JEAN DICKIE (née Nicholson), BORN 1927, RATHMULLAN

Jean Dickie was recorded at her home in Carraleena Estate. She was born and reared in England and came to live in Ireland in 1950 with her late husband Major Michael Dickie, who was born in Cork in 1916. His father had served with the Dublin Fusiliers during the First World War. Jean recalls her husband’s wartime service with the Enniskillen Fusiliers. He was wounded in action in Burma and after the war, during a trip to the Gold Coast where he was posted as a member of the Colonial Service, he met Jean and they later decided to marry. In 1950, the couple came to Donegal and stayed at Portsalon Hotel and in 1969, they moved to Rathmullan. In the intervening years, they lived in Belfast where Michael worked with the British Legion. She discusses the turbulent years at Rathmullan at that time during the Troubles and the great voluntary work undertaken by her late husband in Rathmullan and Ramelton during the subsequent years.