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Post by Kentgal on Jan 11, 2009 16:46:06 GMT
Sands Homes There is no debate regarding the Elise Sands legacy born from her deep concern for the general welfare of young soldiers of the time. She was indeed an evangelical Christian and philanthropist whos primary purpose was to draw the young soldiers away from the public houses and offer them an alternative centre for friendship entertainment and self improvement.
The voices of many stated, 'To find ladies of social position and refinement coming to a soldiers' barrack-room and inviting the men to tea in their own house was like magnetism'. These social events were always welcoming and prayers and religious services were always voluntary.
However in the 1950s the Catholic Chaplains expressed concerns about the large numbers of civillains from outside the camp attending gospel meetings in Sands Home and about the dangers of young soldiers loosing their faith. They had no objection to soldiers using the canteen but they were wary of the Prayer House attached. To be continued:-
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Post by Kentgal on Jan 11, 2009 20:06:43 GMT
In 1955 Commanding Officer Col. A. O Leathiobhair reported to his superiors that there had been an increase in the numbers of evangelical flyers displayed in the canteen and reading room. The walls of the Home were also adorned with pictures of the Royal Family and of British regiments in famous battle scenes.
Nevertheless, he had very good relations with the superintendent, Miss Carson, describing her as "very much in earnest in looking after the welfare of the soldiers." Her predecessor was Miss Magill, a niece of Elise Sands, and the Col added that "this old lady was a great favourate with the soldiers and went to great lenghts to ensure they wrote to their parents as well as advising them to attend the catholic mission."
The Col believed that Sands Home was "essentially British" and accepted there was a possibility that it could unwittingly act as a recruiting agency for "another army." Surprisingly the display of British pictures and culture was not a source of major concern to him and merely noted the "all of this had little value from an Irish Army point of view.
He was very appreciative of the welfare work done in the Home and its founder would have been satisified with his conclusion: To be continued
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Post by Kentgal on Jan 11, 2009 20:24:45 GMT
Col O Leathlobhair concluded:
In justice I must say that Sands Home is well run and it fills a real need. Young soldiers are made to feel at home and not faced with the cold commercial atmosphere of the canteen. A good feminine influence meets a real need where young soldiers are concerned, and the only place where some of the young recruits that I ontain, receive anything approaching a motherly care is in Sands Home.
References 1) C. Costello, A Most Delightful Station: The British Army on the Curragh of Kildare, Ireland 1855-1922. Collins Press Cork (1996)
2) Military Archives Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin.
3) Sands. Registered Charity No 250718. NI Registration No 7273
4) M. H. Jeffery. Still My Vision. (Belfast 1968) - First published as The Trumpet Call Obey.
5) B. Mac Mahon, History of North Kerry & Eccentric Archbishop, Richard Whately of Redesdale. Recent.
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Post by joemurray on Oct 13, 2009 20:24:34 GMT
As a young lad I remember in the Reading Room they had for reading magazines like "Look and Learn" "Country Life"and the British Army Magazine "Soldier".I dont remember it worried any of us.The also had framed photos of the Irish Army heading out to the Congo etc.We used to hear them singing at their gospel meetings on a Sunday afternoon.They would at times give us little "prayer"books.My mother would burn them,because if we read them it would be a mortal sin.We children and adults had alot of growing up to do.What was the harm ?
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Post by Matt McNamara on Jan 2, 2010 21:13:44 GMT
Hi All The following photographs were sent to me by Joe Murray and are taken of a diary he received in Sandes Home in 1969 Thanks again Joe for providing the photographs. Matt
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Post by andybrennan on Jan 2, 2010 21:16:06 GMT
now is'nt that a nice thing to have, great memories of ma budgies
andy
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Post by teresap on Jan 3, 2010 22:02:47 GMT
Hi Matt and Joe thanks for that information, its nice to know where it all started, and especially to put a face to a name we all heard of over the years. teresa
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Post by kellquinn on Jan 3, 2010 22:59:45 GMT
Hi Matt Joe and all. As I type I am actually reading my Diary that I kept for the year 1969, and believe it or not it is actually the same diary as Joe Murray's, I loved going to Sandes when I was in my youth, and my fondest reading memory's of those days were the Readers Digest and The Look and Learn, I was not very good at the Snooker, however I often managed to scrape a game or two. Remember the Russian Slices they sold in the Canteen area, I had three one night and thought I had swallowed a bail of Briquettes. The chips always laced with vinegar and salt, the films either Cowboys or Horror. The Juke box at a tanner a song, a slight shoulder at the top of the Jukebox as the record returned and it played again. " If I did'nt have a dime". Still remember that one off by heart. My Army weekly wages then £7.18s.5d Pte 3* Regards to all JKelly
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Post by andybrennan on Jan 4, 2010 0:15:17 GMT
Joey, you mention Russian slices,
I have a memory of when we used to all knock around together and having what I remember as chester cakes these were square total fruit with pastry top and bottom, are these the same???. I remember we used to sit as a bunch on the fourms either side of large tables with what I think ma have been Formica tops simulating marble. your memories please
Andy
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Post by andybrennan on Jan 4, 2010 0:45:21 GMT
Hi Tresa hope you Mick had a good move from 2009 to 2010 and he gave the guitar a bit of a roasting
Andy
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Post by andybrennan on Jan 4, 2010 0:49:56 GMT
Joey,
you remember the phone number for Sandes it was 41234 back in 1965
Andy
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Post by mary carroll on Jan 4, 2010 2:15:04 GMT
Hi Joey and Andy, I remember those cakes especially if they were the Chester cake and boy they were lovely, you can still get them, although I stay away from them now. Its amazing the simple little things you had forgotten about, and then someone mentions it and there you are back home at that moment, bliss.
Mary C
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Post by Louis Parminter on Jan 4, 2010 3:18:23 GMT
Hi Joey, Andy and Mary,
My mouth is watering here with memories of those Chester cakes. I was a regular purchaser of same from the Dwyer sisters in Sandes Canteen, a Chester cake and a mug of tea always hit the spot when on 'glassshouse' duty, they were not only so tasty but very filling, luckily they did not sell them by weight as they would have cost a fortune!
regards
Louis
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Post by andybrennan on Jan 4, 2010 17:00:12 GMT
Greets Louis right about them chester cakes belly expanding if to many consumed.
The glass house I never refered to it other then the digger, perhaps Joey might enlighten me as to where digger came from
cheers andy
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Post by kellquinn on Jan 4, 2010 21:38:04 GMT
Hi andy Louis and all. The Chester cakes were a different item as I recall, they actually tasted like the mince pies we get at Christmas. The Russian slices were a make up of all the left overs from various cakes/buns that the baker used to make and mixed together into a square shaped cake topped with a Pink Icing ever heard of a Tipsy Cake? these were a slice of same about 3 ins long and 2 inches wide.. and boy were they heavy!
Regards JKelly
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