Theme 4: Farming Practices
William Roycroft was born in 1936, in the townland of Toor, a remote area on the west Cork coastline where the Roycrofts had farmed for three generations, and where William and his wife, Noelle, still live in the ancestral home. He explains that the original Roycrofts were Hugenots who emigrated from France to escape religious persecution. William traces his family background, both paternal and his maternal Shannon family. He describes the way of life, mostly farming and fishing, and the lobsters that would be harvested locally and sold to clients from France. Traditional methods of farm husbandry are explored, and William also discusses his skills in boat-making and stone and timber work.
