Christmas on The Curragh - Old Photographs.

[Matt McNamara]

A special thanks to Barbara Mullins for sharing most of the above old photos.

Matt

[andybrennan]

Grand to see all those smiling faces and some of the Curragh prior to demolition.

Andy

[Sean Tracey]

Hi Matt . Looking at the Christmas photographs you posted brought back a lot of warm and wonderful memories of times past and our lives on the Curragh. I showed them to my two Daughters and they have always said that we as children had better lives than we have now. What they mean is that Christmas was looked forward to, rather than now it seems to be just another long weekend in the year. Oh wonderment of the unveiling of Powells Christmas window was Magicial or the rare trip to Newbridge on the bus was looked forward to. I could go on and on but I feel a great lump in my throat and a few tears in my eyes when that magical time of our lives is spoken about. So Cheers for now ,Sean Tracey.

[Matt McNamara]

Hi Sean

Glad you enjoyed the photographs and that you were able to share your Christmas as a child growing up on the Curragh Camp. I suppose like myself you remember the magic and excitement that Christmas brought. I hope you liked the O'Higgins Rd photo.

Happy New Year to you and your family.

Matt

[barbaramullins]

Yes, Sean, Christmas was a magical time and lovely memories of times past…

Anne & Mary Dillon, Rita Phillips, Marguerite Cowley and myself had a path worn down to Powell’s, McAteers and Dobbins to look at the toys in the windows and pick out what we would like from Santa whether we got them or not was another story! We loved looking in the chemists too as their windows were full of fancy soaps, all sorts of every-thing and any amount of tinsel. And we really looked forward to the children’s Christmas party! There were all sorts of sandwiches, buns and sweets to eat, all set out on white tablecloths. Santa was there of course and we all got a present. There was music and they might show a film. It was very exciting! The adults had a Christmas dinner on another night. My mother or father would bring home the dessert (trifle in a paper frilled dish) to me after the dinner, I can still see it! As someone else said, nothing like the army trifle!

Matt, your photographs are lovely; they show the Curragh at its winter best.

Happy New Year to you and your families.
Barbara

[johnd]

Hi Barbara, Seán, Andy and Matt,

Thanks for sharing the images and memories with us. Hope you have had a very Happy Christmas and that 2014 will be good to you. Have forwarded a picture of the Good Intentions to Matt for posting on the site.

Happy New Year to all Shadowers and associates.

Regards,

Johnd

[barbaramullins]

These are the names of our good friends and neighbours in the above photos:
McDonagh Christmas Party 1960: L-R Santa, Marguerite, Liam, Olivia & Nancy Cowley, Pearl Phillips, Barbara Mullins Snr & Jnr, Teresa Duhig, Pearce Donohue.
ONUC Hampers 1960: L-R Mrs Steadman, Mrs Hayes, Barbara Mullins Snr & Jnr, Phyl & Mary Ambrose, Betty Duhig, Maureen Dillon.
4 Christmas Dinners McDonagh Bks 1950s:
(1) L-R Mary & Phyl Ambrose, Nancy Cowley, Barbara Mullins, Paddy Hickey, ?
(2) L-R Jimmy & Maura Whelan, Barbara Mullins, Nancy Cowley, Paddy & Maureen Dillon
(3) L-R Nancy Cowley, Tom & Barbara Mullins, Mr & Mrs Tommy Tyrrell, row at back – Mr Brennan, Marie Dillon, Phyl Ambrose, Fr. Brophy.
(4) L-R Mark & Mary Dillon, Eileen Smith, Barbara Mullins Snr & Jnr, Olivia & Nancy Cowley.
Regards, Barbara

[barbaramullins]

Sorry, end of last post should have read:
3 Christmas Dinners McDonagh Bks 1950s AND Christmas Party McDonagh Bks 1962

Barbara

[andybrennan]

Barbara not only did I enjoy the snaps but the icing on the cake so to speak are the names of the people.

Thank you

Andy

[barbaramullins]

Ah thanks Andy.

Glad that you enjoyed them and as you said good to be able to put the names with them.

Barbara

[joemurray]

Thanks for posting the Christmas party photo's.It is wonderful to see them,brings back lots of warm memories.Speaking of things warm I noticed the ladies at the children's party have still got their coats on.It looks like they did not plan to stay long.I can hear the din from here.For us it was the highlight of the year.Almost better than Christmas Day.That photo of my dad is the first and only pre 1970s Christmas Day photo's of any of our family.Just aswell he was on duty that day or we would have non.Happy New Year to All.

[andybrennan]

Thank you Barbara

[johnny1951]

Thanks to you both Barbara and Matt
for sharing the fond memories of Christmas past. A nice trip down memory lane

[nickey]

Hi Matt.
Thank you for the wonderful memories those photographs have stirred in me. My very special photo is of the Clarke warrant officers. I grew up there and have mostly happy memories of those great years. I feel deeply saddened though, when I think of all the amazing neighbours I had the privilege of knowing who have sadly passed on. I am saddened too at the devastation that has been inflicted on our place in the intervening years.
Having said all that though, the photographs are a great reminder of a great place with great people and I again thank those involved.
Best wishes to all.
Nick Cunningham

[celticmedium]

: Irish Life Saving Champions, Curragh Team 1946 - this is a picture of my father C/S Joseph Broderick and the rest of the team, I hope it comes out.....heres hoping.    cathy