The Kitty Leyden Tapes Part 1

88 year old Kitty Leyden was the youngest of 11, born on a small farm in Clonina, Cree, West Clare. She spent her young adulthood in New York. She then settled in Tulla, and raised 8 children. Hers is the story of the ordinary joys and hardships of women’s lives in mid-20th century rural Ireland. But her natural storytelling ability and her powerful memory enable her turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. Below are explanations of terms you might need help with:Press bed: a bed that folds back against the wall, usually in a kitchen.Dowry: Money the woman’s family gave to the man’s family when a marriage match was made.  This money often subsequently formed the dowry of the man's sisters, and thus kept circulating in the economy.Plucking of the gander: The celebration once the match is made between the young man and woman, hosted by the young woman’s family.  Haws: fruit of the hawthorn treePúca:  a mythological creature in Irish folklore.  Capable of shape shifting. Often appears as horse, dog or human with animal featuresCrabs: crab applesLeaguers: “Land-Leaguers" once the most popular potato grown in Co. ClareSpuds: potatoesLay nuns: Lay sisters are members of a community of religious sisters who tended to do the household duties and manual labour.Peelers: Derogatory name given to the police, after English Prime Minister Robert Peel, who created the first police force.“They carry Our Lady:” Refers to carrying a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Catholic religion.  May is the month of celebrating the Blessed Virgin.“A ghrá, a ghrá” Kitty’s father addressed her thus.  Irish for “My love, my love”  meaning ‘sweetheart’ a term of endearment.Series 2 of The Clare Oral History Podcast is supported by The Ireland FundsFollow Cuimhneamh an Chláir on Instagram, Facebook, X or LinkedIn