The Huron Expositor, 1998-03-25, Page 6 (2)S -T E MORON EXPOSITOR, March 25, 1568
By Frank Sills
St. Patrick's Day memories recalled
What a great thing memo-
ries are'!
I had been sitting listening,
to the Irish music on St.
Patrick's Day. I likc all types
of music, but must admit that
Irish and Scottish are proba-
bly at the top of the lisi.
Especially when 1 had an
active 'connection with them
particularly during thc war. -
Stationed in Ireland for
over a year, at every opportu-
nity I would travel around on
a pass.
Tonight 1 was thinking
about -one particular trip I
madefrom Belfast down into
the south. My station was
actually close to the Irish Sea
and the Mountains of Mourne
- places steeped with histori-
cal significance. I had two
weeks coming to mc so 1 bor-
rowed the suit of the
Englishman sleeping in the
next bunk to me and started
out. The powers that be said
to mc: "Where are you going
and where can we get a hold.
of you?" The YMCA in Cork
was. my reply. 1 don't think
they knew what a YMCA
was and I didn't know. it
there was one there, so we
- were even.
My first stop was Dublin
where I managed to gel a
small room in a private hotel
at the head of O'Connell
Street, quite close to Phoenix
Park where they kept piles of
peat cut into thc size of
bricks. They couldn't get any
coal from Britain during the
war so relied on the this infe-
rior heat substitute that gave
out heat, but had a short lite
span.
They were using it' in the
trains as well. because' you
couldn't get a stable -base
from a bed of coals. your
speed was very sloe and
most of the time you could
Arun as fast as the train trav-
elled.
11hc hotel had been ver\
nice and, the mcals were
good. At the restaurants on
O'Connell Street you could
buy a steak. which hdid right
away.
Going south the scenery
was very nice, green and
quiet. Before getting on the
train 1 had a tour through the
Guinness Brewery as well as
the Little Abbey Theatre, The
brewery was right beside the
Liffy River.
Dublin is a very clean city
and a news boy said "Hello
Canada." 1 said "How did-
you know that?" He replied
he could tell by the way I
walked. I guess it shows we
all have distinctive character-
istics.
It really isn't very far to
Cork through very nice
rolling countryside. 1 man-
aged to find a place to stay
over a store and attended, a
hurling game, much likc field
hockey. hut with much freer
rules of play.
The half hour I watched.
tour fellows were carried off
on a stretcher after being hit
over thc head with a hurling
stick.
1 next went up town to the
square where many men were
sitting on benches waiting for
someone to come along and
hire then for various jobs.
Quite a handy way of hiring
help - especially Tarin labour.
The employer could just walk
around and pick up whoever
he lancicd-after striking a
bargain of cnursc. It all
seemed to work quite well.
From there 1 went a little
ways out to thc village of St.
Anne to see the Blarney
Ston4. I asked an elderly lade
and she pointed to an open
style stone stairway which
was part of an old castle wall.
I went and discovered a rec-
tangular hole in the floor
made out of blocks of stone. 1
knew the custom called for
leaning down and kissing the
stone. I got down on m�
stomach and did so. When 1
.got down to the foot of the
stairs .the old. lady said 1
should have been on my hack
and -hung down into the hole
with someone holding my
legs. Unfortunately, •tieing.
alone. I couldn't do that. The
main thing is I saw it and
went through the process
even if I was wrong.
I looked around the harbour
of Cork where so many emi-
grants left for the Irish shore,
including some of my rela-
tives from Killarney.
Next I travelled to
Killarney which is a very
beautiful spot of greenery,
large beautiful cathedrals cas-
tle ruins and jaunting cars-
IIwo wheel carts with a driver
and one good-sized seat"on
each side of the cart drawn
by a patient horse. My driver
was an O'Sullivan who -had
been in the British army in
World War I.
From there I went on thc
bus up to the west coast of
Ireland to Galway Bay with
its crafters cottages on the
cliffs and its beautiful sunset. -
My money was getting low
so I knew 1 had to get back to
'Dublin where I had a ticket
hack to Belfast.
Off 1 went across the coun-
try through the huge peat
bogs, that had huge circular
saws that would cut through
sections of the widths and
then be cut into brick lengths.
Whole fields would be cut
this way and augmented the
wages of fishermen from
Galway Bay. No doubt they
had a hard life in some
respects but their surround-
ings made up for lots.
1 got on the train from
Dublin to Belfast and arrived
late at night. With one pound
of English money left which
was enough for an ordinary
room, but the city was full of
American soldiers who had
recently come over and were
stationed in Ireland.
With no rooms available
and knowing that a police
officer wasn't supposed to
refuse a serviceman. shelter. 1
approached an officer in the
CONTINUED on Page 7.
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5 YEAR
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iflUf4h,€flt Gef�tre
Investment & Tax Planning
Secure Investment Products .. from people you can trust
SEAFORTH 96 Main St. 527-0420
Serving Seaforth Since 1986
WORKSHOP
Where: Seaforth Agri Ple.i
When: Monda'4 April 6
Time: 7- 10 pm ,
Under the direction of Deb Campbell home economist we
will learn "What do judges look for"'
7 - 8:30 pm will be on food, provided by Ms. Campbell
8:30 - 10:00 pm will be on crafts. each person is `asked to
hung an item of craft for Ms. Campbell to comment nn.
(Item not to be shown at '98 fair)
The workshop is open to all competitors 8 future
4 competitors..
Sponsored by Holnecrafr Division of the Seaford,
Agricultural Society
REFRIGERATOR
• 15 cu. ft. capacity
Adjustable. slide -out shelves
• Gallon door storage
• Deep -storage door shelves
$679.00
679.0
CTe I.ZIAR
30" GAS RANGE
• Sealed burners with Accu -Flame -
burner control
• Extra -large 4.0 cu. ft. oven
• Electronic oven controls
• Heavy-duty DuraGrates'-
$599.00
Char
31113
SUPER CAPACITY
WASHER
• Ten cycles; three wash
temperatures; four water levels
• Stam -Cleaner cycle
• Ten year transmission warranty'
X549.00
'Me la dames
wars
DISHWASHER
• Tri -Power Sweep Wash System
• Four wash cycles, energy saving
drY 00100
• Temp Boost water heating
• 1 to 6 hour delay start optan
x479.00
so
X OPEN
Mon. to Fri. 9 AM to 5:30 PM i+
Saturdays till 5 PM
Maks St., Saaforth 527.0660
FURNITURE
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