a cara......this morning as i dripped my coffee.....{my favourite radio station in toronto...am 740 ...often named....zoomer radio......}..played paul mccartney....the tune was his signature tune .....yesterday.....then the announcer reminded us that sir paul was in concert tonight and tomorrow night at torontos air canada centre.....and as i sat sipping my favourite java....dark clouds rolled over lake ontario....casting a grey mantle over the concrete jungle of downtown toronto.....the morning dawn and the greyness of the sky projected the city in silhoutte......as if captured in photographic stilness......i sat ....savouring my mug of black caffeine....and a blueberry bran muffin.....iallowed myself drift with the lyric and float back to simpler times......the year was 1953....castlebar was compact and familiar....we were an uncomplicated community.....where locals knew each other ......the town was serviced by local farmers.....and bread , milk and other commodoties were delivered in carts.....particularly milk.......there were many milkmen who delivered milk on a trap, cart or bicycle........on mchale road two milk purveyors were well established .......mchales of breaffy....and john kilgallon.....john mchale owned a farm near breaffy.....and he was the supplier of milk to our house......john was a fine tall man .......who was rode into town on a saturday evening to collect his milk money in a beautiful pony and trap.....but his sons tom and billy were the main milkmen......his other son sean at one time became an agent for either lucan or hb ice cream......one could never miss the mchale farm.......the stone wall on the main road was always snow white .....with a bursting of of well manicured privot hedge rising in contrast above the wall.....the house ....again......pristine white.....stood meticously enviting.....in 1952 mr. mchale senior died .........and the running of the farm fell on billys shoulders.......tommy helped out but in late '52 went to england......billy .....carried on ....and i always enjoyed his visits to our house in number 10 on saturday evenings ......as well as running the farm ....billy was also a cattle jobber....and i would enjoy his tales of fairs and exploits at "gaffes'......billy was effervescent....jovial....and a great character.....who enjoyed the medicinals of liffey water.....complimented with a little jameson......but in early 1953 billy without word or warning took the train for holyhead........this caused a major dilemna for the mchale matriarch.......mrs. mchale......and some anxiety for her customers.....this became a challenge for her as she wrestled .....with this situation....an inheritance of her being widowed just a year earlier had spun out of control......she was left alone to salvage her farm affairs......i had been to the mchale farm on a couple of occassions....and had met mrs. mchale......so in 1953 .....as she pondered resolve of her dilemna....little did she know....i had decided to approach her and suggest i deliver her milk.....i rode my bsa bike out to the farm......i rode up the long frontage ...to the house....and as i approached mrs.mchale met me at the gable.......she didnt recognise me at first but after i told her my name ......she faintly remembered me.....i told her of my mission......she invited me into her kitchen....a warm country kitchen.....with a dresser filled with shining delph....speckled in white blue and brown..,...every home had a set of willow patterned delph......another sideboard was decorated in family photos.....a virtual shrine to her husband and family.......there was a big blazing hearth.....and a big table covered in a patterned oil cloth.......she made a cup of tea.....and braced that with several slices of home made bread with currants.....then we talked of my offer......she embraced my services with relief.....and joy......she pointed out the challenge......i had to be out at the farm by 7am every morning......she would have the milk ready and in the urns......she introduced me to the horse....topsy ...who was to become my friend and most reliable helper......she showed me the float.......and showed me the various measuring tools........a half pint, a pint, and a quart measure......the next morning......i set off at about 6.30 am for breaffy......going out the gate...i met mr.reilly.....who was the goods depot manager at the station.....as i rounded clarkes corner i saw tom keane drive by in his green van for ballinrobe.....where he operated his bakery......i bicyled up mons terrace.....by burkes of maryland.....and down the hill.......by reillys and mcnultys......as i passed the old soccer pitch....i looked across at the station......all was quiet and motionless over there......soon i came to the cross roads......and headed for mc. hales......as i entered the farm gate....mrs.mchale waved to me as i rode up to the gable.......she brouht me to the barn ....and got topsy all harnassed up.....the barn aromas were strong but freshing.....all natures smells and sounds were at their peak.....soon the pony and float were coupled and harnessed up .....we put the urns in the cart.....and finally mrs mchale gave me a list of her customers......topsy was well trained ...and a master in traffic.....and as i climbed into the back of the float mrs. mc hale tpld me .....topsy knws exactly when and where to stop.....just let her trot her journey ....and you will be ok...she said......and off we went....clip...clopping towards town.......this was exciting......my first customer was on mons terrace.....and topsy knew it ....she stopped ....i went to the door....and was greeted by lil mcging......the usual pint and a half lil said....as joe came to the door.....be..dad...young killeen.....ha.....you're a milkman now....good stuff....mrs mcging had her carogoline jug....cream coloured with a blue band....mrs. cunningham....got a pint....as did the everrards.....as i rounded the junction ......bridgee rice was making her way from milebush to her job at langans......across the street chief butler had a pint.....as i headed for mchale road.....i was in my stride as i got to our house......and nell keanes.....mrs. whittaker ...and annie scott got a couple of pints.....next was john joe highes's.....as i headed to the far end...here katie ford got a pint.....as frank deasy paid me........nanny cresham was another customer.....as was larry cresham.....i moved down towards redmonds and ruannes where i met john kilgallon.....ouside boston bennetts.....i made my way down sprinfield.....supplied my customers......and then headed out by the moneen cottages for the kilkenny crossroads.....as i passed the mental hospital field....the patients were being escorted to the potato fields......supported by topsy's knowledge .....i made pretty good time on my first morning.....i off loaded the float ....and headed for home.....i was bursting at the seams with pride and energy......and continued to do this for a few months.....and was some what annoyed when billy returned home from england.....i put my "wages" on stamp cards from the post office.....and felt rich.....my friendship with the mchales continued ........and had many adventures with billy..... back then we knew milk came from cows....and not cartons.....farms were active ....and colorful......perfumes of hays....and grasses......inebriated the soul......wheat .....barley and oats.....fluttered in the breezes......thats the way it was that spring and summer of '53....

...i oftenthink of home the ole ee.ay.....when i am all alone and far away.....i sing an old refrain....dee ole ee ay.....for it recalls to me a bygone day......it takes me back again to meadows fair.....etc....

.....la eile sceil eile.....

..................anois.....

..............tog go bog e ...