Sheila Mulligan was born into a large family of nine siblings on a small farm in Drumroosk, and she recalls her upbringing, her schooling and beginning work at an early age. Following her marriage, she and her husband relocated to Belturbet, where they occupied a flat on the ground floor of a house in which the Shaw family also lived. She describes the explosion which occurred on the street there in 1972, and the young children being hurried down stairs in the house to safety after the windows and doors were blown in. The explosion resulted in the death of two young people and the widespread destruction of property. No counselling of any kind was available at the time for the many people affected, Sheila explains. She outlines the difficulties she and other local people experienced while crossing the Border during the following years, and describes the strength demonstrated by the people of her community. Sheila explains that employment was good in those days, but there always existed a divide between Catholics and Protestants in the wider community.
This collection, carried out by Irish Life and Lore on behalf of Cavan County Library Service, is funded by the EU Special EU Programmes Body Peace IV fund under the objective to build positive relations with people from different backgrounds and communities to support peace and reconciliation.
Download the recording free of charge by adding it to the basket and checking out as normal or listen to it online at this link: CDVOT01-31-Gorby
