Sally Stokes

Sally Stokes recalls her father-in-law who was known as Nolly and who was one of Cork city’s great characters. In 1936 he set up a restaurant known as the Milkbar at the top of Patrick’s Street near the bridge, which included a clock room full of antiques. Nolly was also a vintage car collector in his spare time. Some years later the business changed its name to the Old Bridge Restaurant. Sally went on to talk about her own marriage to Nolly’s son Christopher Stokes, and her time spent in farming in Midleton as well as in a business in Bantry. Later they moved to Cork, where they opened an antique clock shop in MacCurtain Street. She speaks fondly about the rare and wonderful clocks in their premises, and discussed some of the Cork clockmakers down through the years.