham, Carrabrowne; Mary Hogan, Ballindooley; Kitty Small, Kiloughter; Nicholas Diviney; Willy Feeney; Nicholas Hogan; Michael Fallon; and Michael O’Brien.
In front are Julia Birmingham; Kay Feeney; Sally O’Brien; Peggy Birmingham, Bridgie Diviney; Sheila Keane; Tom Keane; Joe McGrath, Michael Costelloe; Paddy Connell; Willy Costelloe; Mike Feeney; Padraic Small; Joe Connell; Malachy Hogan; and Mickey Maloney.
This is one of the illustrations in a new book which will be launched tomorrow evening, August 8, at 7.30pm in the Menlo Park Hotel. It is written by John Connell who has lived in Kiloughter since August 8 1927. The title is Kiloughter Of My Youth, Eighteen Thatched Houses and Stories from the Past. It is a collection of memories of growing up in the 1930s, of stories he heard at his grandfather’s knee. You will meet some of the characters from his village and read of incidents from his schooldays, about pastimes, the meitheal, making the churn, thatching, matchmaking, beliefs and superstitions, the tinsmith’s visit, the American wake, etc.
This delightful collection is full of nostalgia, is well illustrated, and retails at €12, available in good bookshops. It is a follow-up to his first book which was titled My Life and Times, Two Songs and a Prayer, which outlined events in his family and other stories from his childhood. Recommended.
Finally, An Taisce has been in touch to say that the event of August 10 has been cancelled due to circumstances beyond its control.
