CK Heritage Blog
Reared as a townie in Youghal – little did I think that the majority of my life would be spent in the lovely Deise. Now having spent fifty-one years living in Shanacoole – I hope to live long enough to see Waterford win another hurling All-Ireland.
Dan Duskey was a showman with a small travelling outfit of his own – going from village to village in the earlier part of the last century. His wife, Peggy, sons and daughters made up the entire cast.
There are many stories about the hard-working Dan and his village show while touring around the South of Ireland. He arrived in Clashmore village in West Waterford before the Second-World-War with a van pulling one wagon. His theatre at the time was a one-pole all-canvas tent and it was one that had seen better days. Dan was undeterred. It was all that he could afford and he set up just below the bridge.
John (Sean) O’Connor, Principal of Piltown National School, told a great story from the 1950s when Waterford had an outstanding hurling team. Some older people will remember Ned Power, Austin Flynn, Tom Cheasty, Frankie Walsh, Johnny Kiely and Philly Grimes. They won the All-Ireland in 1959.
As great characters move on to a higher place we tend to remember them by the telling of stories and events that they amused us by. Telling of such memories is to be commended but writing them down for future research and generations is even a better deed. Anybody doing research into the light social history of our society will realise how many of our older people have left us in recent years. We hear the term “Why didn’t I ask him that when I had the chance?” Time moves on and people move on, so let us capture what we can while we are able.
We go back to 1952 for this story about a small circus coming to Piltown for a single performance. Corvenieo was the name of this show family and they mainly erected their one-pole tent in small towns and villages all over Ireland. Such a visit from a circus in those pre-tv times was a very exciting event for the locals.
As the summer approaches – we shall walk more in an effort to stay young and fit. Then when you think of where to go – consider the wonderful historical scenic route that is the Cliff Walk at Ardmore. Just three kilometres long – it reminds us firstly of St. Declan – who was here before St. Patrick.