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Post by nickey on Jul 12, 2011 21:30:43 GMT
Hi Andy, I would love to know the makers name too. Perhaps, with all the technology available to the army, you might analyse it and when you discover the name, you might use the technologh again and communicate the result to me. You can collect your winnings anytime now, the name was indeed Marie. I certainly do get the comfortable feeling of being on the Curragh each time I log on. Best wishes, Nick Cunningham.
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Post by annemcnamara on Jul 12, 2011 23:22:20 GMT
Hi Nick, thank you for that very touching post. We love to talk about Pete, I was only 5 when he died and any memory I had of him just seemed to be erased after the tragedy.The numbness went on for a long long time for our parents but on a lighter note we grew up to be happy and content living on the Curragh Camp. We are certainally greatful for our blessings.
All the best, Anne.
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Post by andybrennan on Jul 13, 2011 7:36:45 GMT
Nick
You have me there regarding the paint perhaps it was the oxide that gave it longevity.
Regarding the site here it is easy to slip into, a bit like a pair of comfortable slippers or a chair worn to the contours of the body over many years.
Also
A very moving tribute to Pete Mac.
Andy
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Post by rose wilson on Jul 19, 2011 14:54:08 GMT
hello frank this is rose wilson from newbridge hope ur keeping well
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Post by Frank O'Connor on Jul 20, 2011 3:09:17 GMT
Hi Rose,
Fancy meeting you here! Wonders will never cease! I heard you had crossed paths with my brother John, so I suppose he must have told you where to find me. It’s really good to hear from you.
Rose, if we’re going to get back in contact after all this time, I think that we’ll have some personal stuff to discuss, which we obviously can’t do on the open forum. If you register as a member we’ll be able to communicate by private message also, and maybe share email addresses etc. Look forward to hearing from you again soon.
Bye for now
Francis
PS John if you see this and want to get in touch please leave a message here
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Post by jjcurran on Aug 1, 2011 0:05:39 GMT
Hi all, I was just reading about our infamous ‘Reform Schools’ and was shocked to read that children were sent there by the courts for stealing apples from an orchard. This put me in mind of an event which forms part of my Curragh School memories. To protect my accomplice from any embarrassment I will refer to him by his initials. (LH).
In 5th class we were thought geography by a Mr Bob Forde (in Irish). He had given us homework to learn off . However as we were exceptionally busy with other more important issues like playing in the ‘crocket camps’ (Grenade range) or smoking woodbines in the plantations etc. we had not got around to our homework. Bob Forde we felt would not be pleased as he did not seem to us to have a very good sense of humour. On one occasion he asked of one of us, “if you do not learn your geography how will you find your way around Ireland when you grow up?” To which the reply was “I would look at the road signs sir”. This brought a flush of red to his face and he went into a tantrum with his leather strap which wiped the smile off all our faces. With this memory fresh in our minds, we resolved to escape his class by means of an elaborate plan. LH had a brother serving in the army who worked in what we called ‘The Dispensary’. This was where medical prescriptions were dished out. LH therefore was able to get hold of Headed Dispensary paper. Using this paper we forged two notes to the effect that prescriptions were available for collection at 2.30 pm. This would release us from coming back after lunch until 3.00 pm at which time the geography class would be over. Well my mother had a saying: “The devil finds work for idle hands”. We decided to put our free time to productive work and favour the Fruit Farm with our ‘valued’ custom. We scaled the fence opposite no 3 range and proceeded to fill our schoolbags with lovely red apples. To our horror I saw two black Rothweilers driving dust to the clouds heading in our direction. Now if you look up Rottweiler on Wikipedia it suggests that “the temperament of the Rottweiler is good-natured, placid in basic disposition, very devoted, obedient, biddable and eager to work”. Well as I remember it the sight of fire in their eyes and the dribbling of saliva from their mouths did not convince me other than they were anticipating tasting a good chunk of our posteriors. Good natured and placid were not words which came to mind. We ran to the fence, fired our schoolbags over and scaled the fence at the speed of light with a millisecond to spare. Now that we had been discovered we made our escape with due haste , listening intently for the sound of the dreaded “tut-tut-tut” of the BSA motorbikes used by the Pas. We then made the fortuitous decision to hide the apples in a trench behind the Power Station and head in to school, going in separately with 5 mins or so between us to create the impression we were not together. To our relief the geography lesson was over but we hardly had time to sit in our seats when the door opened and ‘special Agent’ Mr Bobby Breen (Headmaster) entered and we could see he had the scent of blood in his nostrils. He homed in on me and asked me to empty my schoolbag, which I did thanking God I had the foresight to hide our apples. LH was next for forensic examination. As nothing was found and our Academy Award pleas of innocence seemed to satisfy him. We felt we had pulled this heist off. However just before leaving the class he informed us all that the Guards in Newbridge were on their way to investigate. I’m sure my heart could be heard beating like a drum and from shear fear of discovery I resolved to leave the hidden apples to rot where they were. To our relief the reference to the Guards was probably a rouse and after a few days with no further mention of this heinous crime my heart beat returned to normal. Regards JJ
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Post by kathyo on Aug 1, 2011 9:08:29 GMT
Hi JJ wouldn't life have been great growing up in the curragh if we didn't have to go to the dreaded school it done me more harm then good I wouldn't mind after all the trouble of stealing the apples all you got after eating them was a pain in you're stomach? take care jj kathyo
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Post by Matt McNamara on Aug 1, 2011 11:48:10 GMT
Hi all, I was just reading about our infamous ‘Reform Schools’ and was shocked to read that children were sent there by the courts for stealing apples from an orchard. This put me in mind of an event which forms part of my Curragh School memories. To protect my accomplice from any embarrassment I will refer to him by his initials. (LH). In 5th class we were thought geography by a Mr Bob Forde (in Irish). He had given us homework to learn off . However as we were exceptionally busy with other more important issues like playing in the ‘crocket camps’ (Grenade range) or smoking woodbines in the plantations etc. we had not got around to our homework. Bob Forde we felt would not be pleased as he did not seem to us to have a very good sense of humour. On one occasion he asked of one of us, “if you do not learn your geography how will you find your way around Ireland when you grow up?” To which the reply was “I would look at the road signs sir”. This brought a flush of red to his face and he went into a tantrum with his leather strap which wiped the smile off all our faces. With this memory fresh in our minds, we resolved to escape his class by means of an elaborate plan. LH had a brother serving in the army who worked in what we called ‘The Dispensary’. This was where medical prescriptions were dished out. LH therefore was able to get hold of Headed Dispensary paper. Using this paper we forged two notes to the effect that prescriptions were available for collection at 2.30 pm. This would release us from coming back after lunch until 3.00 pm at which time the geography class would be over. Well my mother had a saying: “The devil finds work for idle hands”. We decided to put our free time to productive work and favour the Fruit Farm with our ‘valued’ custom. We scaled the fence opposite no 3 range and proceeded to fill our schoolbags with lovely red apples. To our horror I saw two black Rothweilers driving dust to the clouds heading in our direction. Now if you look up Rottweiler on Wikipedia it suggests that “the temperament of the Rottweiler is good-natured, placid in basic disposition, very devoted, obedient, biddable and eager to work”. Well as I remember it the sight of fire in their eyes and the dribbling of saliva from their mouths did not convince me other than they were anticipating tasting a good chunk of our posteriors. Good natured and placid were not words which came to mind. We ran to the fence, fired our schoolbags over and scaled the fence at the speed of light with a millisecond to spare. Now that we had been discovered we made our escape with due haste , listening intently for the sound of the dreaded “tut-tut-tut” of the BSA motorbikes used by the Pas. We then made the fortuitous decision to hide the apples in a trench behind the Power Station and head in to school, going in separately with 5 mins or so between us to create the impression we were not together. To our relief the geography lesson was over but we hardly had time to sit in our seats when the door opened and ‘special Agent’ Mr Bobby Breen (Headmaster) entered and we could see he had the scent of blood in his nostrils. He homed in on me and asked me to empty my schoolbag, which I did thanking God I had the foresight to hide our apples. LH was next for forensic examination. As nothing was found and our Academy Award pleas of innocence seemed to satisfy him. We felt we had pulled this heist off. However just before leaving the class he informed us all that the Guards in Newbridge were on their way to investigate. I’m sure my heart could be heard beating like a drum and from shear fear of discovery I resolved to leave the hidden apples to rot where they were. To our relief the reference to the Guards was probably a rouse and after a few days with no further mention of this heinous crime my heart beat returned to normal. Regards JJ Hi JJ A great story Matt
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Post by jjcurran on Aug 1, 2011 16:31:38 GMT
Hi Kathyo & Matt. Glad you enjoyed reading about my criminal exploits. Kathyo, the boys school was indeed a harsh regime. Looking back on it I will concede that we were a tough bunch to control. I was very sad when I had to leave the Curragh and I remember thinking that at least I would not have to endure the punishment dished out each day by a teacher (who shall remain nameless) in 6th class. But indeed I went from the ‘frying pan into the fire’ as I was sent to finish my primary schooling with the De la Salle Brothers who made no secret of their dislike of what they termed ‘army men’ and lost no opportunity to ‘straighten us out’ . Obviously I cannot comment on the goings on in the Curragh girls school. As you will no doubt remember, there was an invisible minefield separating the two schools and to attempt to cross over from either side was strictly verboten and required at the very least a letter from the Pope. With regard to the stomach cramps got from eating crab apples, I remember that there was two trees outside the Fruit Farm, just up from the Dentist place, which produced little green apples each year. If you were tempted to eat them, not only would you get cramps, but you would also get a very inconvenient dose which required that you remain within two yards of a toilet. I’m beginning to ramble on , so I’ll sign off. Regards JJ
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Post by kathyo on Aug 1, 2011 19:56:12 GMT
Hi JJ them crab apples were a killer as you say you had to stay near a toilet witch reminds me of the laxatives my mother (rip) dished out ever Saturday i think they were called senna - pods o my god they were horrible what would nine of us queuing up for the one toilet with the lenster leder under our arm we often asked our neighbors to use their loos they were very good about it.I wouldn't mind I'm sure we didn't need this medicine every week what with that and the nit comb we were tortured kathyo
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Post by annemcnamara on Aug 1, 2011 21:04:38 GMT
Hi Kathy, you made me laugh I don't remember the laxatives but I do recall the dreaded fine-comb being produced on Saturday night and the big search would begin. There would be a fight over who went first as we all wanted to be last Anne.
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Post by maurakearney on Aug 1, 2011 21:09:45 GMT
Love reading your stories JJ keep them comiig. Maura kearney
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Post by annemcnamara on Aug 1, 2011 21:42:59 GMT
Hi JJ really enjoyed your story, so well told. There has to be lots more in the memory bank we eagerly await the next one. Anne.
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Post by andybrennan on Aug 1, 2011 22:03:21 GMT
Hi All,
Any one interested T G 4 @ 1135. features the 1958 breakout in the internment cap in the Curragh,
Andy
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Post by andybrennan on Aug 1, 2011 22:10:20 GMT
JJ,
Yet another gem so well told, the description of the old BSA brought back loads, as for the flipping crab apples we knew that they would turn us into Reds by making us trotskis, but still insisted on eating them.
Had my fair share of clatters to put it mildly from the weilders of the Báta Mór in my day.
Andy
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