John always seemed ancient. He had a craggy face, wore a hat, jacket and braces and had a supernatural ability to keep a drip on the end of his nose in all seasons. The fluid had a scientific elasticity, varying in size and shape according to the weather. It defied gravity and… read more →
Jack Cudworth was a great fisherman and used lead expeditions to the canal in Kildare, making friends with a family who lived there. One of the bridges over the canal was called ‘Digby Bridge’ after a wealthy landowner in the 18th century. I was invited to join Jack and Simon on… read more →
The Stevenson family lived next to the Cudworth’s, and their eldest son was called Patrick and his brother Hugh. Patrick Stevenson was a lump of a lad – did very well with computers in Trinity later in life. Mr. Barton lived next to them on the other side and the… read more →
My earliest memory of Cudworth’s house was playing in their back garden on the wooden swing with Simon Cudworth. Our Dad allegedly made this swing, and it was one of those swings that would lift its base if you managed to swing it high enough, unlike the O’Connor’s metal swing which was… read more →