Robin O' Connell

02/23/22 • 36 min

Episode 7 focuses on Robin O' Connell from Meelick, in South East Co. Clare - poitin maker, Gaelic football supremo, tradition bearer, free spirit.
This episode is dedicated to the memory of Margaret O' Connor, who made lovely recordings of great people in O'Briensbridge, Co. Clare, and who gently insisted that we go meet Robin and record him.
This episode is made with the support of Clare County Council through Clare County Library and Rethink Ireland.
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Previous Episode

Stories of the Land

Episode 6 features stories of life on the land in Co. Clare. There are stories of farming and of the crafts associated with it, of entertainment and of the rhythms of rural life in Co. Clare in times past.
John Vaughan from Kilfenora tells us about the tradition of wintering out cattle in the magical Burren area of Co. Clare.
Paddy Murphy from Mullagh tells us about cow doctors in the days before vets.
John Queally from Cooraclare and Susan Williams from Kilfenora tell us about the practice in country houses of killing a pig for food.
Teresa Flynn from Mountshannon describes the typical vegetable garden that was part of most farms in Co. Clare.
John Minogue from Glendree, Tulla gives a beautifully detailed and technical description of thatching houses.
Jimmy Gleeson from Coore in West Clare, tells us of supplementing farm incomes by hunting rabbits.
Patrick Flanagan from Doolin describes the joy of country house dances when the work day was over.

The first 6 episodes of this podcast are funded by The Heritage Council.
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Next Episode

The Kitty Leyden Tapes Part 1

88 year old Kitty Leyden was the youngest of 11, born on a small farm in Clonina, Cree, West Clare. She spent her young adulthood in New York. She then settled in Tulla, and raised 8 children. Hers is the story of the ordinary joys and hardships of women’s lives in mid-20th century rural Ireland. But her natural storytelling ability and her powerful memory enable her turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Below are explanations of terms you might need help with:

Press bed: a bed that folds back against the wall, usually in a kitchen.
Dowry: Money the woman’s family gave to the man’s family when a marriage match was made. This money often subsequently formed the dowry of the man's sisters, and thus kept circulating in the economy.
Plucking of the gander: The celebration once the match is made between the young man and woman, hosted by the young woman’s family.
Haws: fruit of the hawthorn tree
Púca: a mythological creature in Irish folklore. Capable of shape shifting. Often appears as horse, dog or human with animal features
Crabs: crab apples
Leaguers: “Land-Leaguers" once the most popular potato grown in Co. Clare
Spuds: potatoes
Lay nuns: Lay sisters are members of a community of religious sisters who tended to do the household duties and manual labour.
Peelers: Derogatory name given to the police, after English Prime Minister Robert Peel, who created the first police force.
“They carry Our Lady:” Refers to carrying a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Catholic religion. May is the month of celebrating the Blessed Virgin.
“A ghrá, a ghrá” Kitty’s father addressed her thus. Irish for “My love, my love” meaning ‘sweetheart’ a term of endearment.
Series 2 of The Clare Oral History Podcast is supported by The Ireland Funds
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