John O’Riordan (b. 1918)

Local historian Seamus Neenan makes the introduction to retired farmer John O’Riordan, whose family have farmed the land at Kilbrin for generations. The conversation ranges far and wide as John articulates his clear memories of earlier days. He speaks of thatching and the materials used, the dairy, the butter making and the creamery, the fair days, and he traces many local families and discusses their occupations. John recounts an extraordinary story about his mother’s refusal to pay the rent collector, as a gesture of solidarity with other local families during the Land Wars. This resulted in real anxiety and dread for the family, but as a good relationship had been established with the local Royal Irish Constabulary due to the supply by the O’Riordan family of free milk to the policemen, no real action was taken against them. Fieldnames, local poets, pattern days and the dread of the onset of tuberculosis were all discussed on this valuable recording.