THE FIRST TELEVISION ON HIGH STREET

1953 it came to High street. Before that time there was no phones nor televisions or anything. The electricity hadn’t come very long and they all made a collection for to rent the television and to buy the licence. The lady of the house had to pay nothing. She gave her electricity and her house and she was a real lady. Now there were I suppose, twelve families and they came to see all the programs. Seldom they were all there together, which was just as lucky. There was a long forrum which was a long stool but it was called a forrum in our place and there was chairs around the rest of the house. The Riordans were very big at that time. Practically everybody was there for the Riordans. Then there was a farming program. Any bit of sport that was on we would stay at home that night and there was a good bit at that particular time. They used to dance sets there on a Sunday night. There used to be a good lot of dances and Jack Lillis could knock sparks with the iron tip that was in the heal of his shoe and I’m not jokin’, he could knock sparks out of that flag floor. Now, there was a lot of good dancers but they wouldn’t compare to Jack Lillis dancin’ down at that house. There was a great musician in the place. He played the concertina and the accordion. Have you ever heard of bachachs comin’ when people got married? They’re called the straw boys now. Well, I remember when I was very small we were allowed to come with our sisters and all the neighbors. We were allowed to come to the bachachs. They were supposed to bring good luck to the people that got married. They’d come in all dressed up with old clothes on them and faces and straw tied up in they’re hair and they would all come in and dance. There was one leader. Well, he was allowed to dance with the bride and then all the other ones they’d dance the set. The people of the house gave them a drink then some of them took off they’re pouchains as we called them. They had they’re faces covered and old clothes on. The men were dressed as women. They had skirts on them and petticoats. I can remember dressing up that night. The television was a great attraction but apart from that it was a cuirtin house for a long, long time. Granma, my mom, Mrs. Curry and Bridie. There were five or six women. They were in they’re seventies at the time and they had a great time.