I was born on 3 January 1921, in Durrow, a townland outside of Tullamore in Co Offaly. I was a daughter of Joe Murray and Lizzie Minnock. I was the third-eldest of a family of eight – three girls and five boys. I am the last alive. I got married on 26 November 1958 to Tom. I have three children Mary, Martin and Joe.
There aren’t too many left who can contradict me! I have seen a lot of changes. I saw the electricity come, around the late 1950s. Someone was sent around to the houses to see if people would take the electricity. Not everyone wanted it. “Oh no the house would be burnt, I don’t want it. Mine is only a thatched house.” That’s what was said.
Sewing
My mother had a machine. She made shirts, or shifts as she called them. She made petticoats for us out of flannelette, but she never made a dress. I got the trade then – I had it in me. Once I started she stopped.
Maggie was a talented seamstress, but also worked on the family farm, where her favourite job was milking. \ Philip Doyle
The sewing machine is about 130 years of age and it is working perfectly. I had it up in the bedroom and I would spend hours making dresses for everyone in the parish. It was heaven on Earth. And you could leave it all behind you and come down for the tea for a break. I still know how to sew, but I wouldn’t be able to thread needles anymore. I can see them alright, but the fine power is gone out of my hand; which you need for turning up hems and the like.
Farming
I had to do as much work outside as I did inside – picking potatoes and pulling beet. I went to town every Tuesday and Saturday with the butter and eggs to sell. I would have had up to twenty dozen eggs on the back of the bike. I brought them to certain customers and I would bring the rest to the market. I went to the meat factory to a man who always bought a dozen eggs from me.
He also gave me sausages, rashers and black and white pudding in a box. I didn’t charge him more than two shilling for the eggs the whole year around, even though they would go to six shilling at Christmas. Nor would he ever charge me in full for my box of meat. So it was a good exchange. That’s the way life worked back then. It was simple.
Maggie has a lifetime of memories to share. \ Philip Doyle
We had well over 100 hens, as well as geese, ducks and turkeys. We had pigs and cows too. I absolutely loved milking cows by hand. I would milk cows for anyone!
Baking and diet
I still make the bread and cakes and whatever else is wanted. I make a whole lot of cakes here every Christmas for neighbours.
My pancakes are different; some people put eggs in and use new milk, but mine are made with buttermilk and a pinch of soda so they rise better and are lighter. I have a cast iron pan older than myself for the pancakes. You have to leave grease on it to keep it from rusting. When you want it for pancakes you just use hot water and soap to clean it and it is perfect.
I think people are eating too much nowadays. People were twice as healthy years ago and I never heard of food poisoning or anything like it
It is very heavy, so I am not really able to flip the pancakes on it anymore. I will tell you though, it is great for steak. Just put a small bit of butter on the pan. Put a lid over the pan, turn the steaks over once and leave it simmering until dinner time. Well it would melt in your mouth!
I think people are eating too much nowadays. People were twice as healthy years ago and I never heard of food poisoning or anything like it. Things are just pegged out now. We used to have enough for two days out of one dinner. You didn’t waste anything, but we weren’t hungry either, we always had plenty.
Mental Health
Mental health wasn’t as bad in our time. You didn’t have time to think about the bad stuff. That was it – everyone was kept busy. Any time you went out, you were delighted for the break. If people are telling gossip, or just giving out to you, the best thing you can do is not answer. If you don’t answer them, what can they say? They will get no satisfaction and that’ll be that.
Little things make a huge difference to your mood. I play cards and bake and sew, for instance.
I am living in a great place. I have great neighbours and family here
I am going to play cards for the last 40 year I’d say. Myself and Tom (my husband) used to go together. When he died in 1996 I kept going myself.
I am living in a great place. I have great neighbours and family here. I do have to stand and give my leg a minute to sort itself out before I start walking. When I get out of the car I do say: “Wait now until I get going,” but sure what else would be wrong with me?
Read more
My Country Living: A publican and a pioneer
My Country Living: 'Unlike many other people, I really like working in the bog'
I was born on 3 January 1921, in Durrow, a townland outside of Tullamore in Co Offaly. I was a daughter of Joe Murray and Lizzie Minnock. I was the third-eldest of a family of eight – three girls and five boys. I am the last alive. I got married on 26 November 1958 to Tom. I have three children Mary, Martin and Joe.
There aren’t too many left who can contradict me! I have seen a lot of changes. I saw the electricity come, around the late 1950s. Someone was sent around to the houses to see if people would take the electricity. Not everyone wanted it. “Oh no the house would be burnt, I don’t want it. Mine is only a thatched house.” That’s what was said.
Sewing
My mother had a machine. She made shirts, or shifts as she called them. She made petticoats for us out of flannelette, but she never made a dress. I got the trade then – I had it in me. Once I started she stopped.
Maggie was a talented seamstress, but also worked on the family farm, where her favourite job was milking. \ Philip Doyle
The sewing machine is about 130 years of age and it is working perfectly. I had it up in the bedroom and I would spend hours making dresses for everyone in the parish. It was heaven on Earth. And you could leave it all behind you and come down for the tea for a break. I still know how to sew, but I wouldn’t be able to thread needles anymore. I can see them alright, but the fine power is gone out of my hand; which you need for turning up hems and the like.
Farming
I had to do as much work outside as I did inside – picking potatoes and pulling beet. I went to town every Tuesday and Saturday with the butter and eggs to sell. I would have had up to twenty dozen eggs on the back of the bike. I brought them to certain customers and I would bring the rest to the market. I went to the meat factory to a man who always bought a dozen eggs from me.
He also gave me sausages, rashers and black and white pudding in a box. I didn’t charge him more than two shilling for the eggs the whole year around, even though they would go to six shilling at Christmas. Nor would he ever charge me in full for my box of meat. So it was a good exchange. That’s the way life worked back then. It was simple.
Maggie has a lifetime of memories to share. \ Philip Doyle
We had well over 100 hens, as well as geese, ducks and turkeys. We had pigs and cows too. I absolutely loved milking cows by hand. I would milk cows for anyone!
Baking and diet
I still make the bread and cakes and whatever else is wanted. I make a whole lot of cakes here every Christmas for neighbours.
My pancakes are different; some people put eggs in and use new milk, but mine are made with buttermilk and a pinch of soda so they rise better and are lighter. I have a cast iron pan older than myself for the pancakes. You have to leave grease on it to keep it from rusting. When you want it for pancakes you just use hot water and soap to clean it and it is perfect.
I think people are eating too much nowadays. People were twice as healthy years ago and I never heard of food poisoning or anything like it
It is very heavy, so I am not really able to flip the pancakes on it anymore. I will tell you though, it is great for steak. Just put a small bit of butter on the pan. Put a lid over the pan, turn the steaks over once and leave it simmering until dinner time. Well it would melt in your mouth!
I think people are eating too much nowadays. People were twice as healthy years ago and I never heard of food poisoning or anything like it. Things are just pegged out now. We used to have enough for two days out of one dinner. You didn’t waste anything, but we weren’t hungry either, we always had plenty.
Mental Health
Mental health wasn’t as bad in our time. You didn’t have time to think about the bad stuff. That was it – everyone was kept busy. Any time you went out, you were delighted for the break. If people are telling gossip, or just giving out to you, the best thing you can do is not answer. If you don’t answer them, what can they say? They will get no satisfaction and that’ll be that.
Little things make a huge difference to your mood. I play cards and bake and sew, for instance.
I am living in a great place. I have great neighbours and family here
I am going to play cards for the last 40 year I’d say. Myself and Tom (my husband) used to go together. When he died in 1996 I kept going myself.
I am living in a great place. I have great neighbours and family here. I do have to stand and give my leg a minute to sort itself out before I start walking. When I get out of the car I do say: “Wait now until I get going,” but sure what else would be wrong with me?
Read more
My Country Living: A publican and a pioneer
My Country Living: 'Unlike many other people, I really like working in the bog'
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