Paddy O’Meara (b. 1920)

Paddy O’Meara and his twin brother Dermot were born in Mallow in 1920 into a family of 10 boys and two girls. Their mother was a member of the Egan family of jewellers in Cork City, and Paddy has clear memories of childhood visits to the jewellery shop in the city, and watching the silversmiths at work on the top floor of the building. His earliest memory relates to the relocation of the entire family from Mallow to Youghal during the Troubles to ensure their safety, due to the fact that his uncle Barry Egan was Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork City during Terence McSwiney’s tenure as Lord Mayor. Paddy discusses the Duhallow Hunt with which he and his family have always been deeply involved. He relates the history of the Hunt which was founded in 1715. He also discusses the class distinction which existed in Mallow, as elsewhere, and which manifested itself in the sports of tennis, rugby and the Hunt in earlier days. Paddy O’Meara is a medical doctor who specialised in otorhinology. He emigrated and worked at Northampton General Hospital for a short period where his medical career began, followed by long years of service in his home county.