More memories from Barbers

Following on from the recent post on Pat Kelly's memories of Barbers, writes Brian Byrne, which itself was a follow up to a piece on the Diary about the premises which is now being refurbished by Martin Murphy, we have received these related memories from Maureen Hamilton.

My name is Maureen Hamilton (nee Orohoe). My mother was Eleanor Elizabeth Orohoe nee Barber. James Barber married Mary Anne Pearson on 18 October 1911. They lived above the cycle shop in Kilcullen and had eight children between 1912 to 1927.

I have just read Pat Kelly’s recollections of Kilcullen In the 1940s. He mentioned that a young boy and girl 'with strange accents' came to stay with James Barber. The little girl was myself, Maureen, aged six years, along with my brother, John, aged four and a half years. We had come over to Kilcullen from London to stay with our grandfather, James Barber, and his daughter Edith aged 19 or 20 years. I do remember a shop named Kelly’s opposite Grandad’s cycle shop.

We stayed in Kilcullen for a good few months as I remember summer and winter times. We attended school which was between Kilcullen and the next village. We travelled to school in summer by horse and cart and in winter by motor vehicle. There was only one classroom and one teacher, who taught everyone from starting school to leaving. The teacher lodged with Grandad and our Aunt Edith. It was agreed that, as our stay was not permanent, we would not be taught Gaelic. However, on returning to London we could sing all the Gaelic nursery songs.

Apart from Grandad owning the cycle shop, he also was responsible for collecting mail and for checking over the reservoir situated outside of Kilcullen that held the water supply for the town. I also think he was one of the first to have electricity installed in his home.

The river Liffey flowed past the back of the cycle shop. I seem to remember playing with local children. We used a very basic raft to play on. It’s a wonder we all survived.

Also a little further along from Kelly’s shop was the town square, next to a bridge that spanned the River Liffey. We used to go with Grandad across the square to the allotments. Grandad grew vegetables and salads. John and I would help him water the plants with water from the Liffey, which ran alongside the allotments.

During our stay in Kilcullen we enjoyed the freedom of roaming the local area. Then it was back to our parents and London.


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