The Clare Oral History Podcast: Recent Episodes
Clare Memories / Cuimhneamh an Chláir
This podcast delves into the thousands of Irish life stories in the archive of the Irish Oral History and Folklore Group known as Cuimhneamh an Chláir or Clare Memories. We’re based in Co. Clare in the West of Ireland. The oral histories we’ve gathered reveal ordinary lives and extraordinary stories. The podcast will introduce you to the people and experiences that make the West of Ireland what it is. And we'll show you that the truly local is also global!
88 year old Kitty Leyden was the youngest of 11, born on a small farm in Clonina, Cree, West Clare. She spent her young adulthood in New York. Returning home, she settled in Tulla, and raised 8 children. Hers is the story of the ordinary joys and hardships of women’s lives in mid-20th century rural Ireland. However her natural ability as a storyteller and her powerful memory combine to enable her to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. She doesn’t shy away from the darker stories of life in Ireland either.
Below are explanations of terms you might need help with:
Press bed: a bed that folds back against the wall, usually in a kitchen, to accommodate guests
Dowry The money the woman’s family gave to the man’s family when a marriage match was made. This money often subsequently formed the dowry of the sisters of the man. In this way dowry money tended to keep circulating in the local economy.
Plucking of the gander (also the ‘picking of the gander’): The celebration that takes place once the match is made between the young man and woman, hosted by the young woman’s family.
Haws: fruit of the hawthorn tree
Púca: a mythological creature in Irish folklore. Capable of shape shifting. Often appears as horse, dog or human with animal features
Crabs: crab apples
Leaguers: “Land-Leaguers”In times past the most popular potato grown in Co. Clare
Spuds: potatoes
|Big ”I Am”: Person who regarded himself as being of high social status.
Lay nuns: Lay sisters are members of a community of religious sisters who tended to do household duties and manual labour in the community.
Peelers: Derogatory name given to police, after English Prime Minister Robert Peel, who created the first police force. In Ireland it referred to the RIC in the 19th and early 20th century and continued in use also for the Gárda Siochána after Independence.
“They carry Our Lady” Refers to a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Catholic religion. May is the month of celebrating the Blessed Virgin. In times past there were many parades where religious statues were carried.
“A ghrá, a ghrá” Kitty’s father addressed her thus when she got back from Dublin. Irish for “ My love, my love” meaning ‘sweetheart’ a term of endearment.
Series 2 of The Clare Oral History Podcast is supported by The Ireland Funds
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Episode 7 focuses on Robin O' Connell from Meelick, in South East Co. Clare - poitin maker, Gaelic football supremo, tradition bearer, free spirit.
This episode is dedicated to the memory of Margaret O' Connor, who made lovely recordings of great people in O'Briensbridge, Co. Clare, and who gently insisted that we go meet Robin and record him.
This episode is made with the support of Clare County Council through Clare County Library and Rethink Ireland.
Follow the work of Cuimhneamh an Chláir on Instagram or Facebook
Or e mail us at info@clarememories.ie
Episode 6 features stories of life on the land in Co. Clare. There are stories of farming and of the crafts associated with it, of entertainment and of the rhythms of rural life in Co. Clare in times past.
John Vaughan from Kilfenora tells us about the tradition of wintering out cattle in the magical Burren area of Co. Clare.
Paddy Murphy from Mullagh tells us about cow doctors in the days before vets.
John Queally from Cooraclare and Susan Williams from Kilfenora tell us about the practice in country houses of killing a pig for food.
Teresa Flynn from Mountshannon describes the typical vegetable garden that was part of most farms in Co. Clare.
John Minogue from Glendree, Tulla gives a beautifully detailed and technical description of thatching houses.
Jimmy Gleeson from Coore in West Clare, tells us of supplementing farm incomes by hunting rabbits.
Patrick Flanagan from Doolin describes the joy of country house dances when the work day was over.
The first 6 episodes of this podcast are funded by The Heritage Council.
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Episode 5 features stories of life in the towns of Co. Clare.
Madeleine Killeen and Pat Foudy tell unusual stories of the lives of children and women in the town of Ennis. Frank Sheedy and Mary Angela Keane tell us of the eclectic mix of people who frequented the tourist town of Lisdoonvarna. Tomsie O' Sullivan paints a vivd picture of the resort town of Lahinch on Garland Sunday - exotic long before its Wild Atlantic Way image. Irene Doherty describes how a young couple defy mixed marriage prejudice in Kilkee. And Frank Davis tells of rural traditions alive and well in Ennistymon
The first 5 episodes of this podcast are funded by The Heritage Council.
Follow the work of Cuimhneamh an Chláir on Facebook.
Episode 4 features stories of Christmases past in Co. Clare in the West of Ireland.
Stories of the magic of Christmas candles in the days before electricity, the hustle and bustle of decorating the house, what 'Santy' brought children, the aromas that remain forever in the memory of Christmas cooking and baking, and of course stories of The Wren!
This podcast is based on a selection of stories contained in our CD of Christmas Memories from Co. Clare. If you would like a copy of the CD, please contact us on info@clarememories.ie. There's no charge for the CD, just for postage.
The first 5 episodes of this podcast are funded by The Heritage Council.
Follow the work of Cuimhneamh an Chláir on Facebook.
Episode 3 features stories of the working lives of women in Co. Clare.
Susan Williams in Kilfenora and Maura McInerney in Killaloe talk of hard physical labour. Peggy Hogan in Feakle tells us of the magic of the washing machine. Susan Barrett in Inagh and Annie Corry in Tulla tell stories of childbirth. Nora McMahon in Ennistymon, Bridie Morgan and Mary Casey in Corofin all tell us about the work young girl-children were expected to do. Moira Garry in Cooraclare and Nan Aherne in Ennistymon ran their own businesses.
The first 5 episodes of this podcast are funded by The Heritage Council.
Follow the work of Cuimhneamh an Chláir on Facebook.
Episode 2 features stories of the Clare coastline.
John Daly and Michael Falsey tell us about the herring fishing industry around Quilty. Randal Counihan talks of ravenous seals and slaveships. Pa Joe Mahony and Senan Blunnie talk of turfboats and seaweed. Tommy Fahy on how a tsunami shaped the North Clare coast. Manuel di Lucia goes spear fishing. John Glynn explains how to land sharks using magic songs. And Tomsie O' Sullivan reveals the secrets of the seawater baths in Lahinch!
The first 5 episodes of this podcast are funded by The Heritage Council.
Follow the work of Cuimhneamh an Chláir on Facebook.
Revamped website coming soon!
Episode One features great stories and great storytellers - not long folk tales or professional story tellers, just people who love language and know how to turn a phrase.
-Paddy Malley from Feakle tells us about finding a 4,000 year old gold hoard in his field
- Chris Droney from Bellharbour tells us about fairy music in a fort near his house.
- Teresa Flynn from Mountshannon tells us about endemic racism in a Catholic hospital in Chicago.
- Pat Flanagan from Doolin tells us about the death of his mother from TB.
- Madeleine Killeen from Ennis tells about her father's return from the British army to Revolutionary Ireland .
- Joe Tuohy from Scariff talks of his father's and uncle's activities during the War of Independence.
The first 5 episodes of this podcast are funded by The Heritage Council.
Follow the work of Cuimhneamh an Chláir on Facebook.
Revamped website coming soon!