IT'S BEM'S LIFE 1966.

The Folks decide to get a
Kitchen Extension.
The Da knew a few people in
the Construction Industry so
they built it for a Discounted price.

Monday morning and Bem is last
out of Bed.
He is feeling Groggy.
He trundles down the Stairs.
He reaches the Kitchen door.
The Ma is busy giving Breakfast
to the Chiselers.
She looks up at Bem.
" Are you feeling Alright ,son ?",
she asks.
" I don't like the colour of your skin",
she says to Bem.
Bem goes to the mirror and gets
a fright.
His face is yellow.
The Ma brings Bem to Doctor after
dropping some of the kids to School.
" Bring him home , Mrs C and I'll
get an Ambulance to go to your
house ", he says.
" He has yellow Jaundice", he says.
The Ambulance comes at 3.30 pm.
Bem is told to strip off all his clothes
and they wrap him in a Blanket and carry
him into the Ambulance.
There is a big crowd of kids outside.
Bem is brought to Cherry Orchard
Fever Hospital in Ballyfermot.
The Ma had no one to mind the kids.
Bem went on his own in Ambulance.
He was quite Scared.
When they arrived at Hoppo they wheeled
Bem into a room on a Stretcher.
he lay there on his own.
A nurse suddenly appeared and
she produced this huge syringe.
She attempted to inject Bem
but he was'nt  having it.
He pushed her away and she attempted
a few more times but gave up after
a fierce resistance from Bem.
Next Day a  Doctor came to the ward
and explained to 8 year old Bem about
getting the injection.
Bem was settled now so he agreed.
For 5 weeks Bem got an injection everyday.
When he got out of the Hoppo he was finally
allowed to eat his Easter Eggs as no chocolate
was allowed because of his condition.
All the Kids had eaten their Eggs at Easter
so Bem was very Popular when he took
his ones out.





A TRIP TO BELFAST.
The Da had got a car ,An Austin A40,
Bottle green was the Body colour.
One Saturday in the Summer ,Ma and Da and
Del,Bem,Ger,Rob and Jacq. got in
to the car for a surprise day trip.
They  picked their Nanny ,Maggie Nolan
up from her residence in North Wall.
The car was full to the Brim,
with 3 Adults and 5 kids.
They were heading to Belfast.
(full story in my blogger,"Growing up in Dublin")







England win the World Cup in Soccer.
They Beat West Germany 4--2 at Wembley.

IT'S BEM'S LIFE 1965.

Baby number 6 is born this year,
Boy number 5, Philip.
The Family lived in a Two-Bedroom
Terrace House.
Bem,Del and Ger all slept in
the one bed.
Rob and Jac had their own.
All in the one room.
Ma and the Da in their room
with Baby Phil.
Back then there was no Central
Heating, so The Bedrooms were quite
cold in the Winter.
Everyone would crowd around the
Main fire in the Living Room.
When it was time to go to Bed ,the
Ma would fill up the Hot Water
Bottles and put them in each Bed.
Overcoats would be draped over
the Blankets.
During the night if you wanted a Wee
 you would try and hold it till the Morning.

"Gerry, We need an extension ,there's no

room in this House", says The Ma to The Da.

She got The Deaf👂 off the Da for awhile.

One Day Bem came home after school.

Just as he got to the front Door ,he heard 

an almighty bang.

then another Bang........Bang..........

Bang.

He knocked at the Door , no answer.

"Hump this ", he says and he goes

next door to The Cahill's side entrance

and climbs over the Wall.

The Back garden was full of Dust.

He gets up to the window and peeks in 

and the Banging starts again.

The younger siblings were sitting on the 

Sofa looking at the back door.

Bem looks over at the door and there's

the Ma with a kitchen apron,

a pair of Wellies on her and a Woolie hat

swinging a big Sledgehammer at the Wall.

"Ma ,what's going on ?", exclaims Bem.

The Ma sticks her head out the back door

laughing and says ," I'm starting on this extension".

She had knocked down the inside porch at the back

door.

Bem couldn't believe it ,he mistakenly thought that

was only a job that men done.

Wonderwoman.

The Kids all helped to get rid of the rubble,

The Ma carried out all the big bits.

When the Da got home he was in shock.

He still got his Dinner that night even

though the Ma must have been shattered.

Later that year the extension was started.

NELSON'S PILLAR.

The Ma's family lived near City Centre.
The Aunt Lily used to bring us on little outings.
Sometimes to Fairview Park.
Sometimes to the Strand Cinema.
One Day Lily brought  us  boys
Del, Bem and Ger to Nelson's Pillar.
The walk up the stairs took a long time.
The view from the Top was spectacular
although Lily had to lift us up one by one
as we were so small.
The walk down was not as bad.
Aunt Lily bought Ice Cream for
us when we were back down.
A year later and it was blown up.
( full story in my blogger," Growing up in Dublin").




A NATION ONCE AGAIN.
Back then the Da had a motorbike
for personal use.
He drove a van for McBirneys,
Which was a Big Furniture Store
on Aston Quay not far from
O'Connell Street.
One evening on his way home from
work he got hit by a car.
On the Bike he had no protection.
His leg was smashed in 2 places.
He had to have a metal pin inserted
permanently to hold his leg together.
He was in Jervis street hospital
for a few weeks.
Us kids were allowed up to visit him.
We all got to autograph his leg plaster.
He was out of work for 6 months.
That December Bem's Class were doing
their Dress rehearsal for their Christmas Concert.
They had on Black Berets and were marching in
unison on Stage ,"Left,Right,Left........",
The Song "A Nation once again ", was playing.
The Teacher decided to do this to celebrate early
the 50 year Anniversary of the Easter Rising
which would be the next April 1966.
The Teacher gave the Boys a Break
from the marching,
Next Bem heard his name being called,
It was the Da.
Bem went over to his Da who had
struggled up to the School on his Crutches.
Out of his Coat pocket he took out a bottle
of coke and a bar of chocolate.
"Here I got you these,Bem".
Bem was chuffed as that was a real
treat back then.
Bem shared some of the Chocolate but
kept the coke for himself as he did'nt
like to share from his bottle.

IT'S BEM'S LIFE 1964.

Bem makes his First Holy
 Communion aged six..
He wore a suit for the first time
although the trousers were shorts.
The most scary thing for him
was going to Confession before his
Big day.
All the kids had to queue outside this Big
Brown box with 3 doors.
It was Bem's turn now.
Deep Breaths,Butterflies in Tummy.
"Bless me ,Father, for I have sinned,
This is my First Confession", says Bem.
The Priest pulls back the little curtain
that had hid his face.
There was a steel mesh now between
Bem and the Priest.
"What are your sins,child ? says the Priest.
"Eh, I, Eh, cursed ,Father ", says Bem nervously.
" Say 3 Hail Marys and 3 Our Fathers ", says
the Priest.
"Thank you,Father", says Bem relieved thats
all he got.
He went out to the Pew and knelt down
to say his Prayers.
"Bem, what did you get?", says a Boy behind him.
Bem tells him and it turns out most boys got the same
Prayers to say.

After the Communion was over ,The Ma and Da
brought Bem visiting Aunts and Uncles and
Grandparents all over Dublin.
Bem was delighted with the few bob he got.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Muhammad Ali becomes World Heavyweight
Champion when he defeats Sonny Liston
by technical knockout in Miami,Florida.

IT'S BEM'S LIFE 1963

"It's a girl, it's a girl........!!!,"
exclaimed the Da as he came
bursting in the Door.
A Girl after 4 Boys.
The Folks were delighted with her.
They decided to name her after
a Famous Kennedy,
ie Jacqueline.
When the Ma came home
with the Baby,
 the Boys were delighted.

ORPHANAGE VISIT.

Before Christmas that year the Da 

delivered a load of sweets and cakes to an Orphanage

in Inchicore.

They were having a Christmas Party for the kids

Stuff that was donated by various people.

He brought Del, Bem and Ger with him.

They hadn't a clue what an orphanage was.

All the food was laid out on a big long table

draped with a white cloth.

All the kids came in and they were dressed in

their uniforms.

The three boys had normal clothes on but 

because they were close in age the Ma had a habit 

of dressing them the same.

People would ask if they were triplets as they 

were all roughly the same height.

The kids from the Orphanage were on one side

of the hall and the( triplets) were on the other side

eyeballing each other.

Some of the kids looked lost.

They had a vacant look on them.

Most of them perked up when they got 

their goodies.

Some of them came over and asked the (Triplets)

questions.

"What place are you from?".

"Will you come back here?"

(to be continued.............

In this year President
John F. Kennedy was shot dead
in  Dallas.

IT'S BEM'S LIFE 1962...

Fourth Baby Boy born to
Kitty and Gerry.
Robert arrives in March.
Bem is now 4 years old.

 After The Ma comes home
with Baby Robert , an Aunt who was
a bit stern comes over to help
the Ma.
Ma is lying down in the front room
and Baby is in a Moses Basket in
the living room.
Bem goes over to peek in at
the new baby, he has to go on
his tippy toes to look in,
"Get away from the Babyyyyy ",
is the roar Bem hears as the Aunt
enters the room.
Bem nearly shit in his pants
and ran away from the Basket.
Del titters in the Background.
" What are you laughing for ",
she roars at him.
Ger meanwhile was hiding under
the Table.
The Ma was'nt happy and the Aunt
never ventured to our house again.


September is School time ,
Del had been brought the year before
but kicked up such a rumpus
they left him till this year.
Monday morning Bem and Del
are dressed in tan Bomber Jackets
and Black Shorts.
The Ma and her friend Rita
bring the 2 lads, with Ger in his
Pram, up to the School .
They go to the Entrance
on Sperrin road.
When they got there Del
jumps onto the School gate and
holds on for dear life.
" I'm not going in there", he says.
Rita tries to lift him off but he isn't
having it and clings on tighter.
Bem is standing there wondering,
what this place school is like,
thinking it must be bad if Del
won't go in.
The Ma coaxes Del down and they
all go in.
Bem and Del are enrolled in Mr's
Smith's class.
After a couple of months Del is moved
to a higher age class.
Every Day for Lunch the School
would give the kids a mini bottle
of milk and a corn beef sambo.
Then play in the yard for half an hour.

IT'S BEM'S LIFE....1961

Bem is 3 year old now.
Del is meant to start School.
Ger still finding his feet.





John F. Kennedy was the new American
President this year.

Dean Martin's,
"Memories are made of This".
was a number 1 in charts.

Floyd Patterson defeats Johanssen
in their third fight to retain his
World Heavy Title.

Oscar Winners were ,
Burt Lancaster /Elmer Gantry,
Liz Taylor/Butterfield 8.
Best Film/ The Apartment.

Tipperary are Hurling Champs.
Down are Football Champs.

Drumcondra FC are Soccer Champs.
St Pats are FAI Cup Winners.

Eamon de Valera is Irish
President.

IT'S BEM'S LIFE 1960.

Kitty and Gerry are settled in their house
with their 3 Boys.
Gerry has to take a second Job as a Barman
in Clontarf Rugby and Cricket Club
to supplement his regular job as
a Van Driver.


Shelbourne win The FAI Cup.
Limerick FC are League of Ireland Champions.
Wexford are Hurling Champs.
Down are Football Champs.
Bono and Adam Clayton (U2) born.
Packie Bonner ( Irish Goalie) born.
RTE Television started this year.
"It's Now or Never", by Elvis was
Top Song.
Irish Showbands were popular in the '60 s.


Floyd Patterson defeats Johanssen
to become the First Heavy Champ
to regain his Title.

Muhammad Ali wins Olympic Gold
at Light Heavy in Rome.

Oscar Winners,
Film/Ben Hur,
Charlton Heston/Ben Hur.
Simone Signoret/Room at the Top.

IT'S BEM'S LIFE 1959.

Bem celebrated his first Birthday
in February.
May of that year Son number 3 was born.
Ger would be the Heaviest of all the kids
weighing in at 10 pound .
In October Kitty and Gerry got the keys to
their house in Drimnagh.
Bem had celebrated his first Birthday
in Feb.



Dwight D. Eisenhower was the US President.
The Vietnam war was in it's fourth year,
It started in 1955.

Floyd Patterson loses his World
Heavy Title to Ingmar Johanssen
from Sweden.

Oscar winners,
David Niven/Seperate Tables,
Susan Hayward /I Want to Live.
Film/Gigi.


The Clancy Brothers were a popular Band in Ireland.
Paul Anka (Lonely Boy) was a Top Hit.
Shamrock Rovers were League of Ireland Champions.
St Patrick's Athletic won the FAI Cup.
Waterford were Irish Hurling Champions.
Kerry were Irish football Champions.
Paul Mc Grath ( Irish Soccer Player) born.

IT'S BEM'S LIFE.1958.

Bem was born in Holles street Hospital in Feb........Then christened after a couple of days in Westland Row
church by 2 Aunts and then returned to Mammy in Hoppo.
He was the Second child of Kitty and Gerry.
The first child Derek was born in '56.
Bem was brought home then to Meath st in the Liberties.
Bem's father,(Gerry) was from the Liberties.
He was born in Kevin St and moved to Aungier St when he was 6.
His Father ,Patrick Carroll, died before he was born.
His Mother ,Elizabeth( nee Doyle), now a widow with 9 kids had to go to work
as there was no Government help back then.( Patrick's family had a City farm in Francis st and a Saw mill in
The Tenters and owned property in Harty Place.) But nothing came her way.
She sold fish from her Stall in Camden st.
Early every morning she would go to Smithfield Market with her Pram
to collect her fish.
Life was tough and they lived in the Top floor of a Tenement House.
Kitty was from Sheriff St,( Laurences Mansions) in North Wall.
Her father, Michael Nolan, was a Docker..
Her mother's name was Maggie(Nee Coyle)
Kitty had 8 siblings.
Her 2 Brothers were also Dockers and had travelled all over the World on Ships.
Kitty and Gerry met in a Cycling Club in Gardiner St.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Magic Moments " by Perry Como was number One in 1958.
The Hula-Hoop and the Skateboard were introduced in 1958.
Dublin were All Ireland Champions in Gaelic Football.
Tipperary were All Ireland Hurling Champions.
Drumcondra FC were League of Ireland champions.
Brazil (with the great Pele) won the World Cup in Football.
Real Madrid were European Champions,
Manchester United had an ill fated crash in Munich Airport
returning from a European Tie,(23 people died including Irish player Liam Whelan.).
Ingemar Johansson was European Heavyweight Boxing Champion in 1958.
World Heavyweight Champion in 1958 was Floyd Patterson.
Sean T. O Kelly was The Irish President in 1958.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxOscar Winners,
Best Film/The Bridge on the
River Kwai.
Best Actor/Alec Guinness/
Bridge on the River Kwai.
Best Actress/Joanne Woodward/
Three Faces of Eve.