Throwback Thursday: I bought my house in 1978... for £14,200

Retired garda and renowned genealogist Jim Ryan enjoyed the memories in last week’s Throwback Thursday of breakfast on the trains, and indeed of first flights.

“Looking at the big photo of a flight to Dublin, I recognise a few faces there, including Tuff Barry, trainer of Cork hurling teams,” said Jim.

“He is in the middle with the dickie bow, and the great Christy Ring is third from left. I think that must have been the Cork hurling team of the time, as I recognise others in it too.

“It was very unusual for a hurling team to be flying any place in those days!”

Indeed it was, Jim. The picture was taken on the opening day of Cork Airport in 1961.

Mr Ryan’s own first flight was 15 years later - in 1976.

“I flew to London for an Ireland soccer game. (It was my first of over 140 Irish away games.) Anyway, I found it was only a fiver more to go for a week than three days (£183 for the three days, £188 for the week), so that’s what I did.

“Of course I never factored in that I would be staying in a hotel for the additional nights, as well as walking round London and finding food for myself! I learned from that for other trips.

“My wages were around £50 a week at that stage. I had bought my very first car, brand new, the year before for £1,300. The prices have stuck in my head all those years , I suppose, because I felt such an eejit not realising how much several extra days in London would cost!”

That first car of Jim’s was a Ford Escort.

“I was stationed in Ballyconnell, Co Cavan, at the time (although born in Watergrasshill, and proud of it!). I had gone for a spin with two friends who were looking at cars,” recalled Jim.

“They bought nothing, but I came home with a brand new car. I still remember the number of it: WID307.

“I had it for two and a half years, and had put 85,000 miles up on it in that time.

“I would often leave Cavan at six in the morning after work, drive to Cork, play a match, and drive back up for work that night. Wouldn’t be able for that now!

“I bought a house in 1978 for £14,200, but I know that the year before the same house was priced at about £7,000.

“In today’s money, that might translate as a house costing €300,000 this year, and €600,000 next!”

Jim, thank-you for those memories, but particularly for the prices you still manage to remember.

So often we forget what something actually cost back in the day (except the sixpenny Cadbury’s bar, how could you forget that?)

So, almost a month’s wages for the return flight from Dublin to London in 1976? Not something you would do too often, especially as Ryanair was still only a twinkle in an entrepreneur’s eye at that time.

Tell me this, all of you who read Throwback Thursday. Can any one of you remember how much it cost to travel on the Innisfallen back in the ’50s or ’60s, even the ’70s? I did it myself, but have no recollection of what the fare was.

I do recall that at certain very busy times you had to purchase an extra ticket, a sort of ‘pass’ which avoided overcrowding on the boat. But actual charges, not a clue.

If somebody can recollect how much they paid, then do please, please tell me!

Following on from that plea, and also from Jim Ryan’s detailed costings, I can in fact reveal what it cost my own father to travel across to Liverpool in 1936 for an interview.

Searching through his old papers recently, I came across a letter from the Cork office of Harrington Goodlass Wall, sending him over to attend on a Mr A. P. Bevan at their offices in 42 Seel Street, and thoughtfully providing the necessary funds in advance:

“The City of Cork Steam Packet Co’s direct steamer from Cork to Liverpool sailing 2pm Sat, Oct 3rd. Take first class single ticket, costing £1.10.0, including charge for Berth No 2. Cash for ticket: £1.10.0. Incidental expenses £1.5.0. One week’s wages to 10/10/36. £3.00. Total, £5.15.0.”

So now we know what it cost to travel Cork-Liverpool in the 1930s. First class, you note?

That’s rather better than Comhlucht Siúicre Éireann in Dublin to whom he had also applied and who unbent sufficiently to inform Joey that “for the purposes of the interview, if it is necessary to travel a distance exceeding 20 miles from Dublin, the Company will be prepared to refund the cost of third-class return rail or bus fare.”

(Just for the record, my father did work as a research chemist with Harrington Goodlass Wall in Liverpool for two years before the strain of being parted from his beloved fiancée could no longer be borne, and he came home – presumably by the same route – in 1938, to get married and take up a teaching post at the Crawford Tech.)

Meanwhile, Cyril McIntyre wrote to thank us for publishing his memories of his dad’s career as a bus inspector last week:

“My father would have been so proud to see it... I’m sure both he and your father, Joey, are looking down on us from their heavenly seats where they are surely swapping stories as they did so often during their lives,” said Cyril.

“Hopefully, the piece will prompt a few busmen of that great generation to send in their memories.

“I forgot to mention that one of my father’s contemporaries was Paddy Martin, father of Taoiseach Micheál Martin. He was known as The Champ, because of his prowess in the boxing ring; he was later promoted to Inspector.”

Cyril adds: “You might be interested, Jo, in the attached piece from the April issue of Heritage Railway - a UK magazine featuring heritage and preserved railway lines.

“I remember that you featured Blacklion & Belcoo station in your book, Follow The Old Road, with a photo of the Ulsterbus coach garaged behind the old level crossing gates.”

Oh yes, Richard Mills and I remember being absolutely delighted to find that bus in that particular location, Cyril.

During the war, when they couldn’t get the rolling stock, they actually reconstructed a bus to run on the rails instead. (Readers may recall the old Top Gear TV team trying much the same trick, with predictably chaotic results!) It’s such a lovely little place, that humpbacked bridge crossing a tiny river and the infamous border between the Republic and Northern Ireland at the same time, and Cyril agrees: “It would be great if the old station was acquired as a stop on the SLNCR Greenway and a museum of the railways in that area was set up. In my view, it definitely merits a cross-border funding initiative!”

He adds a final note.

“I have just read of the death of Barraí Mescall, formerly of RTÉ and TG4 - a great journalist and broadcaster. His father, Johnny Mescall, was a conductor on the Blarney route and I often heard my father say that he always knew that everything on Johnny Mescall’s bus would be in order.

“I worked with Barrai’s sister Clare in the rail freight depot on Penrose Quay back in the 1960s... what a small world it is.”

Do keep on sending us in your thoughts and recollections, Cyril! You don’t know whose memories you may jog and who will write to us next!

Well, the next email came from quite a bit further away – from Key West in Florida, in fact, where expat Corkonian Tom Jones is enjoying retirement, and remembrance.

“As always, I so much enjoy your column,” says Tom. “In particular, memories from readers who shared their experiences of calling the movements in céilís, and those involved in organising buses for people to different dance venues.

“While I have to admit that the céilí culture would not have aligned with my own experience of growing up as a Northside Spangle Hill kid, those are great memories. guys. Thanks so much for sharing.”

Tom continues: “I do remember seeing the buses lined up on the Grand Parade for Crosshaven circa 1967. I am of the vintage that actually recalls first going dancing in ‘Grawn Hall’, and Fr O Leary’s Hall on Bandon Road, where bands like The Vards, The Yaks, The Reptiles, The Quarrymen, and other local groups played.

“Then graduating to the famous St Francis Hall on Sheares Street. C’mon now, one and all, that was an iconic dance hall to all who grew up in the 1960s, as much as The Palm Court was in the 1950s.

“For those who may not remember ever hearing of The Palm Court, I recall it was situated right in the heart of the city. Some time in the 1970s, it became Good Time Charlie’s, perhaps the first nightclub in Cork. Or did The Cavalier Club off Washington Street precede that? I’m not sure, so let’s hear from the rest of you.”

Tom adds: “Barry Johnson, owner of Pa Johnson’s Pub, posted on Facebook recently concerning the famous Cavern Club in Liverpool, and our own Cavern Club in Cork on Leitrim Street.

“He recalled how he was there on the opening night in 1966 and mentioned the band and its members. Amazing recall, Barry. I always enjoyed conversation with you on my visits home to Cork.

“That post brought back many pleasant recollections of my own younger days at the Cavern. I’m sure I recall Rory Gallagher and Taste playing there on many occasions to establish themselves as one of the best rock groups in Cork.

“Others suggested groups like John Mayall’s Blues Breakers or others of renown played there. although I was not aware of that.

“Henry McCullough was also mentioned, I know he played with Joe Cocker at Woodstock, but who did he play with in the Cavern Club in Cork?

“Now, I’m not sure that The Cavern was the genesis of beat clubs in Cork. I think that the Crypt on MacCurtain Street may have been prior to that: what say other readers?

“Then there was the Cavalier Club which later became The Students Club. Part of the Munster Hotel at that time, I believe.

“It introduced us back in the day to black lightning, aka ultraviolet light, and fluorescent paint decor on black painted stone walls. Quite a new exciting experience for us overall. This would have been circa 1967 or ’68.”

Tom adds: “Now I am wondering if the Cavern started off as a club for teenagers, as opposed to bigger dance halls like the Arc and the Majorca? And did they not have a membership policy, to keep out the rougher element?

“Certainly, I feel that the Cavern reflected a huge change from the era of big showbands to one in which smaller groups and a newer emerging form of music got a chance.

“Just thought I’d offer these memories to encourage others to reminisce on ‘the way we were’.

“Yes, they always bring back the sunny days (OK, so, the grey skies sometimes, even occasionally the dark clouds of all our yesterdays.) But through it all, I realise I have shared some great experiences with nice people along the journey. So, thanks for the memories.”

And thank-you Tom! Great to hear from you. Other readers, do likewise.

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