In Reply to: Miss E.P. McManus of Pontoon posted by PJ on November 26, 2012 at 01:17:32:

After Ms. McManus retired, she became a popular member of the Mayo Historical Society, whose meetings were held in the Vocational School, Castlebar during the late 1950's/1960's.
The Chairman was the Rev A.O'Toole,C.C.,Castlebar and the Treasurer was Mrs. Mary Hanley. Other members included Mrs. J.M.Symes,Spencer Park; MJ Egan; John Garvan and Sir Anthony and Lady Bevir(retired Permanent Secretary to Prime Ministers of England from 1947 to 1956 and Private Secretary). He was discussed in an earlier posting a while back.
Ms McManus gave a number of lectures herself including one in which concerned her travels in 1948 to Persia (Iran) at the request of the Shah's sister, Princess Ashraph to carry out a survey of hospital facilities. She celebrated the Persian New Year in March and observed a strange tradition in which little fires were lit all over the town she was in and couples would then jump hand in hand over the embers chanting ridiculous ditties such as "my yellowness to you; your redness to me". She recalled seeing salmon caught in the Caspian and stayed in one of the most luxurious hotels in the world.
Her tales must have sounded incredible to the townsfolk at the time and brightened up many a meeting.