P. J. GOREY TULLAMORE

This recording was made at the Round Lock, also known as Boland’s Lock. P. J Gorey’s own background in inland waterways has made him very knowledgeable about this topic and all his uncles were boatmen working on the canal. P.J. himself came home on the boats from school in his young days, and would listen to the boatmen singing and yodelling. He recalled many of the characters who worked for the Grand Canal Company. Tullamore was a centre of commercial activity in the midlands due to its position on the canal. P.J. gave a great account of the footbridges and other structures associated with the inland waterways and he drove me to Tullamore Nursing Home to introduce me to Nan Boland, once the lockkeeper at Round Lock.