My Grandad, Francis Maguire was a Carpenter and travelled around Ireland working in Shipyards as well as Furniture Makers, Shop fitters. In the early 20th Century he followed the work, the rest of the family stayed in Kilkenny. One of the shipyards he worked in was Haulbowlin near Cobh, Co Cork. Cobh has along association with ocean liners especially and the little Port has many connections with the Titanic, The Lusitania and other Liners. Grandad actually worked on the Titanic and another of his stories was that the British were unable to pronounce the word Cobh. Phonetically the 'b' is not used so its sounds like 'cove'.
However in England its always been Cob, H, as in corn on the COB with a heich at the end. During WWII the little town of YYpres in Belgium was unpronounable to many Soldiers so the town was renamed as ''Wipers'' the proper pronounciation sounding something like 'Yeep' Not of that I speak the "queens english'' myself. Apologies as well for any wrong spellings, incorrect use of english or grammar here as sometimes as we say in Dublin, I just can't be 'arsed"
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Part II Guns & Roses
With trembling voices Kathleen and Maddie began their favorite Duet “ The night winds are sighing and fast gather around us
The moonbeams are gleaming and brightly light the vale.’’
The sergeant appeared. “That’s enough of this mullarkey. Get along there, you young wans, and let us get on with our business’’.
The two girls took off as fast as was seemly, with their knees knocking from fright. At the same time, not wanting to seem to be too hasty, in case it looked too suspicious.
They hung over over the half door of the blacksmith, at the bottom of Cork Street, until they got their breath back. The proceeded to the Convent at Weaver Square.
When they reached the Convant, the Reverand Mother heard their story and took the music case and said she would have the Gardener bury it in the Rose Garden.
The girls breathed a sigh of relief and went home to the Maisie to tell her all.
Epilogue
Maddie was my Mother. Maisie was a local Dublin name for Mother. So Maisie was my Grand Mother. Kathleen was my Auntie. The Grain Store in Ardee Street is still there, unused, but I swear I can still smell the grain that was there for centuries.
The Smithy is also gone in Cork Street, where my brother Joe and I never passed without hanging over the half door to watch the Blacksmith shoe the horses.
The cobblestones were only removed a few years ago when the City Council pedestrianised the Temple Bar area when it was being redeveloped. The cobbles were certainly there ‘’early on a frosty morning’’ in January 1960 when I made my way to the Coombe Hospital for my Son Johns birth. The car bumped over them as it was so icey and my husband had to take his time.
Now in a different century as I drive up Cork Street, remembering all of this and see the new Apartment buildings all around. Some of them built on the grounds of the Convent Garden. I can’t help but wonder if perhaps some of the builders found that music case and if so, would they please contact me at my email address.
Betty Maguire
The moonbeams are gleaming and brightly light the vale.’’
The sergeant appeared. “That’s enough of this mullarkey. Get along there, you young wans, and let us get on with our business’’.
The two girls took off as fast as was seemly, with their knees knocking from fright. At the same time, not wanting to seem to be too hasty, in case it looked too suspicious.
They hung over over the half door of the blacksmith, at the bottom of Cork Street, until they got their breath back. The proceeded to the Convent at Weaver Square.
When they reached the Convant, the Reverand Mother heard their story and took the music case and said she would have the Gardener bury it in the Rose Garden.
The girls breathed a sigh of relief and went home to the Maisie to tell her all.
Epilogue
Maddie was my Mother. Maisie was a local Dublin name for Mother. So Maisie was my Grand Mother. Kathleen was my Auntie. The Grain Store in Ardee Street is still there, unused, but I swear I can still smell the grain that was there for centuries.
The Smithy is also gone in Cork Street, where my brother Joe and I never passed without hanging over the half door to watch the Blacksmith shoe the horses.
The cobblestones were only removed a few years ago when the City Council pedestrianised the Temple Bar area when it was being redeveloped. The cobbles were certainly there ‘’early on a frosty morning’’ in January 1960 when I made my way to the Coombe Hospital for my Son Johns birth. The car bumped over them as it was so icey and my husband had to take his time.
Now in a different century as I drive up Cork Street, remembering all of this and see the new Apartment buildings all around. Some of them built on the grounds of the Convent Garden. I can’t help but wonder if perhaps some of the builders found that music case and if so, would they please contact me at my email address.
Betty Maguire
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