Molly Cawley (Part 1)

Molly Cawley was born and reared in Ballymote, Co. Sligo, where her father was a house builder and carpenter. He had a hardware shop and a large workshop, and made windows and donkey carts. She has many stories to relate about the building of houses long ago. Molly fondly recalls the workshop where timber was seasoned for doors and windows which lasted a lifetime. Also related are stories of how people painted their donkey carts long ago, with materials like red lead. Turf barrows, spades and shovels as well as screws, hinges and nails were some of the items sold in the hardware shop. Molly remembers the Ballymote cattle fair, and discusses a typical day at the fair in vivid detail. She fondly recalls her mother who loved to knit, and Molly herself learned to knit and sew in school, and she emphasises the importance at that time of knowing how to mend and patch clothes.