The oral story of Offaly people in the Offaly History Centre sound archives collection. 21 October 2024, 8 p.m. Offaly History Centre, Bury Quay Tullamore, R35 Y5V.
The presentation by Aidan Barry will consist of the following:
– An overview of the oral history resources available at Offaly History and how to access them.
– Commemorating the work of Maurice O Keefe (RIP) at Irish Life and Lore and Albert Fitzgerald (RIP) at — – Midlands103 and also the late James Kenny of Clara Bridge, Tullamore.
– Listening to samples from the Oral History collection at Offaly History
– Recording Oral History and editing recordings
– Transcribing Oral recordings using the latest technology
As part of the presentation, we will listen to some audio clips about three minutes long each from the audio archives. These are from the Irish Life and Lore recorded by the late Maurice O’Keefe. They’re also from the Midlands 103, and they’re also from some of Offaly history’s own recordings made by the late James Kenny and others.
These include people like Emily O’Reilly talking to Albert Fitzgerald about her early days in Tullamore.
Richard May talking about the difficulty of accessing a phone line when he started up his business in Tullamore in 1977.
Sister Oliver Rafter about the secondary top schooling at Killina. To give an example
Sr Oliver Wrafter will long be remembered in Killina, Rahan and Tullamore for her remarkable life full of kindness and generosity. It was matched only by an enthusiasm to ensure that Killina schools would be a fit memorial to Maria O’Brien who funded the the Killina convent and herself became a sister in what was the first post-Reformation convent in the diocese of Meath. Sr Oliver carried on that tradition of absolute dedication from the time of her entry in the 1940s and persevered in ensuring that Killina’s claim for second level status would succeed and flourish. She and her friend Sr Patrick Deegan were regular in their attendance at Offaly History lectures. In Killina she saw to the publication of several useful books on the parish of Rahan and ensured the collection of folk items attached to the school. This small museum was opened in the 1980s. We have memories of a life well spent in the service of her convent, parish and her country. Truly we will not see her like again.
Martin Furlong about his decision to move his entire family to America in 1988.
Johnny Flanagan talking about his early days as a raw recruit working for Sonny Duffy.
Joe Kenny arriving in Tullamore in 1954, talking about his first views of Tullamore when he stepped off the train.
May Martin talking about her life living in Boland’s Lock with her aunt Nan Boland and growing up there and being effectively fostered there by her aunt.
Bill Jaffray talking about Irish Mist and the difficulty of what happened when they went to export Irish Mist to the American market.
Ollie Clancy and Seamus O’Connor are talking about the time and motion man at Williams’s, and how that went down with some of the workers.
We’ll also hear about the railway station in Tullamore. Charlie Finlay will talk about life in Tullamore railway station in 1967.
Finally, we’ll also hear a special recording done by James Kenny, some of his early recordings are in the Offaly History Collection and also in the Irish Life and Lore series, and it includes an interview with John Jack Egan about his carpentry and his apprenticeship.
Aidan Barry is a retired primary teacher and school principal who has worked in the midlands since 1985. He has been volunteering with Offaly History since January 2023 gathering and cataloguing Oral History resources in the centre. Aidan is also a part time broadcaster with Midlands 103.
Tea, coffee after the talk.
Admission is €5 to non-members and €2 to members. It is a public lecture and we welcome non-members and those who might wish to join and get involved.
Queries to info@offalyhistory.com.
The lecture will also be broadcast on Zoom for the link email, info@offalyhistory.com
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