Biddie Dobbins !!

[jk]

remember that shop ?

[Kentgal]

Well remembered.
Biddy and Agnus

[tommyhetherington]

Hi All,
These two women have got mentioned in many parts of the forum. Where did they come from? Were they local and are they survived by family?
It would be interesting to know their story and to remember more about them than the two ladies in the shop.
Tommy H

[Kentgal]

Biddy and Agnus were sisters. Set up shop when the British were stationed there & had a fab wine & dined 'ole time in their prime.
......Particularly Agnus.

[Kentgal]

Forgot to add that they never married and had no family. Too good looking in their time & had too good a time to settle for settling down I guess.

[Kentgal]

Aug 9, 2008 21:00:09 GMT tommyhetherington said:

Hi All,
These two women have got mentioned in many parts of the forum. Where did they come from? Were they local and are they survived by family?
It would be interesting to know their story and to remember more about them than the two ladies in the shop.
Tommy H

Great to see the sociological slant.
Sad there was no recognition to the other bit of Archive history re- Curragh women who made a difference. Details somewhere on forum.
One is diseased while the other, a friend of mine is still around.
Ah! sur its quite obvious the forum is male dominated with tunnel vision.

[ken kinsella]

;D ;D ;D Two great ol' ladies but we sure gave them a hard time. I remember watching sesame street & hearing of Nectrines for the first time. . . which were totally unheard of at the time. Myself, shiner, mek & a few others saw this as an opportunity to torment them. We each took turns to go into Biddies and ask for a nectarine, Christ they were they annoyed & ran us. Such innocent fun!!!

[willie078]

I'm sure that they had the 1st juke box in the Curragh. I use to work for them as a paperboy during my school days.Herald was 2d, the Evening press was the same price, are these papers still about?

[Kentgal]

Three jute boxes were delivered to the Curragh at the same time from the same firm.
One each to Sands, Wesleyne and Dobbins. I think Sands was the first to go live and Dobbins after the Wes.

[rose5mcdonaghtce]

Remember the juke box in Biddy's Tommy Dillon usually in there of an afternoon playing all Elvis records, was and still is a major fan. Most everyone on the Camp had their milk delivered by the milkman, shops did not stock it like they do to-day, no refrigeration for it either, just crates, most shops getting I would reckon about two a day. Sundays were a pain as most milkmen delivered two days on Saturday, with the result Sunday evening there could be a bit of panic buying. McAteers and Biddys the only shops open on a Sunday evening, always went to McAteers first, they had usually sold out, on down to Biddy's in with empty bottle in hand, the first words out of Biddy's mouth would be "McAteers must have none". did'nt care where I got it. Everytime I went into that shop as soon as I would open the door the greeting always was "Shut the door" especially in the winter months. Biddy always wore an overall, Agnes never, Biddy no make-up Agnes always, Biddy usually did the serving while Agnes sat on the sidelines. Both would be very busy on Sundays before the matinee, all us kids preferring to shop there, all of the cheaper brand of sweets laid out in the window. Major decisions to be made 4d into the cinema and 2d to spend, trying to make your mind up what to buy that would last the duration of the picture. Every kid asking how much this and that was when you already knew, the ladies losing patience fast. Six small toffee sweets for 1d and a black toffee were usually my selection. Biddy would have old newspapers on the counter she would tear some off and make a cone shape with it and the six sweets were placed inside, with all the commotion you would hope she would make a mistake in your favour and maybe get seven, but it never happened for me. Was always torn between the sweets and toffee or a money ball, remember them, pink rock style covered in sugar and the chance to win 3d or 6d inside, never heard of anyone on the camp getting anything in one. Bought one once got nothing, only came out of cinema with hair stuck to my face, hands stuck together, cardigan and dress destroyed and jaws aching.

[rose5mcdonaghtce]

Hi Willie,
The Evening Press is long since gone, but you can still buy the Evening Herald, just wondering what it was like to work for the Dobbin's sisters especially as a kid.
Rose

[Kentgal]

In 1958 the Dobbin Biddy & Agnus commissioned a cup for the Kildare Irish Dancing Championships.
Both of them were over the moon when a girl from the Curragh won the trophy.

[willie078]

Most of us from McDonagh used to work for Biddy or Easons [Mr Palmer in my day].Biddy had the upper hand as she gave you your breakfast on Sunday before you started your round. The best round for tips was to get to the Hospital as fast as you could. Then head for the chapel in Tintown. Going back to the juke box did you get an extra tune for a shilling??

[rose5mcdonaghtce]

Hi Willie,

Think there was a bargain to be had for the shilling and you got an extra tune, do you remember Mr. Gregory in Easons, also do you remember the McCuskers was very small at the time but can remember being at a wedding in their house, the adults dancing in the kitchen, also remember Mary Philips wedding that was also held at the house can remember her and her new husband walking up to Donnelly Swifts to have their photograph taken, she has since passed away.
Rose.

[willie078]

Talking about Donnelly Swifts, there used to be a taxi driver parked outside his shop called Busty Smith. I can never remember anyone from the camp getting in our out of it.