Teresa Keogh (née Kirby) (b. 1928)

Track 1: Teresa Keogh grew up in Killarney, beside the Franciscan Church. Her father was Maurice Kirby from Mastergeehy who worked in the gardens at St Finian’s Hospital. Following her education at the Presentation Convent and Killarney Technical School, Teresa gained employment at the Great Southern Hotel in 1946. Track 2: She recalls her interview for this job with the manageress and she gives details of her first impressions of the hotel and her work in the dining- room. She names the other members of staff and she explains that all the staff would attend Mass at the Friary each morning. Track 3: She describes the attention to detail in the setting of tables in the dining room and she recalls some of the well-known guests at the hotel including actor Tyrone Power, the packing of lunch baskets for guests before they left for the Gap of Dunloe, the Head Porter Con Woods, the accommodation for staff members and the memorable Christmas dinners provided annually for guests. Track 4: Guests at the hotel are recalled, including Todd Andrews who would arrive with Mr Courtney, Chairman of Great Southern Hotels. She worked for forty years at the hotel and she recalls all the manageresses under whom she worked and what each brought to the position. The highly successful shop for tourists set up at the hotel, run by Jessie Cournane, is mentioned. Track 5: From 1954, Teresa worked for a period at the Great Southern Hotel, Parknasilla, and she recalls this time and the staff with whom she worked. She also mentions the Artane boys who were brought from Dublin to work in the hotel when they reached eighteen years of age.