The last few months can be remembered for many things, from floods, to bishops, to budgets, cross border shopping and Tiger Woods. One woman I know is Babs Rudden Drumcor Redhills.
Babs was featured recently in an article in the Anglo Celt and if you visit a bookshop you will see her photograph on the cover page of a book written by an englishman about the forgotten characters around Ireland. Babs is still carrying on (farming) at eighty years young . She says the gate in the cattle shed is hard to close for a woman of my age. She is not a candidate for big brother or the x factor but is quite contented in her own little environment. I called to the house on a hot summers day some years ago where she was outside feeding the banty hens with a pair of mens wellington boots “chuck” “chuck””chuck” as she fed the hens. Tiger woods mistresses would be out of place here. I know you she says as she approached the car “ your mother was flood from killybandrick and I was at killoughter school with her “no need for “google” around here I thought. Babs was left to carry on with the farm when her brother known locally as “scud” passed away. If you ever heard a song sung by pat short “wlid willie wallace” this was scud. She discussed with me in Kellys pub his favouite food “six duckeggs cracked on the pan. (Nevin Maguire eat your heart out). He was a regular visitor to the bridge with his tractor and trailer and the sow. Three whiskeys in the one glass was his order--down the hatch--jump on the tractor and down for Cloverhill cheering.
People like this live in their own little way and they think “nama” is a pet lamb. For us and the the youth it could be a lion.
I must mention the passing of a former neighbour of mine Pat Smith or as he was Pat the horse to distinguish him from other Pat Smiths. (John Clancy would have known Pat). Pat travelled to every horse fair in the midlands and often walked horses back to Cavan. Ropes tied to tails, two abreast and put into a field overnigh to journey on the next day. Pats father tells of his overnight stay in an atein house in “artlone“. John was asleep in this room when he heard a noise at his pillow where he was hiding his money. He garbbed the ash plant, belted the intruder who awoke everybody in the house and Johns finishing line was “ the women came running in to the room in their buff (johns word for naked). At this time each year every farm had turkeys for sale. Pats task was to sell the turkeys and my job was to stop the fowl lorry. When the buyer jumped out the haggling started. This bird is very thin Pat. Theres not a lot of mate on your self Frank. This one has a crooked breast. “youll never get your hands on them“. ill take them home and play them on the cards. Youll not make a cod outa me. No sale, only disapointment for the man who stopped the lorry as there was no half -crown for xmas. Nevertheless your Christmas box was always there at Smiths.
Speaking of christhas boxes it was the custom that time to recieve some Christmas box from your local grocery store. It was a welcome gift in many households. There was always a christmas cake by geateau. Jelly. Pot of jam and the sponge for the triffle.
Now its bonus points on your card at Dunnes, Tesco, Super value etc.
Biddy Young sent the husband with the memorandum to do some shopping. Jokingly the shop assistant put six bottles of guinness in the bottom of the bag. Shortly after arriving home Phil was summoned to account for his movements. His eyes watered when he saw the bottles but when Biddy discovered she was charged Phil was dispatched with haste backto the shop for a refund.Phils reply “phoo -hoo the buggering man”
On the home front I must commend the Christmas tree committee for their good work with the christmas lighting and all those who worked in bad weather to complete the project. Between the success of the football teams and ventures like this it lifts some of the doome and gloom that is around .
This year will be though on many people who have lost their jobs and those who are struggling to pay morgages. Most of these people are victems of that ruthless “celtic tiger” I don’t think the government has done enough in the recent budget to assist them. As for those who did not seek work when it was freely available the jury is stillout.
A recent quote from Red Eamom.
“The youths from sweet red hill where they never worked and the never will”
Heard the man who visited McKiernans of Corlismore to purchase some goods. John was very sympatetic to the customer who had tragicly lost a brother.
Theres a we bill here that your brother left says John. A no says the customer --youll probably see him before i will.
A Merry Xmas to you all, keep the faith and look forward to the New Year when Ballyhoolley will win the english grand national(d.v.) Cavan will be beaten in the back door system and we can all get ready for the years highlight “The Fleadh”
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