Margaret McGrath

 

Margaret McGrath

Full Name: Margaret McGrath

Address: Cloonagh, Milltown

Favourite Food: Potatoes, Cabbage and Bacon.

Favourite drink: Port Wine

Earliest memory: Playing ball outside our house in Carratootagh with my brother Eddie.

First day at school: I started school when I was 5 years old in the old girls school in Dalgin. Miss Coyne taught me for 3 weeks. Then the boys and girls school amalgamated and I was taught by Mrs. Ryan.

Favourite song: “One Day at a Time”

Favourite singer: Charlie Landsborough.

Biggest change over the years: The new modern houses.

Happiest moment at school: I had plenty of happy moments like when I sang for Mrs Smallwood who lived in what is now called the Bon Secours Hospital in Tuam. She had a party in the school and some of my friends and I had to sing for the guests. I also loved doing messages on the bike for Mrs. Ryan to Dunmore and Milltown during play hour.

Favourite colour: Navy blue

Favourite actress: Siobhan McKenna

How I spent Christmas: We really looked forward to Christmas then. My mother and father went to town in the horse and cart to buy the “Christmas”. On Christmas morning we all walked to 7.30 Mass, fasting from the night before. They were poor times yet everyone was happy for Christmas.

Early interests: I joined the Red Cross when I was sixteen. I was also in the Sodality which doesn’t exist anymore. We had to go to Confession and Communion once a month wearing a ribbon with a medal on it. It was two shillings a year then to join.

Recipe for happy life: Doing a bit of and looking forward to going out.

Memory of first dance: I stole out to my first dance and went cycling to Garrafrauns. I got in but after a few dances I was spotted and sent home as I wasn’t eighteen.

Pastimes: Reading and dancing

Favourite Quotation: “Well well well said the old man in the corner”

Margaret lived with her husband Raymond in Cloonagh. She has two sons Pat and Billy, six grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Milltown Newsletter 1997