Hi JJ,
I couldn't agree with you more re the environment that is now the Curragh. 'Marie Celeste' is a very apt description. A far cry from the glory days of our youth.
I manage to get back home about 2/3 time a year and never fail to make a trip and do a round tour of the camp. What strikes me most is the eerie almost ghostly silence that surrounds you now.
Sadly with each visit I'm coming face to face more empty patches where once stood fine homes/shops(last one being Powells)
Its heartbreaking to see the sorry state of neglect and disrepair the remaining buildings are being allowed to fall into
Last time I was home I got da to drop me off because I wanted to visit the school(yes the school) and basically retrace my footsteps from there back up home to Pearse. A walk back in time so to speak.
I stood where McDonagh used to be and remembered the families who breathed life and soul into that spot faces flitting in and out of my vision Without the houses I was able to see clear down to the side door of the hospital(the pharmacy end) which was our exit route after we'd ran the whole length of the corridors on rainy days trying to avoid getting soaked and being caught and sent and marched back up to the Pearse end while going to school.
I then strolled on on the overgrown grass and walked behind a now very dilapadated Fag Ashes staying on the top of the hill looking down at the stores(crumbling) remember being sent there to pick up light bulbs and sweeping/scrubbing brushes! We used to balance walking up and down or try to slide down the slanting walls leading to the door. More Pictures and images flashing into my mind there.
Carried on past the where the dreaded dead house had once stood and had struck such fear into us youngsters. Resulting in manys a sprint record being achieved getting past it, now just another flattened piece of ground but the old heart did do a bit of a somersault all the same. and couldn'y help but do a quick look around to see if anyone else was there
but not a soul(excuse the pun) in sight.
I made my way back onto the top road and walked in the middle of it like I used to be all the years ago. But I was shocked that I never had to step back in because not one vehicle of any description come along. I looked across at McDonagh barracks no soldiers doing drills on the square or even walking between buildings. This was 3 o'clock on a lovely fine afternoon where were the children coming from school?
The buildings at the back of the hospital Gone! On past the 'book shelter' (why did we call it that?) at the top of Cahills Hill remember lining up there and having the sugar lump for polio and injections
Across the green in front of Magins shop (boarded up) scene of many a battle between pearse and Mcdonagh. Beside that another huge gap where the families hospital where so many of us had drawn our first breath with so many memories attached had stood proud.. Board of works buildings and old musuem still there but only just, they're in a terrible state and round the corner also boarded up but still there (can't get my head around canteen managers house) to me it was always O'Connors. I know it was also yours Louis but that was after my time.
Finally I'm standing in front of the only remaining block of Pearse and this is where I'm one of the lucky ones because two of my old houses are there still there no 3 (later Tommy Sweeneys) and the one we remember most no 10, before us it was Paddy Troys. I walked round the back and stood at our back gate, at this stage the heart began playing funny tricks looking at the void that used to be the middle and bottom block
felt really weird being able to see across the plains and it wasn't helped by the mist that was filling my eyes at the sheer loss of so many homes.
But thats when the old memory took over the place came alive for me. I was leaning out the top window talking to Joan McCormack in her window opposite and in the bed room behind her Patty and Ena were getting ready to go out, the wireless was playing.
Then I was standing on the bank and jumping down the steps to call for Monica mcDonald and sitting in there shed listening to the Day Dream Believer, Penny lane,etc on their record player while Ann. Phil and Olive swayed in time with the music. Babysitting for Phylis and Michael Devereaux before his tragic young death and then afterwards calling daily to Phylis and the kids which was the beginning of a friendship that is still going strong 45 years down the line thats the bond the curragh has one us.
Then there was the noise there was always lots of noise. Kids would be clattering around on cans tied with strings playing ball against the wall, cap guns popping, trolleys thundering down trolley hill, babies sitting out in their prams. Laughter, singing,shouting,talking all the noises of the people mixed together. Thats what was missing the sounds we were always surrounded by them from early morning 'chant of Mrs Barry,Hughes, Kelly, Moran, can Mary,Paul,Marian Phylis come out to play?'till the last chorus of 'Mary,Joey,Johnny,Carmel,Maura etc come in its time for bed' that echoed out from the mammies.
Alas thats all thats left now echoes and memories. But the beauty of this site (a huge debt of gratitude to Matt) is that everyone who shares their memories is playing a part in keeping the history of the camp alive to that people can see what it was really like. Yours are brilliant JJ so keep them coming.
Back onto the top road and reality. I looked back down toward mcDonagh and took a few pictures of the empty road ???and headed back still in the middle of the road and gave da a ring. All in all I'd say I'd been reminising and waking all round the place unchallenged for about an hour and in that time I never clapped eyes on a sinner.
It was like I'd been dropped into a parallel universe devoid on any form of life human or for that matter even sheep!! In the old days I would have been surrounded by curious kids(myself included) wanting to know the who's where's how's and why's as to why |I was there! and I would have had eyes following my every move from open doorways and behind curtains. I certainly wouldn't have passed unnoticed
The only car I encountered on my travels was when da came back to pick me up. Sad when you think about it!
Despite all of that I still love every little inch of ground and blade of grass that covers it right down to the last brick, each part of the curragh lifts my spirits and keeps me forever young at heart! Its the place I will always call my home, its embedded in my heart I'm proud to tell people about the uniqueness of where I come from and I'm also so very proud to call myself a 'True Shadower'
Oh Lord I've done it again and rattled on for ever I do get carried away when talking of home so sorry, but I'm going now promise....
MaryF