DES WHITE, ATHBOY, BORN 1943

Des White has a lifelong interest in the history of his native town and, during this recording, he produced a scale map, drawn by himself and his father in the winter of 1974, of the town of Athboy in 1900, showing the houses, their occupants and occupations. He speaks about his own house which was a boarding house during his childhood, and he recalls many of the people who lodged there. He discusses the Athboy branch of the Gaelic League, and the strength of the League in the town in earlier times. Des worked initially in the furniture trade, but decided on a change of career in 1966 when he began his training as a psychiatric nurse, a career he pursued for forty years. He discusses the major changes which occurred in his workplace at Mullingar Hospital over that time, and also discusses the strong tradition of Irish music in the town of Athboy, and his own days playing in a traditional Irish music group.