Living through an Emergency

By Patrick Mannion

The years 2020 and 2021 have been dominated by an 'Emergency' caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. It is the second 'Emergency' I have experienced. The first was during the years of the Second World War (1939-1945). These years occupied a large slice of my childhood.

Although the Irish government, at that time, declared us to be neutral, nevertheless everything was put on a war footing. Many thousands were recruited into the Defence Forces and anyone who left their employment to join was guaranteed their job at the end of the war. As well as the army, many auxiliary forces were organised including the Local Defence Force (LDF) which was a part-time force and used as back-up for the army. There was also the Local Security Force (LSF) which was there to assist An Garda Siochana. Also established was Air Raid Precautions (ARP) as well as branches of the Red Cross and the Order of Malta.

As Athlone was the headquarters for the Western Command there was a huge army presence here in Custume Barracks, additional accommodation was provided by the erection of hunts on what is now the green area facing the road. Troops were billeted in a portion of St Mary's Hall, on a temporary basis, until additional space was provided in the barracks.

Barricades, comprised of reinforced concrete and steel girders, were erected on all main roads leading into town. This only allowed the passage of single vehicles in order to slow the progress of any invasion forces, should the occasion arise. Black paint was put on the lamp shades of the street lights so they would be difficult to spot from the air. In those days most lights were switched off at midnight. The 'White' bridge became the 'Grey' bridge in order to make it less visible to hostile aircraft.

The war years had an enormous impact on everyone's way of life. As most of our wheat, oats and barley was imported and Ireland had very few cargo ships, flour and meal became very scarce. The government appealed to farmers to grow more, and while this was done, our climate did not always suit the production of grain crops, so pre war supply levels couldn't be reached.

The result was brown bread made using flour that was a combination of some wheat, oatmeal, bran and other root crops. The population were shocked to have to eat this bread though no one was aware then that it was actually more nutritious than white bread. Many housewives tried sieving the mixture in order to extract the white flour, usually with little success. A neighbour who had stocked with cwt (a hundred weight, approx 50kg) of white flour would produce white soda bread. When her children appeared outside with slices of this bread, we would hang around in the hope that their mother would treat us to a slice.

Wheat was only one of many items in short supply. Coal supplies had ceased. As trains and power stations were coal fired, turf had to be used as a substitute. A common site was a locomotive belching showers of sparks from its smoke stack.

Rationing

As the war intensifies, rationing was introduced on many items. Sugar, butter and even some types of clothing were rationed. Each person was issued with a ration book which contained coupons which could be tendered in addition to cash. Only a limited number of coupons could be used each month. The number of coupons required for each item varied. Tea was scarce for a period and it was rationed to 1/2 pound (.25kg) per person per week. Word got around that if you baked finely grated carrots that they could be used as a substitute for tea. My mother decided to try this recipe. When she passed the resulting brew for us to try it tasted something awful and put me off carrots for many years afterwards.

On The Land

In response to a government appeal, the county council made land available for people to grow potatoes and other vegetables. These were called plots or allotments. Some of these were on the land where Tormey Villas now stands. Local company Gentex also made land available to their workers for this purpose on a site that is now a sports field.

Turf production was also deemed a priority and many families rented portions of bog where, in those days, everything had to be produced by hand. It was hard work for those unused to it. As kids we hated rearing the turf.

Recycling

It is probably a popular opinion that 'recycling' is a modern idea. Not so! As everything was scarce, including paper, the daily paper consisted of four pages, people were encouraged to save waste paper, which was collected and pulped, to be used as newspaper.

Old clothing was also used for this purpose and straw was used in the manufacture of cardboard. It was not unusual to see flecks of straw in the finish product. Some of the paper produced from these various materials resulted in it been a much darker shade.

Also in great demand were glass bottles and jam jars. In those days publicans would bottle their own Guinness straight from the wooden keg. Most bottles returned fetched one penny while some could fetch a penny halfpenny. Shops also paid for the return of jam jars. This was a great incentive for kids.

Transport

As petrol and oil was very scarce, supplies were reserved for the Defence Forces and the medical services. It was a time when the horse and bicycle came into their own. As well as being used by farmers to deliver milk daily (practically all milk was brought directly from the farmers at this time) horse-drawn transport was used by all major stores for deliveries around town. One was brought to one's final resting place by horse-drawn hearse, while donkeys were also used to bring carts of turf from the bog and vegetables to the market. Most vegetables were bought in the market which was situated opposite St Peter and Paul's Church while poultry and eggs were also sold there. On the last Saturday before Christmas a large market for turkeys and geese would take place.

Light, Power & Heat

Before the war some homes in the town were without electricity. With paraffin oil becoming ever more difficult to obtain and candles in short supply, many homes got electricity for the first time. Some, who could afford it, purchased a radio and many turned in to get the latest war news. Some listeners would tune, each night, into German radio to hear 'Lord Haw Haw' who broadcast propaganda on behalf of the Nazis (real name William Joyce, Lord Haw Haw was executed by the Allies after the war).

No Tropical Fruit

Fresh fruit from abroad was unavailable including oranges, bananas and grapes as well as any kind of nut, including coconuts. The only fruit available was home-grown apple and plums. Wild hazel nuts were eagerly collected as well as blackcurrants which were used to make homemade jams.

Another item in short supply was tobacco and cigarettes. When word would go around that a certain shop had got a delivery, there would be a frantic rush by smokers to obtain a supply. If the dangers of smoking were known then they might not have been in such a hurry.

Defence Force Activity

In 1942, an event was staged nationwide which was called 'Step Together Week'. The purpose of this event was to highlight the importance of the Defence Forces and auxiliary services. In Athlone, a huge parade took place which was reviewed by Mr Frank Aiken, the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defensive Measures.

From time to time, variety shows were staged for the entertainment of the troops and many professional entertainers gave their services. As my uncle was in the army, I was fortunate to get to enjoy some of the afternoon shows as he would also take me along with his own children. Sweets and chocolates were usually given to the children present, which would have been a huge treat, given how limited their supply was in the shops.

Athlone's Greatest Fire

One occurrence which had an enormous impact on so many lives was the destruction of the Athlone Woollen Mills (on the current site of the Radisson Hotel) on November 11, 1940. It created an inferno which was only brought under control when the army demolished some of the adjoining buildings in Northgate Street. This was done by a controlled explosion; otherwise every building in the street would have perished. For those of us who lived nearby (in St Francis Terrace), it meant evacuation and it also resulted in minor damage, mainly dislodgement of roof slates to some homes in the area.

War In Europe Ends

While the war in Europe ended on May 8, 1945, it didn't result in the easing of rationing as the war in the Pacific would continue for some months more. It would only end following the dropping of Atomic Bombs on the Japanese cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

It would take more than a year for rationing to ease as a result of the massive loss of merchant shipping during the war. Many months would pass before tropical fruit would become a welcome sight in many shops. Their reappearance would cause quite a stir and there were many young children who would never have seen these fruits before. It was a new experience to taste them for the first time. As wheat supplies became more plentiful, bread gradually became lighter in shade and the first white loaves to appear were in great demand.

The Aftermath

Thousands were demobbed (demobilized) from the army and while those who had jobs returned to their employment, many others had no jobs to return to. The late 40s and early 50s were lean years for many. With peace restored in Britain, much rebuilding was necessary and this resulted in a huge exodus of Irish people to work in construction and on building sites, many of whom would never return.

Today many people are fed up with Covid-19, street crime and rising inflation, as well as the constant worries regarding global warming and climate change.

As someone who has lived through 'difficult' times, despite these drawbacks in today's world, life is a great deal better. We have a well educated workforce, while modern medicine has conquered tuberculosis which decimated many families back then, and many children's diseases are now a distant memory.

The economy is on the rise. Young readers can rest assured that they have never had it so good!

The author Patrick Mannion grew up and continues to reside in Athlone.