LUCEY, Patrick and Helena (née Twohig), and Mary (née Fitzgerald)

Paddy of Bawnatanaknock and Later Sheepwalk

Life at Sheepwalk

Life was very basic and simple in those days—no electricity for a night of watching television or listening to the radio! The highlight of each week was a jaunt by pony and trap to attend Mass at the parish church on Sunday and afterwards the family would visit the neighbours. Each family took a turn at hosting a sing-song or story-telling session and there was always a volunteer who would willingly entertain by playing on a mouth organ.

Threshing time was indeed a big 'all-in' affair and the surrounding neighbours would come to lend a hand with the work. Paddy would have a barrel of porter on hand for the workmen if the weather turned bad, then at night everyone would dance to their favourite jigs and reels. How the men who worked hard all day and still had the energy to dance until daybreak is beyond comprehension. How times have changed — today, a combine harvester does exactly the same amount of work in a fraction of the time!

The family diet was very plain and everything had to be cooked over an open fire. The farm always carried for home consumption an adequate stock of pigs which were slaughtered and salted in a barrel of pickle. When the family made black or white pudding all the neighbours shared in the windfall. Bacon and cabbage or turnip with a large serve of potatoes with plenty of milk was the staple diet during the week. Sunday’s treat was boiled beef accompanied by brown and white cakes cooked over the fire in a bastable (an Irish cauldron). Rabbits and pheasants were in bountiful supply and one of Paddy's pleasures was to hunt them and this provided a pleasant change from bacon.

A modest income was derived from the sale of cattle and pigs which Paddy would take to fairs at Midleton (seven miles distant) or Killeagh (five miles away). Market days began as early as 4:00am and their return was often after nightfall—a very long day indeed. This sometimes meant that the cows were not milked until late, and if their animals did not sell, the family might have to live on meagre rations until the next fair.

Children of the First Marriage

Ann, born at Sheepwalk, Dungourney, in 1930, married Dominick Barry in 1958. They lived at Castlemartyr in county Cork and were the parents to three children. Before retirement, Dominick was a driver for the Shell Oil Company.  Ann, in her own words some years before her demise in 2013, stated she "now enjoys a simple life style and takes great delight in a game of quoits, reading and gardening which she enjoys very much."

Children of the Second Marriage

Mary Fitzgerald ( -1961), known as "Minnie" married the widowed Paddy around 1940 at Mount Melleray.  Ann has admitted to initially being somewhat jealous of her father's new-found love, but she soon overcame this adversity. She has described her stepmother as being a true lady and realises now that, as a youngster, she was unable to understand just how important her stepmother was to all the family. Minnie had two miscarriages before the births of Cornelius (1944-1973) and William. Farm life was still quite hard for Paddy but as soon as the two boys reached the age of being able to help out, the managing of the farm was made easier. Unfortunately, Paddy suffered a stroke in 1957, with another the following year which left him very ill. Paddy died in 1958, aged 73 years, and is buried at Mogeely, Co. Cork.

The two sons and their mother continued on with farming, and were doing very well when suddenly Minnie died of a massive heart attack. The family was dealt a bitter blow yet Con and his brother Willy somehow managed to keep the farm viable. The farmhouse, being built of slate with a thatched roof, was very cold and damp and the only source of warmth was a fire which was always kept alight. The electricity was not connected until 1957 and until that year, the only contact with events of the outside world was by a radio (wireless) which was powered by a wet cell. Despite such primitive conditions, Ann, in her reflection, says that life at Sheepwalk was happy.

Con married Joan Twomey to whom two children were born. Con carried out many building improvements at Sheepwalk and life was going well before he was diagnosed with testicular cancer, dying six weeks later. Sadly, he was only 29 years of age at the time of his death. Joan married again some time later. 

Willy took on work with AI (artificial insemination of cattle), in addition to managing a small pub called Lucey's Bar in Conna, north of Dungourney in county Cork with his wife, Breda. They have three children.