MARY (CISSY) HERWARD (née MCCORMACK), ALLENSTOWN, BORN 1921 (Part 1)

Cissy Herward is a native of Allenstown, near Kells. In her 90th year the clarity of dates, times and occurrences is extraordinary. She speaks of her family background and the family members who all worked on the Allenstown estate. Cissy’s father worked on the estate and reared his family there. She has fond memories of the working people there, the domestic and farm staff, and of the bell used for timekeeping. At the age of 18 she began work as a weaver at Navan Carpets where she remained for fourteen years. She married a farmer and, due to his ill health, she returned to work with Navan Carpets until 1956.