Máire Mulcahy (b. 1922)

Máire Mulcahy is a native of Blackpool in Cork city, where her father worked as a tailor. At a very young age she attended violin lessons with Mr Bernardo, over Piggott’s Music Shop, and she later attended the School of Music where she was taught by Aloys Fleischmann Snr. In her teens she became a member of the Cork Symphony Orchestra, and she also sang in the North Cathedral Choir, the director of which was also Aloys Fleischmann Snr. Máire Mulcahy jovially recalls Cork city in the 1930s and 1940s, the old School of Music, and the old library where she spent many happy hours. Her father was known as a ‘West End Cutter’ in his tailoring business, which was thriving in those days. She has fond memories of Prof. Fleischmann, whom she describes as “a wholesome person”.