Packie Harrison (Part 1)

The late Packie Harrison was born in 1923 on Saint Patrick’s Day. His schooldays over, his first job was with the County Council where he was put to breaking stones with a small hammer. In this recording, Packie describes working for the Council, digging drainage for the roads by hand, in the days before diggers. He talks about the donkeys and how useful they were as workers and he discusses the breeding and castrating of the asses and the procedures used. Packie also thatched with scollops and he describes in detail how this was done. He recalls some professional thatchers in the locality at the time and remembers many craftsmen in the area in days gone by, including blacksmiths and tailors.