{"id":4948,"date":"2020-06-18T20:36:56","date_gmt":"2020-06-19T00:36:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?p=4948"},"modified":"2020-06-18T20:41:44","modified_gmt":"2020-06-19T00:41:44","slug":"episode-68-bunmahon-ireland-alan-skeochs-journal-july-23-1960-to-august-2m-1960","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?p=4948","title":{"rendered":"EPISODE 68 BUNMAHON IRELAND ALAN SKEOCH’S JOURNAL July 23, 1960 TO AUGUST 2M 1960"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\u2026HERE IS THE JOURNAL CONTINUED<\/div>\n
NOT A LONG PIECE THIS TIME\u2026KEEPS ME GOING<\/div>\n
TO GET A STORY DONE EVERY DAY BUT SO FAR<\/div>\n
I HAVE MANAGED TO DO IT.  THIS IS MY GIFT TO<\/div>\n
EVERYONE SUFFERING FROM COVID 19 ISOLATION<\/div>\n
JUNE. 2020<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

EPISODE 68  BUNMAHON,  IRELAND    JULY 23,  1960  TO AUGUST 2, 1960<\/p>\n


<\/div>\n
ALAN SKEOCH\u2019S JOURNAL<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
If you look closely you will see a fairy ring\u2026an old  enclosure , maybe a village as old as 2,000 years.   I did not see any fairies.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
alan skeoch<\/div>\n
June   2020<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
SATURDAY JULY 23, 1960<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Raining heavily\u2026John Hogan sent word he would stay in bed.  Wish I had that<\/div>\n
luxury.   Worked  in pouring rain all morning, soaked\u2026the boys are a bit<\/div>\n
perturbed.   We only managed to get one moraine done in the Killmacthomas forest.<\/div>\n
returned  home for  lunch and got lots of mail.  My slides are good \u202635mm.<\/div>\n
Eric sent nice letter about trip to Manitoulin Island .  Marjorie always  nice to hear<\/div>\n
from.  Don Van Every who I worked with in Alaska last summer is now working<\/div>\n
at secret radar sites in Arctic for far north.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
In the afternoon, Barney, Andy and I entered entered the Knockmahon mine via<\/div>\n
an old adit on the face of the cliffs\u2026we spent several  hours in old tunnels\u2026could<\/div>\n
not stand up but had to crawl on stomachs in places.  In other tunnels we were<\/div>\n
waist deep in water.   We had  to jump over a  shaft\u2026or use old  ladder to crossit. <\/div>\n
Walls are covered with beautiful blues and greens\u2026some pink.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
SUNDAY  JULY 24, 1960<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Skipped Mass today.  Then had to play pinochle for another few hours\u2026boring.<\/div>\n
Then in afternoon John Hogan drove us to Tramore to see movie with Stirling Hayden\u2026<\/div>\n
there were 3 adults and 100 kids there  (estimate) in the \u2018pit\u2019 which was cordoned off<\/div>\n
for them.Then played  miniature golf and had a great fish and chip  supper. <\/div>\n
Visited a pub where bar maid seemed quite interested in me.  then back  home<\/div>\n
to more pinochle\u2026damn.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
MONDAY, JULY 25, 1960<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Finished the long lines in the Kill forest and then entered the big bog.<\/div>\n
The boys cut line as I followed with the Turam.  paid Mrs. Kennedy for the<\/div>\n
rent of their vans\u202610 shillings = $1.40 more than reasonable.   Spent <\/div>\n
evening working on the instrument.  Then pinochle.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
TUESDAY, JULY 26, 1960<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
We got a good early start and  managed to cover 18,000 feet of line.  Bitten and<\/div>\n
scratched. <\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
We  passed over a  spot where a German bomber came down in World  War II and<\/div>\n
all  escaped  alive.   Barney told me some of the crew visited Bonmahon recently.<\/div>\n
Returned home to get mail from Alaska, Florida, Lake Louise and Toronto.  Marjorie<\/div>\n
seems in a quandary about next year which is  disturbing.  <\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
The boys  took me down to the pub for a Guinness.  Then one of the farmers<\/div>\n
came in raising hell about his barley field which  we had trampled.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Letters from Jim Romaniuk and Mom.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
WEDNESDAY  JULY 27, 1960<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Rose at 6 a.m.  Pouring ran outside\u2026a soft day in other words.  No chance<\/div>\n
of taking day  off.  The boys are grumbling about conditions.  By noon we<\/div>\n
were all thorooughly drenched so cancelled afternoon.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The boys  did not like working in the pouring rain.  I was used to doing that in Canada.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
The staking crew revolted  when they saw I was gone and they also went home\u2026<\/div>\n
can\u2019t blame them really.   In the afternoon John and I drove to Waterford to fix <\/div>\n
his car\u2026Fiat.  I bought mom a  sweater \u2026 most expensive I could find at 61 shillings.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
In the evening I tried to save as much cable as possible from the cattle.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Got word that job may end  in mid August.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
THURSDAY   JULY 28, 1960<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
 rain again\u2026Steady drizzle all day\u2026but must work\u2026boys grumbling as  rain soaked us.<\/div>\n
Managed cover 10,000 feet of line even after the cattle had destroyed a large<\/div>\n
section of your base line that had to be repaired first.  We are working in an<\/div>\n
Irish  bog\u2026kind they get peat from\u2026ancient ..huge area.   Willy went up to<\/div>\n
his waist in bog water on one occasion.  Nasty place.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
FRIDAY JULY 29, 1960<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Rose at 6 am and wrote for an hour or so.  Began my expense account.  Then<\/div>\n
took the lads  out and finished the northern section.   Then we wound up the<\/div>\n
base line cable which disappointed Tiny Tim who had to break up his camp<\/div>\n
at the grounding rods.   Tim was hit on the head with a sickle \u2026 split his<\/div>\n
head\u2026made him limited in ability.   Nice kid but so shy he could not look<\/div>\n
at me or talk.  Unsure if he can  speak.  Loves job though.  Moved  his<\/div>\n
tend into new forested location.  <\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Had lunch overlooking the sea.  John Stam leaves  This Monday for<\/div>\n
Amsterdam  which mean  I will be in charge.   So we went to Kirwin\u2019s<\/div>\n
and celebrated sort of with with Guinness as usual. All in good spirits.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
SATURDAY JULY 30, 1960<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Arose at 6 a.m. and began working at expense account again. Then  John<\/div>\n
Stam  and I had a private discussion about the project.  By nine I was<\/div>\n
on the job and covered a  fair bit of ground  by 1 p.m.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
A bull nearly did  me in from behind but I heard him roar and was<\/div>\n
able to dodge his charge.    The boys thought this was a safe field.<\/div>\n
No damage but must be careful.  Once I am  harnessed  there is<\/div>\n
no chance of  running.  Wonderfujldayh for working.   In  late afternoon<\/div>\n
Barney and I visited  an  old adit that had been closed  for the past 50  years<\/div>\n
or more.  Mystery legend  told to me by Barney. \u201cFarmer lost a cow<\/div>\n
up this  boreen\u2026an old adit.  The cow went in and  could not get out.<\/div>\n
died there.  Hidden under that patch of Gorse.   We hired a  man<\/div>\n
to clear the spot just incase the legend was true.  We had high readings<\/div>\n
over the spot.  Pressure of walled up water caused a minor<\/div>\n
explosion of ancient mine water.  Man we hired fled. We let it drain<\/div>\n
and  then walked in\u2026.yes,walkedin\u2026and there about 60to 70 feet<\/div>\n
inside was the skeleton of the cow.  We all shook Barney\u2019s hand.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Cattle are curious  just like people\u2026.also omiverous just like  people<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
SUNDAY  JULY 31,  1960<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Awoke at crack of dawn.  Writing.  Skipped church  much to the dismay<\/div>\n
of  Bridey, Mrs.  Kennedy  and the boys.  I think I heard  the word Pagan<\/div>\n
used in jest.  In the afternoon we drove to Tramore for miniature golf Then<\/div>\n
to the pub to celebrates  John\u2019s golfing victory before he left for Amsterdam.<\/div>\n
We had  another lousy  greasy fish and chip meal in Tramore.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Another game of pinochle beside the fireplace. <\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Tomorrow I will be in charge of the project.  Flattered to be trusted.<\/div>\n
Big shoulders.  <\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
MONDAY  AUGUST 1, 1960<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Dr. John Stam\u2026off to Amsterdam<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Saw John Stam off to Amsterdam.  Braidy cried\u2026hated to see him go.<\/div>\n
Got good  start on the job\u2026mended a number of cable breaks.  Everything<\/div>\n
seemed to be going well until noon when we were stopped dead by<\/div>\n
five farmers who refused to let us on their land.   Tense situation.<\/div>\n
Lasted for two hours.  Stand off ended when they realized I was<\/div>\n
willing to pay damages.  Farmers\u2026O;Sullivan brothers,  Casey, Welsh,<\/div>\n
Fling, Magnar.   Managed  to get some work done in the fields.<\/div>\n
Then at night I  started to do  the calculations and plotting.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Farmer Casey came around  drunk and demanding money.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Would YOU expect to be paid if a  mining company came and dug up your farm?  Of  course you would<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
TUESDAY, AGUSUT 2, 1960<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Spent very busy day\u202610,800 feet of line\u2026had four cable breaks<\/div>\n
\u2026.cattle\u2026no end  to it\u2026they eat cable everything day then regurgitate<\/div>\n
balls of copper wire and plastic.   Little wonder the farmers are upset.<\/div>\n
Must plan a way to pay them same amount \u2026 big mistake if one farmer<\/div>\n
gets more than others.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Washed  and shaved quickly then John  Hogan drove me to Killmacthomas<\/div>\n
to see a travelling circus\u2026the John Duffy circus\u2026We sat in the 6 shilling<\/div>\n
special reserve  seats.  I felt more like a  spectacle than the circus performers<\/div>\n
as people in the unreserved seats stared at us  a lot. The circus was<\/div>\n
great\u2026.clowns, jugglers, a grizzly bear, horses and  lots of girls.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Below are two pictures of Tom Duffy\u2019s circus\u2026John Duffy might have been  a relative.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\"\"www.dochara.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/08\/duffy-340×230.jpg<\/a> 340w, www.dochara.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/08\/duffy.jpg<\/a> 1181w” sizes=”(max-width: 691px) 100vw, 691px”><\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
END EPISODE 68<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u2026HERE IS THE JOURNAL CONTINUED NOT A LONG PIECE THIS TIME\u2026KEEPS ME GOING TO GET A STORY DONE EVERY DAY BUT SO FAR I HAVE MANAGED TO DO IT.  THIS IS MY GIFT TO EVERYONE SUFFERING FROM COVID 19 ISOLATION JUNE. 2020 EPISODE 68  BUNMAHON,  IRELAND    JULY 23,  1960  TO AUGUST 2, 1960 ALAN […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4948","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4948","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4948"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4948\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4948"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4948"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4948"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}