SEAMUS BALFE, AGE 71, KILLYBEGS, LACKEN

Seamus Balfe is a native of Killybegs, many of whose inhabitants were small farmers who also worked in the granite quarries. He recounts stories handed down from the older people about the ESB dam which flooded the low-lying lands there, covering many acres of land which had been farmed by locals over generations. He also speaks about the forestry projects which began in the 1950s in the area. He recalls his father’s keen interest in local history, and describes the local accent and different pronunciations of names, and also, mentions the hard winters which were experienced over the years.