IT'S BEM'S LIFE 1974.

There's now 9 kids in the House.
Jacq was Happy as the last 2 were girls,
Kat and Rose.
Poor Jacq had been outnumbered with 6
brothers.




"YOU'RE IN THE ARMY NOW".
Bem and Ger and a few mates went
down one tuesday to Griffith Barracks
on the South Circular road beside the
National Boxing Stadium.
They were there to join the FCA,
(part time army).
They were all under age but pretended to
be older to join, Bem was 16 and Ger 15.
After a few weeks they got their own uniform.
2 nights every week they would go there.
Square bashing was the norm,
"Left,Right,Left,Right...............".
The Best days were on the Firing Range
up near the mountains.
Bem got to fire a Lee Enfield rifle,
A Bren gun,
A Gustav machine gun,
And a Bap hand pistol.
The last 2 were only a once off chance
Bem got to try.
They also got to handle grenades.
Every Summer they would go to a summer
army camp for 2 weeks and they got paid
which was a big bonus.
An advance group would go to the camp
a week before the main group.
On the way up to the camp ,2 corporals
who were travelling up by motorbike
had a fatal crash with both dying.
It was a very sad time.
Bem was picked to be a pallbearer
at one of the funerals.
It was a full Military funeral.
White gloves,White belt and full Uniform.







SOUTH PACIFIC.
The Ma was in the Ladie's Club up in
Our Lady's Hall on Mourne rd.
Every Tuesday was her only night out,
so she enjoyed her club night.
She had joined the Drama class a
couple of years before.
Every year they had a show on near
Christmas Time.
They had done the Charlston one year ,
Puss in Boots another year.
Ma was asked to sing , "I'm going to
wash that man right out of my hair".
" But i can't sing ", she says to the Da.
"Ah, you'll be grand ,Kitty ", he'd say .
Every night Ma would practice the song
at home and before long the kids would
sing along with her.
Finally it's showtime and the Hall is
packed.
Ma comes on and belts it out,
For someone who couldn't sing she done
a great number.
For years after that song was a favourite
in 177.
Everyone would have their own rendition.




DALYMOUNT.
Bem was working in Phibsboro so anytime
there was a match on in Dalymount ,Off he'd go.
Ireland played their Home matches there.
They started their first match in the Euro
Qualifiers(1976) against the Soviet Union.
Bem went down to the Match and you
just paid cash at the Turnstile and in you
went.
Some men would lift their kids over
the turnstile and just pay for themselves.
The great Johnny Giles was in midfield
along side Liam Brady( debut).
Don Givens scored a hat trick.
"That's it We're going to qualify" ,was the
general feeling in the crowd.
Ireland played Turkey away the next
month and could only draw 1-1.
Don Givens again the scorer.
Bem went to the match against Turkey
the following year in Dalmount and they beat
them 4-0 with Don Givens scoring the 4 goals.
They also beat Switzerland at home but
their 2 defeats away against the Swiss and the
Soviets cost them.
It was a pity as they had a really good Irish
Team that played good football.