Then & Now: A slice of Irish life each week

THIS week we continue our story from last week about Ireland's Own magazine which was first published on November 26,1922. The Ireland's Own magazine has played its part over the past 121 years, in telling the nation’s story. The information included within its covers has helped to educate the people and give a true account of the changing times of an island that has known good and bad times. It has grown to become part of our heritage and long may it continue.

In Ireland that year, there was no shortage of banks with the Provincial, The Royal, the Hibernian, the Ulster, the Munster and Leinster, the Northern Banking Company, and the Belfast Banking Company. To send a postcard to Hong Kong cost you a penny, mind you, the card would take at least 29 days to arrive. Eight days was the normal arrival time for a card to New York. In Italy in 1902 the minimum working age was raised from 9 to 12 for boys and from 11 to 15 for girls. In France the working day for women and children was cut from 11 to 10½ hours but pay was also cut accordingly.

When it was published that year, 'The Story of My Life' caused a sensation. In the book 22-year-old Helen Keller told the heart-breaking story of how at the age of 19 months she lost her sight and hearing. Amazingly this Alabama girl learned to read write and speak, but she could not have done so without the loving and patient tuition of Anna Sullivan, her teacher. The turning point in Helen Keller's life came at the age of seven when Anne placed the hand of her pupil under the spout of a pump. In the book Helen wrote: 'As the cool stream washed over one hand, my teacher spelled into the other the word 'water' and at last the mystery of language was revealed to me'.

The big song hits of the year were 'In the Good Old Summertime' and 'Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home'. In sports Shannon Lass won the Aintree Grand National, Cork became the All-Ireland hurling champions for the fifth time and Dublin(represented by Bray Emmets ) won the football title. In San Francisco Jim ('The Boilermaker') Jefferies knocked out Bob Fitzsimons in the 8th round to retain the heavyweight boxing championship of the world which he had won three years earlier from the same opponent.

And while all these things were happening all over the world, two new arrivals first saw the light of day. One was born in America and the other in Ireland. These babies grew into thriving adulthood, and we are pleased to report that, even after 100 years, they are still full of life and still give pleasure to many people. One was the Teddy Bear and the other was Ireland's Own.

I fondly recall the Ireland's Own magazine (costing five old pence) from the 1960s, as the green cover was an attraction for a young boy. I was attending Carrigkerry National School at the time and had a great desire for reading. This passion was inherited from my parents and other family members who had books and reading materials around the house. The Ireland's Own, Old Moore's Almanac, and the Messenger were as important as religion was in most houses at the time. It was a time in rural Ireland before the big changes started to take place. Television sets were scarce and the Ireland's Own was a great link with the outside world.

The house where I grew up with my grandmother and uncles was a great Rambling House during the Winter months, a lot of the neighbours calling after their days work to chat and enjoy themselves. Cards and rings were played and there was Céilí dancing a couple nights a week. The old Irish songs were sung, and scary stories told. We all sat around a big open heart with a blazing turf fire sending colourful smoke skywards up the wide-open chimney. All current issues were discussed including the contents of the current issue of Ireland's Own.

A lot of Limerick people have featured within the covers of the popular magazine over its lifespan in various ways, with short stories, serials, columnists, competitions, letters, memories, Owens's Club, songs, show bands, laughter, pen friends, etc. They include Christopher Hannafin from Askeaton, Mai Leonard from Kildare, Maureen Sparling from Limerick City and Tom Nestor, a regular writer for the past 12 years.

Tom was born in 1937 in Coolcappa, near Rathkeale, as a farmer's son and one of 10 children. He was educated in St Flannan's College Ennis from 1950 to 1954. He began his working career in 1955, first with Shannon Sales and Catering Service and then with an American company in Ennis where he lived from 1981 to 1990. He later became self-employed and ran a training and consultancy programme for middle managers until his retirement in 2004. He got married in 1964 and they now live in County Offaly.

Preferred route corridor for new Limerick to Cork road is revealed

Tom began his writing career in 1964 with two articles about rural Ireland which were published in the Manchester Guardian. These were followed by Twilight in Suburbia written for Donnacha O'Dulaing for his radio programme A Munster Journal. The work was however rejected. His published works include 3 radio plays broadcast by BBC and RTE, some thirty short stories published in Scotland, USA and Australia, and three novels The Keeper of Absolom's Island (1999), The Blue Pool (2002), and talking to Kate (2009). From 1964 to 1998 he also contributed to the Limerick Leader with his column My Life and Times. He is a regular contributor to Ireland's Own magazine since 2011, as he recalls past days from his youth growing up on a farm near Rathkeale.

Timothy Murphy, Dromcollogher and Limerick city wrote A Centenary Tribute which was included in the 100 years Ireland's Own special.

It's now a hundred years ago this year
Since Ireland’s Own did first appear
It has been with us for many a day
I'm glad to say it is here to stay.

A marvellous magazine of jokes and fun
Cherished and loved by everyone
It is displayed in many a store
Bringing us tales from days of yore.

Great characters exist between the pages
Entertaining us readers between the ages
We have Cassidy and Dan Conway and what's in a name
And Miss Flanagan always solving the crime, what a dame.
So, to editor, staff and everyone for what is done
Thank you sincerely for this little book of fun.

I still get my Ireland's Own, and I have the majority of the issues in my garage since 1970 with my oldest from April 11, 1959. I have got so much enjoyment from the magazine over the years.

It is a priceless gem that all of Ireland can be so proud of after 121 years of service to the people.

Happy anniversary wishes to Ireland's Own and long may it continue to grow and prosper its readership.