MAUREEN PHELAN (née LAMBE), ATHBOY, BORN 1934 (Part 2)

The Emergency in Ireland is vivid in Maureen Phelan’s memory. She clearly recalls the burning of sawdust as a substitute fuel, the people coming to the shop with ration coupons, and the care people took with their purchases. The business was famous for its delicious ice-cream, which was made on the premises. The house in which the family lived had been originally built on the site of an old castle, and many years ago, a cellar was discovered under the house which was subsequently to prove very useful, due to its very low temperature, for the storage of foodstuffs. During the recording Maureen discusses the local people featured in some old family photographs.