'Uncle Jim buried 100 gallon tanks of petrol before the war to be prepared for shortage but never found them again'

'Uncle Jim buried 100 gallon tanks of petrol before the war to be prepared for shortage but never found them again'

Billy Gallagher remembers rationing during the war and travelling across the border to buy rationed goods

Billy Gallagher

Trinity College Dublin

1945

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Billy Gallagher

Childhood and Early Life

Life Story

Donegal, Lifford

1940's

My father had old car on blocks in yard, no petrol to drive. Uncle Jim buried 100 gallon tanks of petrol before the war to be prepared for shortage but never found them again. We had a tea chest full of tea (hoarded) disguised as a pouffe in the children's bedroom as everything was rationed. Ration books allowed 2 oz of sweets a week, an ounce of tea or butter per person. When ration books were withdrawn (about 1949/50) the shops were rushed and cleaned out of everything.Being born on the border we travelled to Donegal (Lifford) almost daily to buy tea, sugar, sweets. We went on bicycles although only 4/5 year olds as there was no traffic whatsoever. You had to pass through the customs posts, North and South, on each visit but customs men didn't usually bother 4-year-olds on bicycles.After the war my father bought a car in Dublin (a Ford Prefect ZJ 2012). He couldn't buy it in the North as everything was export only. He had to park the car in Lifford and could only drive it around Donegal then park in Lifford again and walk home (1 mile). A Ford Prefect was the first car with a long bench seat in the front.

Irish Research Council for Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (IRCHSS)

Dr Kathleen McTiernan (Trinity College Dublin)

Dr Deirdre O'Donnell (Trinity College Dublin)