Morgan (Morgie) O’Connell 2

Interview by Patricia Sheehan on April 20, 2011

Gender: Male

Birth date: 1925

Area: West Clare - Carrowreagh East

Report date: January 12, 2016

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Time Description
File 1 0:00:00 - 0:03:43 AGRICULTURE/ECONOMIC WAR - Morgie says 'The Cooper Sheehan',Tonlegee, made firkins. He recalls the Calf Scheme during the Economic War. He says you could get no price for old cows or horses. He speaks of how 'The Skinner' Kelly's from Kilrush bought and disposed of old cows. He says a factory opened in Roscrea for old cows. You got 50 shillings for a cow. Cows were taken from Ennis and Kilrush. He recalls how the Custys had to coax a cow to the railway in Ennis - “they were terrible times”.
0:03:44 - 0:05:47 FARM WORK - Morgie says George McCarthy worked at O'Deas in Crahera 75 years ago for £14 a year. He speaks of an innocent man who worked hard for farmers and got no money.
0:05:48 - 0:08:34 THE ECONOMIC WAR - Morgie says it destroyed a lot of people. He remembers his dad going to Kildysart with a calf and taking a neighbour's calf along too. Paddy O'Grady's father was the butcher. He speaks of an Ennistymon man who failed to sell his bonabhs and drowned them on the way home from market. He says the creamery cheque “kept the people in the house”.
0:08:34 - 0:11:55 TURF - Morgie says turf was a hard earned income at 5 shillings a creel. He recalls Johnsie Considine heading off with his creel of turf when Morgie would be going home from school. He would return home at 1am. He says coal was scarce. The Blacksmith and townspeople had some.
0:11:56 - 0:24:23 WORK/EMIGRATION - Morgie says the O'Deas employed farmers. People went to Australia at that time. Andy Honan sold his farm in Lack and worked for Mrs Morgan in Cranny. His brothers had gone to Queensland. Ref to Sonny Honan.
0:24:24 - 0:40:13 KEANES/MCGRATH'S - Morgie speaks of the Keane/McGrath family in detail. Ref to the Legion of Mary Socials in Coolmeen. The priest charged 4p to get in. Morgan tells of how the bonesetter, Haren from Connolly, cured Sinney McGrath's broken leg. Morgie remembers the big pot over the fire at the McGrath's home. Micheal went to school with Morgie.
0:40:14 - 0:48:41 HOUSE DANCES & GAMBLES - Morgie says the houses used to be packed to the rafters. Supper and vegetable marrow jam was usually given. Morgan tells the story of how ducks were stolen after a gamble in Glencanane. He also tells a funny story of a dance at Cooley's in Kildysart. He names the musicians who usually played locally including Tommy Corry; Tomas Queally; Mickey O'Dea; Mickey Landers; Jamsie Mac; Frankie Meskill and Sonny McInerney.
0:48:42 - 0:57:30 MATCHMAKING - Morgie speaks of fairs and match-making after Christmas. He says girls often married into lonely places. Morgie gives an example. He speaks of how girls and boys got jobs in England and did well during the Economic War. He concludes with a ref to the change in times. He says since people didn't have cars they were happy to socialise at home.

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