JOHN CAHILL, AGE 81, CLONARD, CO LAOIS

John Cahill grew up in Clonard, near Portlaoise, the son of a merchant tailor. There was a long tradition of tailoring in the family. This recording contains many interesting stories, including one about the hijacking of a train during the War of Independence. John himself survived on a smallholding, and has memories of corn being cut with a sickle. All the local customs were recalled, including pisheogs, and and the custom of taking local farmers’ milk during May Eve.