COILL DUBH’S GATHERING: SUSANNE O’SULLIVAN

Coill Dubh’s Gathering: Susanne O’Sullivan

I am the third generation to own and live in 108 Coill Dubh. First was my Grandfather John “Gaffney” O’Sullivan, then my uncle Paudie O’Sullivan and now myself, Susann O’Sullivan. As long as I can remember my father, Willie O’Sullivan, always loved to hear stories about Coill Dubh and look through old photo albums that people would have. Coill Dubh is deep in his heart, as it is for all of our family. As far back as I can remember Coill Dubh was a very big part of my childhood, going to my granny for lunchtime and having to wash my hands and behind my ears before granny would let you have your lunch.
I remember well the Christmas that my cousins and I climbed into the press in the big bedroom. This was a half press which opened from the top, and led into the hotpress in the kitchen. Coill Dubh people are very aware of this press. We could climb into what we call the box, and go down into the hotpress in the kitchen without being caught. Well this one particular Christmas we could hear them planning what we were getting for Christmas, and then got back out off the box, counting the days for Christmas to see our lovely gifts.
In those days there were swings, slides, a hobby horse and jumping box, in the middle of the big green. I can still remember sliding down the slide and catching my good dress on a screw that was sticking up from it, and the worry of how I was going to explain this to my granny. But her bark was worst than her bite. I remember the time I had the Chicken Pox and she put me into the bath with bread soda in it, these were the cures in those days. It wouldn’t have being too bad, except in those days, hot water was not always available. The water was freezing, but she assured me that it would cool down the itch, she didn’t say anything about turning blue though……
But most of all, I will never forget the people of Coill Dubh  for their  love and kindness, that pulled us through the hardest thing we ever has to face, It was when our house went  on fire, and we lost our beautiful little sister, Tara. We will never get over losing Tara, but we shall also never forget the people of Coill Dubh, and Cooleragh, as they played a hugh part in helping us to rebuild our lives. My Mother still to this day talks about neighbours taking the clothes from their own children and giving them to us, as we had lost everything in the fire.
Number 99 Coill Dubh was to become our new home. I am now a mother of three beautiful girls, and I am the so proud to live back in 108 Coill Dubh, Granny’s house. I had so many school lunch time memories in this house with her, and now I am creating new memories with my girls, in the village that I love and call HOME.
Susanne O Sullivan

I sit here watching and dreaming
Of this summer day I loved
The boys with knee’s cut
From climbing those trees in the lanes
And the girls playing with their mothers pram
Trying to be mammy’s their own
With their dolls and tea party’s
And of how our imagination would
Run away with us as we played
Those summer days away
I think how now my own walk
In my footprints of childhood playing in
Those summer days so free and innocent.

Continuing our stories from living and growing up in Coill Dubh we feature Susanne O’Sullivan’s memories. Our thanks to Susanne