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Maurice Daly Recalls

I was born in Newtownshandrum. There were three in my family, two sisters and me. My late mother died when I was three years old and my father brought me up. At fourteen years of age I was anxious to get a job and go working. My first job was with a priest, Fr. Carroll from Bruree. His was the parish of Ashford and Rahana. I was there for a few years. Then that priest was changed and Fr. Con O'Sullivan came. I was his driver for a while. He was very involved in Traditional dance, feis and music. I later came back home and I got a job at P J Ryan's of Ardnageeha. I also later worked at Twohills of Newtown-shandrum. Then I went to England. I was driving for Harrods Store for a while. I had to do a second P.S.V test to drive. Also I drove for Shakespeare furniture company. To sum up, I drove thousands of miles and Thank God never had any accident. I drove big and small vehicles. I remember double clutches on gearboxes.

I was never a man for Guinness or Whiskey. I am driving sixty years. Drove V Eights, Humber Hawks. I enjoyed dancing all my life. I can say I wore many a pair of shoes. I came home to Ireland in 1972. I never settled in Newtown for I did not know but very few people. They knew who I was. I felt that I should go to another parish where I would not be known. I got a house in Ballinaboul, Churchtown for a while.

When the houses in Rath became available I bought this one. I can say that my wife and I settled down very well and quickly and we regard ourselves as Churchtown people now and are very happy here.

The view I have from my front window is real country. You are looking at nature when you look out. See the cattle and the scenery of the grove of trees in the farm across the way. I have no desire to travel beyond this parish. I like reading history. I am not a TV man.

Mrs.Daly

I was born in Tipperary. And my father's name was Collupy. He lived in the Solohead area. He worked with CIE in the railways. I went to school in the Presentation Convent. I have good memories of these times. I had four sisters and four brothers.

I started working in Limerick after leaving school. I worked in Bennis. They were Quak-ers and ran a grocery business. I went to baking classes while working. I liked it and was good at baking. I won prizes at Ballinacarra show for scones.

I suffered a tragedy with an infant who died of leukemia. He was just thirteen months of age. I pray to him every night. He is a little angel. I later had a serious operation and as I was recovering from anesthetic, little Cornelius appeared to me and I did not want to let go of him. We have got to have faith in our lives; it makes sense of our living.