Nora McMahon 2

Interview by Frances Madigan on April 29, 2011

Gender: Female

Birth date: 1915

Area: North Clare - Kilfenora

Parish: Kilfenora

Report date: December 17, 2015

image_pdf

Time Description
File 1 0:00:00 - 0:04:50 MARRIAGE AND THE MARRIAGE BAN - Nora talks about meeting her husband in the clinic in Miltown Malbay. Nora talks about the choice between marriage and being a nurse. She never regretted marrying her husband who was an only child. Nora goes on to talk about all the McMahon families in the area. They all had nicknames to distinguish them. She lists the nicknames of various McMahon families. Her husband was known as 'Jimmy the Bridge' because his home was beside the bridge. They got married in Lahinch Church and afterwards they had breakfast in the Queen's Hotel in Ennis with twenty-five guests. They spent a week on honeymoon in Dublin.
0:04:50 - 0:09:40 FAMILY - They came home to Emlagh. Jimmy's mother lived with them. They had three children Michael, John and Anne. John lives next door to her. Nora talks about her daughter Anne who worked in the Civil Service in Foreign Affairs, then in De Valera's office where they spoke Irish all day. She was fluent in Irish and in French. She was full of fun and chat. When Ireland joined the Common Market she worked for the EEC in Brussels. She travelled all over Europe while she was there. Nora and her husband visited her in Brussels. The local shop there called her 'Our Little General from Ireland'. Unfortunately she died suddenly
0:09:40 - 0:15:30 RURAL LIFE AND THE MARRIAGE BAN - Nora talks about moving from Cregg to Kilfenora. As a nurse she was very popular. She spoke to everybody as she did in Cregg. She says they had wonderful neighbours. She settled in very well. She then goes on to speak about the closure of the local school. Nora returned to nursing at the age of 53. Married women were allowed to apply for a permanent position but the cut off age was 50. She knew a few nurses who worked in St Joseph's in Ennis and she worked there for sixteen years until she retired. Nora was married 55 years when her husband passed away. She attributes her long life to hard work from twelve years of age.
0:15:30-0:21:43 TRADITIONS AND CHANGES IN IRELAND - Nora believes that we are no longer Irish. The support system of neighbours no longer exists. Long ago everybody would help out. She believes it was the television that ruined it. Nowadays nobody is at home. Nora talks about people coming to her house on Cuairt/Cuaird/Ragairne when she was younger. An old man used to come and stay for hours. He was great company. Nora tells a story about the introduction of electricity and running water. They got washing machines and dryers. Before that they had the tilly lamps. It had a mantle on it. Nora's advice is to learn to use equipment around the house.

Archive conditions of use

Cuimhneamh an Chláir provides access to these transcripts / recordings on the understanding that they are for personal use.  If you wish to use the material in any form of research, publication or presentation online or in person, you will need to specify that use and seek specific permission from Cuimhneamh an Chláir at [email protected]

 

Your request will then be reviewed by Cuimhneamh an Chláir and will be subject to a licensing agreement (at no cost).

 

Please enter your email address here to indicate your agreement to the above conditions. We will retain your email in accordance with our privacy policy.

 

Enjoy the archive!