The George A. Townley Diary – 1947

Introduction

It is with a sense of great respect and sincere appreciation that the Tierworker Ceidhle House receives this diary for the year 1947 which was kept by George Townley, who lived at Killagriffe House near Tierworker, County Meath.

George Townley’s work ethic – as evidenced by his constant attention to his day-to-day responsibilities – deserves respect, and the fact that he has provided a record for practically every day of 1947 is something for which we can be thankful. We can only regret that he did not provide more detail about his life and times as he went about his daily tasks on the family farm.

Although the diary entries for each day are brief, they can serve:

• as “memory joggers” for those of us who are old enough to remember what life on the farm around Tierworker was like in the early decades of the 1900s, and
• as topics for enquiry for the younger generations who never had the privilege of going to the fair of Bailieborough on the first Monday of every month. 

 For purposes of this blog, I (Philip Donnelly) have transcribed, to the best of my ability, the handwritten entries. For the most part, this was an easy task because George’s handwriting was very legible. However, I cannot be certain about a relatively small number of words and phrases, especially the names of some people and places. In those situations, I have inserted question marks (?).

Sample Pages of Townley Diary

Prior to reading the full transcriptions of the George Townley Diary for 1947, it may be useful for the reader to examine a few sample pages showing George’s actual handwriting and the transcription of his words – please click following link:

Review sample pages of George’s Diary

The next sections present the “first draft” of the transcription of the diary.

The explanations and corrections submitted by Richard Barber in his email of December 19 are marked with an asterisk (*) and smaller bold italic type. Thank you Richard.

Diary Entries – Pages 1 to 33

George Townley Diary Page 1
	MEMORANDA
	The young Shercock heifer went to C. Sheckleton’s bull on Tues 14th Jan. and Patrick Carolan of Tierworker died on the same evening. The young Roosey cow went to C. Sheckleton’s bull of Thursday the 6thFebruary. The old Roosey cow went to C. Scheckleton’s bull on Friday the 21st March. On Wednesday the 30th April 1947 James Donnelly left Glanadarragh, the place whicj was sold to James Reilly of Coppanagh.
George Townley Diary Page 2
MEMORANDA	January 1947
Freddie Pringle, Hammy Pringle, Eugene Reilly and myself went to the show in Breakey School on the 30-4-47. We enjoyed it very well.	MEMORANDA
1. Wed. There was a social in Ervey. I was not at it. It was a wet showery day and miserable.
2. Thur Was in Dick’s trashing oats. Was a nice day but cold. Went with F. Pringle and the trasher up to George.
3. Fri Was at the creamery. Got wet. Waited in B’boro for a good while. Bought a bicycle tyre in Gibson’s for F. Pringle. 6/6.
4. Sat Was at G. pringle trashing. A pretty nice day. Enjoyed it very well.
George Townley Diary Page 3
January 1947	January 1947
5. Sun Was at Ervey. Very wild and cold. Didn’t go anywhere. Only went to J. Carolan’s to hear from P.	12. Sun. Was at Ervey. Had the mare and trap. We gave the Rev. Eaton (?) a present, it being his last Sunday in Ervey. Turned out very wet.
6. Mon. Was in the fair of Bailieboro. Sold oats in it. Had a wonderful experience going to town. Was talking to old Mr Vance, and gave him some cash.	13. Mon. Was cutting posts for wire for bog field. Talking to J. Pringle on the road. Sonny went to town. Got the work done early in the evening.
7. Tues. Started to put out top-dress on big meadow from Oldtown. J. Pringle came along and we went to draw oats from Alex’s.	14. Tues. Was another wet day. Not doing much. Went to C. Sheckleton’s with the Shercock heifer. Mother went to see p. carolan. He died that evening. Went to the wake.
8. Wed Very wet wild day. Not doing much. Most of the day was spent in the house doing nothing. Started to fill my diary.	15. Wed. Lifting gravel in the quarry for Eugene Briody. Got J. Smith’s boy a load of sand. Went to help to leave P. Carolan in the chapel that night. Then came home and went –?–.
9. Thurs Dick and myself was with the Farrells cutting timber for the fire. James was in Bailieboro. It wasn’t a bad day. Sonny brought the bruse from Clegge’s (?) mill.	16. Thur Was a wet day. Not doing much. Dick, Sonny and myself went to Patrick Carolan’s funeral. Only went to Lynch’s cross with it.
10. Fri Was at the creamery. Got buttons on my coats by M. Sullivan. Turned out a wet even. Sonny was at Geelans trashing. Went to a dance in Dristium (?) O. Hall (?)	17. Fri Was drawing gravel for Eugene Briody. Was a fatal day for Freddie Pringle. He lost his arm. Went to Cavan Hospital.
11. Sat. Was an awful wild wet day. Not doing much. Left home Stafford’s hay cart.	18. Sat Was knocking about the house. Not doing much. Went into town that night.
George Townley Diary Page 4
January 1947	January 1947
19. Sun Went to Ervey. Met Mr Griffith for the first time after his return home. Went to Pattersons and spent an enjoyable evening.	26. Sun. Went to Cavan to see Fredie Pringle in the Hospital. Wandered through the town.
20. Mon. Was pulling turnips in butties field. Fetched home a load. Was trucking about home the rest of the evening.	27. Mon. Was working in the quarry. Dick and Sonny went to town on the motor.Ity was in town also. Duggie (?) Geraghty (?) came over for us to help the O’Mally (?) to start the car.
21. Tues. Was with the Pringles fetching home oats from Alex and Gillys (?). Was a very good day.	28. Tues. Went to Lisball and brought up the calves. It was a lovely day. Joe came up with me and the calves as far as McKeowns.
22. Wed Was with the Pringles drawing oats in Williamsons. Was a very cold day.	29. Wed. Was an awful day. Started to snow. Not doing much.
23. Thurs Was drawing stuff from Oldtown to the big meadow. Sonny started to plough the field at the back of Oldtown.	30. Thur Bennie Stafford and myself went to the auction at Rockfield. It was a very cold day.
24. Fri Was at the creamery. It was vey cold. Didn’t do much when I came home.	31. Fri Was at the creamery. The road was very slippery and very hard to get home with the frost.
25. Sat. Was an awful wild wet day. Not doing much. Left home Stafford’s hay cart.
George Townley Diary Page 5
February 1947 MEMORANDA	February 1947
The Shercock heifer went to C, Sheckleton’s bull on Tues 14th Jan ’47.P. Carolan died that evening.The young roosey(?) cow went to C. Sheckleton’s bull on Thursday 6th Feb ‘47	2. Sun. Was nowhere, only at home, after cattle. Very stormy and cold. Snowing almost all day. Nothing wonderful to write about.
3. Mon. Was in Bailieboro Fair. A very wild day. The road was in a terrible state. Not much stir in the fair. Had to walk home.
4. Tues. Wasn’t doing much. The weather remained very wild and the snow was still falling.
5. Wed. Was cleaning oats in the barn. Very wild and snowing almost all day.
6. Thur. Was working around the house. Had a touch of the cold. Not in the best of form.
7. Fri. Was at the creamery. Sonny came in with me to town. The road was in a terrible state with frost.
1. Sat. Wasn’t doing much, only running after cattle. Very cold day.	8. Sat. Was at home. Not doing much. A terrible cold day.
George Townley Diary Page 6
February 1947	February 1947
9. Sun Was nowhere in the early part of the day. Dick and I went to Pringle’s at night to hear from Freddie.	16. Sun. Dick and myself went to Ervey on the motor bike. The roads were very slippy.
10. Mon. Mother and I went to town with Robin and the spring cart. Sold eggs & chickens to Mitchell for my Da. Was speaking to B. Bell (?)	17. Mon. Sonny and myself was drawing hay from the field under the Line. A very good day.
11. Tues. Was working around Oldtown. Very cold day. Nothing particular to write about.	18. Tues. Was knocking about the house not doing much. My Da and I went to John McHarry’s hill to look for a post for the stable. Very cold.
12. Wed Started to clean out Oldtown shed. A very cold day. Went down that evening to see F. Pringle after he came home from Cavan Hospital.	19. Wed. We started to bring home the hullow meadows. The weather was very stormy.
13. Thurs Another awful cold day. Was working in Oldtown. Went to Mrs. Clarke’s funeral. (?) Met with F. Pringle. Had a drink in Briody’s, then went over to Tierworker.	20. Thur Still drawing the hollow meadows. Snowing all the time. (?)Great them friends(?). Had a letter from Daisy saying June was ill.
14. Fri Walked to town. Weather still stormy. Went to Breakey dance that night. Enjoyed it very well.	21. Fri Dick and I went to the creamery with the motor bike. Then went to Lisball to see Jane Waller.
15. Sat. Was working in Oldtown. Walked into town that night. Met C.R.	22. Sat Was knocking about the house. Not doing much. Went into town that night.
George Townley Diary Page 7
February 1947	March 1947
23. Sun A very good day. Dick and I went down to Joe Wallens (?) to see how he was getting on.	MEMORANDA
24. Mon. Was in Moyle with the Pringles trashing Freddies oats. A very cold day. Went to Mrs Rountree’s for our tea.
25. Tues. An awful stormy day. The blizzard of snow came and blocked up everywhere. Had to go up the hill to look for the cattle.
26. Wed Dick and myself went to Mrs Carolan’s auction but it was not held owing to the storm.
27. Thurs Sonny and I went to Clarke’s of Ballynamoney and bought a pike of hay.
28. Fri Went into town . Had to walk in and out. The roads were in an awful state. Was home with Sue Pringle.
	1. Sat Was clearing the snow away from Oldtown gate. Fetched a load of hay from the field under the Line.
George Townley Diary Page 8
March 1947	March 1947
2. Sun Was nowhere, not in the best of form. Mother and I had a quarrell. Johnny Pringle was in but I did not see him.	9. Sun. Went to Ervey. The roads were in a terrible state with snow. There wasn’t many in it.
3. Mon. Was in Bailieboro fair. Sold three sacks of oats to H. McCartney. Gave him three pounds on the account.	10. Mon. Was in town. There wasn’t much stir in it. Met John Pringle and a man named John Clarke. Had a drink. Went down to Sallies (* hardware shop; “Sallies” was a nickname for Clarke)and bought a new wheel plough.
4. Tues. Was knocking about the house. A very cold day. Dick and Sonny was in Lisball cutting timber.	11. Tues. Was in Richard Sheckleton’s helping to trash oats and wheat. A terrible cold day.
5. Wed Was working in Oldtown. Had a fire in it. It was another awful cold day.	12. Wed. Was an awful stormy day. Had a fire in Oldtown. Was reading a book.
6. Thurs Was dressing pailing posts. Went to Mrs Carolan’s auction after dinner. We bought a pony straddle at it.	13. Thur Another wet day. Was sinking a drain at the back of the house. Joe Carolan went to England.
7. Fri Went to the creamery. Had Dick’s wife into town. Was a showery day. John Pringle and I went to Breakey that night.	14. Fri Was in town with the pony and cart. Brought home meal and pollard for the pigs. F. Pringle and Owen Reilly went to look for a plough.
8. Sat. Was cutting pailing posts around Molly’s (?) Walls.	15. Sat Awful stormy day. Could do nothing outside. Was cutting sticks with Sonny in the dairy.
George Townley Diary Page 9
March 1947	March 1947
16. Sun Awful stormy day. Was nowhere, had to run after the cows and cattle.	23. Sun. Was at Ervey. Was late for the service. Came home by Muff.
17. Mon. Awful wild day. Not doing much. Dick and Sonny went away on the motor bikes to look for hay.	24. Mon. Was in town getting oats crushed with W & G Bell. Was talking to Daisy in the town.
18. Tues. Was knocking about house not doing much. Dick and Sonny was in the town. The Shercock cow calved.	25. Tues. Finished ploughing the field at the back of Oldtown. Came on a wet evening.
19. Wed Was drawing timber from JmcHarry’s hill. Was a very good day. Dick helped F. Pringle to cut two trees in teapots (“teapots” was an old dwelling that was in the hollow)for a harrow.	26. Wed. Started to plough the long field on JmcHarrys hill. Then went to sweep Oldtown street after dinner
20. Thurs Was spreading top dress on the big meadow. Dick and F. Pringle went to Moynalty on the motor bike for parts for the tractor.	27. Thur Went over to Dick’s after dinner to plough. Brought the Lil (*Lil was one of the horses; Baldy was the other one)mare with me. F. Pringle was ploughing in Simmon’s (?) field.
21. Fri Was at the creamery. A very good day. Went to C. Sheckleton’s with the Old Rosey cow.	28. Fri Was at the creamery. Had Mrs Cullen (?) into town with me. Was pretty late getting home. Finished spreading the stuff on B.M.
22. Sat. Was in town with the polly mare. Got the shoes removed from her. M. Griffith was at our place.	29. Sat
George Townley Diary Page 10
March 1947	April 1947
30. Sun Was at Ervey. Was a little late. Not many at it. Went to Lisball in the evening.	MEMORANDA
31. Mon. Was ploughing on JmcHarry’s hill. Dick and Sonny went into the town. Left feeding stuff with G. Prongle that night.
MEMORANDA	1. Tues. Was ploughing on JmcHarry’s hill before dinner. Then went to get the Hollow lane field ready to plough.
2. Wed. Was mowing rushes in the wee Hollow lane field. Sonny started to plough in it after dinner time.
3. Thur Was mowing rushes in the same field. Brought some of them to the Oldtown shed.
4. Fri Was at the creamery. Got a piece of a stick sawed for a bull (?) for a harrow with J. E. Parr. And (?)McCabe was dead.
5. Sat A wild wet day. Not doing much. Went out to plough in the evening.
George Townley Diary Page 11
April 1947	April 1947
6. Sun Was at Ervey. Went nowhere. In the evening only went with Sonny, went to Lisball.	13. Sun. Was at Ervey. Went with Dick and Sonny to Pringles to lift a cow.
7. Mon. Was in Bailieboro fair. Met T.R. Geery (?) with a pig of Daisy. Sonny sold the pigs.	14. Mon. Started to plough the bog field at Pringles. Father not so well. Sent for the Dr. He arrived that night very late.
8. Tues. Sonny and myself was working in the wee hollow lane field.	15. Tues. Was ploughing in the bog field. Dick and Sonny sowed the wheatin the turnip ground in Butties.
9. Wed We were ploughing in the wee hollow lane field.	16. Wed. Started to sow oats in the pit field on JmcHarry’s hill.
10. Thurs Finished the wee hollow lane field and also finished in the pit field. Then went to upper butties after dinner.	17. Thur Was ploughing to dinner time in bog field. Then went to sow oats in wee hollow lane field. Mr Griffith paid us a visit.
11. Fri Was at the creamery. Fetched Daisy three sacks of oats with me, Was speaking to her in town.	18. Fri Was at the creamery. A lovely day. Met Mr Griffith. He came out to our place afterwards.
12. Sat. Was ploughing in upper butties. Finished it and then went to plough the turnip ground. The cattle got out into the road.	19. Sat Sowing oats in Upper Butties. A very wild day. Got it finished.
George Townley Diary Page 12
April 1947	April 1947
20. Sun A very wild day. Dick and I went over to Mrs Williamson of Killaconny. Had a fine evening	27. Sun. Was at home. Not in the best of form. Wrote a letter to my cousin Mrs Fraser in America. A very wild day.
21. Mon. Was a terrible wild day. Dick and myself went to George Staffy funeral.	28. Mon. Was ploughing in the bog field at Pringles. Dick and Sonny was in the market. Sonny bought a barrel of oats from R.G.G. at £3.
22. Tues. Was knocking about, not doing much. Sonny went to H. Sheckleton for a load of hay.	29. Tues. I was at the creamery. It was a very wild wet day. The Land Commission divided the hollow place. And the Cullens left it.
23. Wed Was another awful wild day. Was cleaning oats before dinner on the loft. Then went to J. Donnelly auction. A terrible evening.	30. Wed. Wasn’t doing very much. A very wild cold day. Dick and Sonny went up to look for hah at Kilmainhamwood and also see the fellow with the lorry about the flax.
24. Thurs Was up the hill ditching and closing gaps. Opened the gullet at the gap at the top of the big hill.	MEMORANDASold four cattle in the fair of Mullagh @ £26 per head. Bought one of these from H. Mitchell in the Dec ’46 fair Bailieboro @ £17-15-0.
25. Fri Was at the fair of Mullagh. Sold four cattle in it at £26 per head
26. Sat. Was in Bailieboro. Not doing much. Sonny carting home spuds. Ity (*Ity, short for Isaac, was George’s youngest brother)and two of Jackies (?) filled them.
George Townley Diary – Page 13
May 1947	May 1947
MEMORANDA	4. Sun. Was at home. Mother and the flock went down to Lisball. A pretty good day. Had to go after the cattle. They were in the field Joe Kellet work (?).
5. Mon. Was in Bailieboro fair. Went to Currie & Co. to get hay weighed which we bought at 25/2 per cwt.
6. Tues. Was at the creamery. Then came home and went to harrow in the field at the back of Oldtown.
7. Wed. Was housekeeping. Mother had to go into the court. We were summonsed for the (*unlicenced dogs; a dog licence cost 5s) dogs.
1. Thurs Was trying to finish the ploughing in the bog field. A pretty nice day. Sonny was ploughing in the hollow. Went over in the evening with the mare for a load of flax.	8. Thur Was in Dublin at the R.D.S. Had a wonderful day. Very nice day with sunshine.
2. Fri Was at the creamery. Then went to Rockcorry with the load of flax. Was home at 10 o’clock. Then went to the dance at Breakey.	9. Fri Was at the creamery. Was a very nice morning. Turned out vet wet.
3. Sat. The fields were covered with snow. A very wintry day. Had to go after the cows up the line.	10. Sat A very nice day. Started to build the pier at Oldtown.
George Townley Diary – Page 14
May 1947	May 1947
11. Sun Nothing wonderful for so far. Went to Tierworker. Then went to Mullagh to look after my new bike.	18. Sun. ent to Ervey with the mare and trap. Was talking to Mrs Patterson. F. Pringle and myself went for a walk.
12. Mon. Was in Dick’s to harrow oats. Mr Griffith came in to where we were working.	19. Mon. Started to put manure in field at the back of Oldtown for potatoes.
13. Tues. Was at the creamery. A very nice day. Wasn’t along much up the hill looking at cattle.	21. Tues. Was at the creamery. A lovely day. Sonny (*aka Willie)and Ity (*aka Isaac, both brothers of George)putting manure.
14. Wed Went to Clarke’s forage with the barrell of the rollers	22. Wed. Sonny and myself was putting out manure. Was a beautiful sunshine day.
15. Thurs Was harrowing in the big field. Then went to harrow in the field at the back of Oldtown.	23. Thur Was at the creamery. Was an awful wet day. Wrote a letter to Helen. Went into town again and posted it. Got the snaps.
16. Fri Father and myself went to -??- F. Pringle harrow the field at the back of Oldtown.	24. Fri Was a lovely day. Started to put in potatoes. Had Mickie Geraghty.
17. Sat. Was a wet day. Sonny lifted the drills.	25. Sat Was at the creamery. Had men putting in spuds. Turned out very wet.
George Townley Diary – Page 15
May 1947	MEMORANDA
25. Sun Was at Ervey. Had holy communion. Just got home when it started to rain.
26. Mon. Was at the creamery. Met with Sonny in the market. He bought spuds from Jousha Williamson.
27. Tues. Was at home. Was putting in spuds.
28. Wed Was at the creamery. Finished putting in spuds.
29. Thurs Left the mowing machine over in Clarke’s forge. Brought home the barrells of the rollers.
30. Fri Was at the creamery. Was a very warm day. Sonny was at the vet about the polly mare.
31. Sat. Was an awful warm day. Was drawing stores to Oldtown.
George Townley Diary – Page 16
June 1947	June 1947
1. Sun Willie and I were at Ervey. Got an awful shower.	8. Sun. Was at Ervey. It turned out wet. The foal was very poorly. Daisy was up.
Was in the fair of Bailieboro. Bought a bullock @ £17-10-0	9. Mon. Left the milk down at McKeowns for P. Curran for the first time. Father and I went into town. The foal died..
3. Tues. Was knocking about house not doing much. Put the cattle up the hill.	10. Tues. Went up to Stephen Clarke’s for the drill harrow. Started to take the tops of the drills.
4. Wed Was at the creamery. Very warm weather. Turned out very wet. Had a drink in P. Clark’s with J. Curran.	11. Wed. Was taking the tops of drills. A lovely day.
5. Thurs Was working on Molly’s hill. A showery wild day. Mother and Ity went to town. Buldie foaled in the morning.	12. Thur Was putting out manure for the turnips.
6. Fri Was at the creamery. A very nice day.	13. Fri Closed drills for the turnips and sowed them that evening..
7. Sat. Was at the creamery. It was a pretty good day.	14. Sat Was a wet day. Ity and myself was fensing on mcHarry’s hill.
George Townley Diary – Page 17
June 1947	June 1947
15. Sun Put heifers and cows to mcHarry’s hill. Then went to Ervey.	22. Sun.
16. Mon. Started to roll oats in bog field. It came on wet and didn’t get it finished. Went to Mullagh in the evening.	23. Mon. Was in Mailieboro Market. Went down to Curries and got a pole for the mowing machine.
17. Tues. A showery day. Was lifting sand in the quarry pit. Was speaking to G. Pringle on the road. He told me about his sore arm.	24. Tues. Was in Bailieboro. James Donnelly and myself went into J.A. English office about F. Pringle testamonial fund.
18. Wed Started to build the pier at Oldtown. A very good day.	25. Wed.
19. Thurs Was building in Oldtown. It was showery.	26. Thur Was rolling oats in upper butties and crocken (*both names of fields)at the finished and James Smith got the rollers (*rollers were jointly owned by many farmers who used them in turn)
20. Fri Was still building. Got the pier up and pinned the front of it.	27. Fri Was in Bailieboro with the pony and cart. A lovely day.
21. Sat. Was rolling oats in the bog field and rolled the wee hollow line field as well.	28. Sat
George Townley Diary – Page 18
June 1947	July 1947
29. Sun Was at the children’s service in Ervey. Had the mare and trap at it. Was talking to G. Williamson.	MEMORANDA
30. Mon. Was in the market.. Bought spuds for Daisy. Walked a good piece of the road with Mr Griffith.
MEMORANDA	1. Tues. Was trucking about. Then went to bog to turn up the turf.
2. Wed. Was with Sonny cutting sods in the butties bog.
3. Thur Was in the bog. Turned out very wet. Then went to pick stones in Browns (?) walls
4. Fri Was in town with John Carolan and father. Mrs Ourrett (?) of Greaghlough died.
5. Sat Was trucking about. Washed the cart and cut the weeds.
George Townley Diary – Page 19
July 1947	July 1947
6. Sun Was at a special in Bailieboro parish church. Heard the new rector, the first there.	13. Sun. Was at Ervey. Then spent a while in Patterson’s and had tea.
Was in Bailieboro fair. Bought spuds for Daisy @ 1/1 per stone.	14. Mon. Was in town with my Da. Dick and Sonny started to cut hay.
8. Tues. Was spreading stuff on the turnips. Went to Bailieboro in the evening. Then went up to Grebers (?). Kathleen came home. Brought home the mowing machine	15. Tues. Spraying potatoes at the back of Oldtown.
9. Wed Was at a commissioner meeting in Briody’s of the F. Pringle testamonial fund.	16. Wed. A very good day. Dick wife and family and mother went to the pic-nic in Lisball.
10. Thurs A showery day. Was cutting weeds in the evening. Awful wet weather.	17. Thur Started to cock hay in the bog field. Got it all up.
11. Fri Was in B’boro with father. Bought parsnip seeds. Sowed some of them that night. Was at a house in Breakey.	18. Fri Was cocking hay in long butties.
12. Sat. Was at a pic-nic in Knockbride. Had a wonderful day.	19. Sat Was cocking hay in the hollow meadows for Dick.
George Townley Diary – Page 20
July 1947	July 1947
20. Sun Was at Ervey. Waited for J.W. Shannon’s funeral and then went to Patterson’s. Had tea.	27. Sun.
21. Mon. Was in town with the mare and trap. Had Phil Cooney in with me.	28. Mon. Sonny was in town. Dick and myself finished cutting Mrs P. Carolan’s field of hay.
22. Tues. Sonny and myself was heading cocks of hay in bog field.	29. Tues. Was cutting the hayseed in wee field before Oldtown door.
23. Wed Continued heading cocks in long butties.	30. Wed. Was still cutting in wee field and finished it.
24. Thurs Sonny and myself lumped the wee field over the line.	31. Thur Went to town in the morning for tablets for my Da. Sonny and I cocked the wee field over the lane.
25. Fri Was in the fair of Mullagh. Sold a heifer and bullock.	MEMORANDA
26. Sat. Was a wet day. Not doing much. Went to town in the evening.
George Townley Diary – Page 21
August 1947	August 1947
MEMORANDA	3. Sun.
4. Mon. Was in the fair. Not doing much.
5. Tues. A showery morning. Finished clean raking the field under the line. Sonny cut the hollow meadows.
6. Wed. Fetched home the wheel rake from field under the line. Then lumped the big hollow lane field.
7. Thur Was trucking around home. Leaving water up in the field for Sonny to spray.
1. Fri Was cocking hay in the field under the line. Came on wet.	8. Fri Ity and myself cocked the big hollow lane field..
2. Sat. Was a wet morning. Went to town with Johnny Carolan. Sonny cut the big hollow lane field.	9. Sat Was working in the hollow meadows. Cocked them in the evening.
George Townley Diary – Page 22
August 1947	August 1947
10. Sun Was at Ervey. A lovely day. Had tea with the Pattersons in the field.	17. Sun. Was in the procession in Breakey hall. Then went to the lake in the evening.
11. Mon. Sonny and myself headed the cocks of hay in the hollows meadows. Sonny went to Mrs Carolan’s.	18. Mon. Freddie Pringle brought away the drums (*parts of Freddies trasher).We started to clean the haggard.
12. Tues. Was in Geo Pringle’s cutting hay. Went to the dance in Breakey hall.	19. Tues. Was still cleaning. Finished it. Sonny went to Clarkes for the wheel of the hay cart.
13. Wed Cocked the Leathy field (*haymaking). Very warm.	20. Wed. Sonny started to draw in hay.
14. Thurs Was cutting weeds in the fields around the forage. Very warm.	21. Thur Dick and Sonny went to Dublin. I was drawing in hay.
15. Fri Ity, Da, and myself was in town.	22. Fri Was building the reek of up land hay.
16. Sat. Was cutting weeds around Oldtown.	23. Sat Was drawing hay from fields under the line.
George Townley Diary – Page 23
August 1947	August 1947
24. Sun	31. Sun. Was AT Ervey. Went nowhere. Knocking about home.
25. Mon. Was building the big reek of hay in the back yard.	MEMORANDA
26. Tues. Was in Dick’s putting in hay.
27. Wed I myself was drawing the big hollow lane field to Oldtown.
28. Thurs Was drawing the hay seed. Trashed it that evening (*the first crop of hay was often saved for its seed).
29. Fri Was drawing the hollow meadows. Built the reek in Oldtown.
30. Sat. Dick and myself went to Navan on the motor bike.
George Townley Diary – Page 24
September 1947	September 1947
	7. Sun. A showery day. Went nowhere. Joe Waller came up.
1. Mon. Was in Bailieboro fair. Was speaking to old Mr Vance.	8. Mon. Started cutting oats in upper butties. I went to Sam Sheckleton’s funeral.
2. Tues. Was in Michael Gargan’s cutting oats. Sonny was in Lisball.	9. Tues. Was a wild showery morning. Was cutting oats after dinner time.
3. Wed Went to the picnic with the Ervey people to Laytown.	10. Wed. We started to cut the field above the cottages. A very nice day. The cocks (*hay stacks) finished for G Pringle.
4. Thurs Was building sods in the cart shed.	11. Thur A wild wet day. I opened the wee hollow lane field. Sonny went to Clarke’s forge with the knife.
5. Fri Was in Mickie Geraghty’s cutting oats	12. Fri Finished in cottage field. Then went into wee hollow lane field.
6. Sat. Finished cutting oats for Mickie Geraghty..	13. Sat A very showery morning. Finished wee hollow lane field.
George Townley Diary – Page 25
September 1947	September 1947
	21. Sun. Was at Ervey. Called with Patrick Cusack. A very good day.
15. Mon. Was cutting oats in bog field at Geo Pringle. Got it finished. (*Sonny had a relatively new invention – a horse-drawn reaper and binder. He used to go to most local farmers to cut the oats. It was much easier than having to hand-tie acres of oats).	22. Mon. My da and myself went to town with the hayseed. We did not sell it and sent it to Kingscourt with W. Rountree.
16. Tues. Was a wild wet morning. Was cleaning hay seed in the barn. Then went to cut Geo Pringle’s wheat.	23. Tues. Sonny and myself was stacking oats in wee hollow lane field. A showery morning.
17. Wed Was cleaning hayseed before dinner time. Then went and finished cutting oats in the forage when Dick and I went to Kingscourt.	24. Wed. Was a wet morning. Dick and myself went to town. I bought a pair of green pants in Caries (?) shop. Breda Clarke got married.
18. Thurs Was in Pringle of Tierworker cutting oats. A very good day. Hammy took some snaps.	25. Thur Was cutting oats in Dick’s. A lovely day. Got it finished. Only one green field.
19. Fri Was stacking oats in the cottage field. Turned out wet.	Was in the fair of Mullagh. Sonny sold 10 pigs @ £40. We came home and stacked upper butties.
20. Sat. A wet showery day. Was roping stacks of oats.	27. Sat Was stacking oats. Got finished. Was after Kellet’s cattle in the even.
George Townley Diary – Page 26
September 1947	October 1947
28. Sun. Was at Ervey. A very good day.	MEMORANDA
29. Mon. Was keeping house. Mother and Father was in town. My Da went to Lisball with a pig. A lovely day.
30. Tues. Was in Dick stacking oats. A lovely day. John Rountree and Kellet had the trashing mill.
MEMORANDA	1. Wed. Was pulling weed in the turnips at the back of Oldtown. A very warm day.
2. Thur Was pulling weed in the turnips.
3. Fri Finished weeding the turnips. Very hot.
4. Sat Was knocking about, not doing much. Went to town.
George Townley Diary – Page 27
September 1947	September 1947
5. Sun. Was at the harvest thanksgiving service in Ervey. Was speaking to various people.	12. Sun. Was at Ervey. Was speaking to Aline (?) Patterson. A very good day. Hammy Pringle and myself was at Tierworker church.
6. Mon. Was in the fair of Bailieboro. Was speaking to old Mr Vance. Nothing remarkable to speak off.	13. Mon. Was in Bernie Stafford trashing oats. A real good day.
7. Tues. Was grassing stacks of oats in wee hollow lane field. Dick and Sonny went to Moynalty.	14. Tues. Was in Johnnie Reilly’s trashing oats. Sonny started off to Mrs Fitzsimmons with the Shercock heifer.
8. Wed Sonny and myself was fixing stacks in cottage field.	15. Wed. Started to dig potatoes with the spade. Sonny was in Virginia fair.
9. Thurs Was doing likewise in bog field.	16. Thur Was digging. A lovely day.
10. Fri Was at Stephen Clarke’s trashing oats. A real good day. Got finished.	17. Fri Was digging before dinner time. Then went to Mrs O’Reilly’s funeral.
11. Sat. Was knocking about home. Went to town early. Was speaking to P. Kellett.	18. Sat Was at trashing mills. Our Father had a very hard day. Went to town that night.
George Townley Diary – Page 28
October 1947	October 1947
19. Sun. Was at Ervey. Talked with Mrs Carney. Then went to John Rountrees in Coppanagh	26. Sun.
20. Mon. Was digging potatoes. Nothing wonderful to relate about.	27. Mon.
21. Tues. Was digging. M. Hilliard (*a cattle trader)came to look at the cow. Spent a very good night at Geelans (*Mary Geelan’s was a well-known pub in the town).	28. Tues.
22. Wed A very wet day. Not doing much. Writing and reading. John Pringle came in.	29. Wed.
23. Thurs	30. Thur
24. Fri	31. Fri
25. Sat.
George Townley Diary – Page 29
November 1947	November 1947
MEMORANDA	2. Sun. Was at Ervey. Another dull day. Daisy was up.
3. Mon. Was in the fair of Bailieboro. Went in with Dick and the calf. He didn’t sell him.
4. Tues. Was in Kingscourt fair. Went out to Porters for F. Pringle’s money. Dr. Harding was out with Father.
5. Wed. Was knocking about, not doing much. Bought a yard brush in Briody’s.
6. Thur Was working around Oldtown.
7. Fri
1. Sat. A very wet day. Was in town. Father wasn’t too well.	8. Sat
George Townley Diary – Page 30
November 1947	November 1947
9. Sun.	16. Sun. Was a nice day. Was at Ervey.
10. Mon.	17. Mon. Was a very good day. Sonny and myself was drawing oats. There was an awful white frost.
11. Tues. A wild wet day. Went to town. Lucy Porter and Mrs Sherman came collecting for Mr Griffith.	18. Tues. Lovely day. Still drawing oats. Had Mat Gargan.
Was in the fair of Shercock. Sold the swanky cow @ £33.	19. Wed. Was a wet day. Not doing much.
13. Thurs  Was a lovely day. Was at Mrs Howell funeral.	20. Thur Was wet wild day. Was down at Pringle listening to the royal wedding.
14. Fri Was in town. Was speaking to H. McCartney (*an animal food supplier).A lovely day.	21. Fri
15. Sat. Was a very good day. Went to town in the evening. Gave H. McCartney £5 (*must be paying a bill).	22. Sat.
George Townley Diary – Page 31
November 1947	November 1947
23. Sun.	30. Sun. Wasn’t at Ervey. Was a lovely day. Got a wire that Uncle Jack was dead..
24. Mon.	MEMORANDAThe Shercock heifer went to C. Sheckleton bull on Tuesday 14th January ’47. Patrick Carolan died that evening.
25. Tues. Was trashing oats. A real good day.
26. Wed Sonny and myself was heading the reek of straw.
27. Thurs  Was heading the big reek of hay in the back yard. Brought home hay.
28. Fri Was heading the second reek of hay in the back yard. Finished drawing hay from wee field over line.
29. Sat. Was drawing in oats from wee hollow lane field.
George Townley Diary – Page 32
December 1947	December 1947
	7. Sun. Dick and myself was at Ervey on the motor bike.
1. Mon. Was at Clonkeelan (* in County Monaghan, where Hariet Townley nee Carlton, grandmother of Richard Barber was reared)at the funeral of Uncle Jack. Was a very nice day, only very cold.	8. Mon. Sonny Dick and Ity was in town. I myself was knocking about home. Harry Gibson died in Cavan Hospital.
2. Tues. Sonny and myself was heading  the reek of hay in Oldtown. Then went to Pringle’s bull with the Lumpy heifer.	9. Tues. Was in town. Got 3 bags of cement and bought a new Raleigh bike with McEvoy.
3. Wed Was knocking about, not doing much.	10. Wed. Was at Harry Gibson’s funeral. Brought home the new bike.
4. Thurs	11. Thur
5. Fri Was an awful wet day. Sonny and myself went to town. The roads were flooded.	Sonny and Joe Waller was in the fair of Kells. They bought a filly in it @ £19.
6. Sat.	13. Sat. Was a lovely day. Joe Waller was up. Was at Hughie Carolan’s trashing mill.
George Townley Diary – Page 33
December 1947	December 1947
14. Sun. Was at Ervey for the first time on the new bike.	21. Sun.
15. Mon. Mother and Sonny was in town with the turkeys. I was keeping house.	22. Mon.
16. Tues.	23. Tues.
17. Wed	24. Wed.
18. Thurs	25. Thur
19. Fri	26. Fri
20. Sat.	27. Sat.

Richard Barber’s Feedback – Nov 13 and December 19, 2010

 As an example of very valuable feedback, the Tierworker Ceidhle House is indebted to Richard (DD) Barber for the following information which is extracted from his emails:

Yes indeed Georgie is my uncle and lived about three hundred yards up the road from the forge. George would have been in his early thirties back then. Although he owned the place known as Oldtown just across from the homestead, he always lived at home.

George was always classed as some sort of an intellect – always writing – and it does not surprise me that he had kept some sort of a diary. About 1955 he had a big two storey house built by his brother Dick ( who also built our house). I did a lot of the donkey work. Some time in later years he moved to a place around Maraghcloone near Kingscort, I don`t know exactly where. In the time of the diary, even though we were very close relatives  we had no contact with them whatsoever because of religious friction.

The Townley`s owned a lot of land in Killagriffe, all inherited from the Roundtree`s, They used to call him Uncle Pete but I believe he was actualy a brother-in-law of my Granny (Hariet Townley, nee Carlton of Clonkeelan in County Monaghan).

1947 always known as “the year of the big snow”, was a very long and cold Winter – I remember it well. The hill referred to was or still is called Mc Harry`s hill is up behind the three cottages on Doon hill. A John McHarry was married to my Aunt who died in early life in child birth. He lived for some time in  in the (Hollow). Dick also lived in there – an area of land in between Killagriffe and Doon road. It was not far from Fagin’s cottage on the hill near Moyhill Cross.

Re “drawing hollow meadows” must refer to bringing home some hay as they had two little fields in near Doon bog with only access out onto Doon road. In them times, when the hay was saved, it was often collected and put in a pike or rick in a corner till needed.

The “line” is actually a field under the road known then as “the new line” which is the road from Tierworker to Kilmainhamwood. That field is now owned by my brothers.

Joe Waller was a brother-in-law of George and lived at Lisball outside Bailieborough on the Shercock road.

The Townley farm has now being all split up. Parts of it were sold off. My brothers have got some of it  and what was left was willed to a daughter of Dick`s who lives in the U S A and has a new house  on the Shercock road in Bailieborough.

I hope this fills some of your gaps and I will be glad to help in any way I can.