'University was never mentioned as nobody had the money to go'

'University was never mentioned as nobody had the money to go'

Maura reflects on Ireland in the 1950s and on the life of large families at the time.

Maura Corr

Trinity College Dublin

1953

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Maura Corr

Adolescence and Early Adulthood

Life Story

Dublin

1950s

University was never mentioned as nobody had the money to go. Secondary school was even fee paying. For people with large families this wasn't an option. Out of school at 14 years and into a factory mostly. Sewing was the main occupation, or maybe after a few years, the boat to England or elsewhere.Marriage and housing (became) came next. Housing was difficult to get. Most people started in flats and hoped to get local housing when they had children (to get enough points).Private housing was expensive and some people locally just gave back the keys and took off.However, over the years these problems were ironed out and matters improved.Compared to then and today. Then there was much more poverty and people didn't know how to complain, but we've made up for it now.

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

Dr Kathleen McTiernan (Trinity College Dublin)

Dr Deirdre O'Donnell (Trinity College Dublin)