Putting the clocks back or forward by an hour as required is something we take for granted nowadays. But this has not always been the case.
In 1956, one town in Ireland was convulsed by a bitter and prolonged dispute about whether clocks should go forward in the spring. Callan had witnessed many upheavals of a religious and political nature. And elderly folk could still recall the great faction fights of the previous century. But in terms of sheer oddness and illogicality, none of these compared to the civic divisions created in Callan by the Government’s decision to impose Official Summer Time in Ireland.
Most Irish people accepted the proposed change, if sometimes reluctantly. The suggestion that we follow Britain’s lead and put the clocks forward as summer approached seemed reasonable. In Callan, however, it became an explosive issue. This was resolved only after a plebiscite was held to test local opinion on the relative merits of ‘Old Time and New Time’.
By the end of February 1956, people employed in state run services in Callan had agreed to recognise Summer Time, partly because they had no choice. The banks, post office, labour exchange, and Garda barracks observed Summer Time, as did the bacon factory, a turf accountant, and some of the pubs.
But the majority of Callan residents observed Old Time, and the schools, churches, County Council workers, and a number of merchants likewise upheld the tradition. Seamus O’ Brien, local correspondent for the Kilkenny People, wrote: “The chaos and disorder occasioned by the operation of both Old and Official Summer Time in Callan has to be experienced to be understood. Confusion is widespread.”
Mr O’ Brien spelled out a few of the problems caused: People whose clocks were turned to Old Time were in the habit of missing busses, trains, or arriving late at a bookie’s office to place bets. Some felt grievously offended when they walked into Callan from outlying areas to find a pub closed. They had to return to their homes, thirsty and swearing.
To confuse matters further, the nearby village of Mullinahone was twenty-five minutes behind Callan, just as Callan was an hour behind Kilkenny, which observed Summer Time. A cyclist at the time recalled hearing the Angeles ring out three times as he passed from Kilkenny through Callan to Mullinahone. The latter village observed what it called ‘God’s Own Time’. The locals believed that noon always occurred when the sun was at the highest point in the heavens.
Mass-goers in Callan arrived in church on time, however, because the Parish Priest, Most Reverend Dr Doyle, was a passionate believer in Old Time. But even here there was a catch. Some sporting events observed New Time and worshippers ended up missing these or turning up at a match well into the second half after going to Mass.
The greatest opposition to Summer Time came from the farming community. Farmers feared that putting their clocks forward would upset their cows and result in lower milk yields! This in turn created a dilemma for shopkeepers. Whatever their views on the issue, they could not afford to offend the farmers, who happened to be their best customers. The Parish Priest backed the farmers but emphasised in a sermon that people who observed New Time were not committing a sin.
In an effort to end the confusion, the Callan Town Development Association decided in March to hold a plebiscite on the issue. This would, it believed, resolve the question of conflicting Times Zones in Callan once and for all. After a lengthy debate, and consultations with local businesses, farmers, and community leaders, the CTDA set April 28, as referendum day. Ballot papers would be issued to 1,700 voters in the area. Any person whose name was on the Electoral lists of 1956 would be entitled to vote.
The days and weeks leading up to the ballot were marked by intensive lobbying by those for and against the adoption of Summer Time. People in Callan talked about little else: both parties called Public meetings, and these often ended in disarray. One meeting was cut short after fistfights broke out in the Parish Hall between Old Timers and New Timers.
Calm was restored when gardaí arrived and the Parish Priest intervened. There were angry exchanges and further fisticuffs in the pubs, and a rift opened up between town and country over the issue. Emotions ran high, and people were often afraid to ask the time for fear of starting a row.
The reply to such a question would always be: “Do you mean Old Time or New
Time?” Depending on your preference, he or she might either tell you the time or say nothing and walk away. Old Timers shunned New Timers in much the same way as former Free Staters and Irregulars eyed each other with suspicion after the Civil War.
The Town Development Association sent a circular to all voters, urging adoption of Summer Time. It stressed the advantages of Summer Time for parents, housewives, labourers, and even farmers.
While acknowledging the concerns of farmers, it assured them there was nothing to worry about and that they would get used to it. The circular stated: “Summer Time will be of mutual advantage to all sections of the community. It will dispense with the many complaints and embarrassing moments we experience at present”.
Phil Brennan, county secretary of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, threw his weight behind the adoption of Summer Time in Callan. He warned that the outcome of the ballot would have far-reaching effects. Kells, Windgap, Tullaroan, and Dunamaggin were awaiting Callan’s verdict. If the town said YES to Summer Time, they “would follow suit without any bother”, he promised.
But Callan Co-operative and Dairy Society was adamant that New Time would devastate the farming community. The Co-op’s Committee Chairman, Larry Maher, cautioned that “a great deal of business on Sunday mornings and on week days too is done with people in neighbouring parishes and the majority of these go by New Time”.
He continued: “It would not be to the advantage of this society nor to the town in general if due to a switch to New Time here, these people switched to some other creamery or store which is run by Old Time. If the farmers and the farm labourers have to change to New Time, the cows in the very hot weather will not be easily found in the early evenings due to warble fly and other problems.
“The milk would be subjected to such a high temperature that the following morning when it arrived at the creamery, its quality would be very poor. Hence milk would have to be treated twice daily with cooling apparatus. This would not be very economical”.
A more colourful critique of Summer Time was quoted by Seamus O’ Brien in the Kilkenny People. The ‘Old Timer’ in question did not mince his words: “Farmers have to rise late and early, and are governed by Divine Providence. What is good enough for them is good enough for me. I am entirely opposed to putting my clock an hour fast for the summer.
“I would favour a strongly worded resolution to do away with Summer Time entirely. Are you aware that the originator of Summer Time was a Frenchman who turned out to be a lunatic? For goodness sake, instruct the undertakers in this town to have a funeral and bury this thing called Summer Time deep down in the earth so that it will never make its appearance again”.
By contrast, a corn store manager, John Clancy, felt it was “ridiculous that we have to depend on farmers to make our living, but we do no business in the first hour of opening if we observe New Time, because their clocks are an hour behind”. William Egan, proprietor of the Gaiety Cinema, also believed that Callan should be freed from its “Time Warp”. A few weeks before the ballot, he announced he was changing cinema performance times from 9pm. to 8.30pm.
April 28, came and the people of Callan went to the polls. Counting of votes commenced at the Parish Hall at 8 p.m. under the supervision of Garda Superintendent Egan. Representatives from the National Farmers Association, Macra Na Feirme, Callan Co-op, and the Town Development Association were also present at the count. A huge crowd had gathered in the streets outside to hear the result.
The town held its breath as Supt. Egan prepared to announce its verdict on Summer Time: 1,195 people had voted in favour, 215 had voted against. “The ayes have it”, he confirmed. A rousing cheer went up from the YES camp, as groups of stunned farmers and No supporters shook their heads in disbelief.
More than 85 per cent of Callan people had voted to break with tradition. In the days that followed, the Old Timers claimed it had been a hollow victory for the New Timers since most farmers had simply boycotted the referendum.
But there could be no going back for Callan. Time was marching on and would soon heal the wounds opened up by the great debate.
(From: Kilkenny-People Places Faces by John Fitzgerald )
