One page a day for 28 years
19 June 1996
MARY'S KILMAINE DIARIES REVEAL ALL
By JONATHAN MULLIN
THE ENQUIRY "Where were you when Kennedy died" is an oft asked question and one that even those with the faintest memories can answer.
But how would you cope with "Where were you when John Paul 1 died?" or "Where were you when Jonathan Mullin was born?". I'll forgive your show of ignorance to the latter, but I can tell you that "Seamus was in the bog" and "the heifer became blind in one eye"!!
The source of these trivial matters, on what was undoubtedly an historic day for the world - 2nd July 1978 - is an extraordinary one.
Meet Mary Heneghan, a native of Rathgranagher two miles from Kilmaine. Many of us can boast deeds of discipline: abstaining from sweets, cigarettes and drink during Lent is generally the pinnacle of such restraint. Mary's however is quite different. For the past 28 years, as well as 1953, 1962, "63 and "64, Mary has made an entry in her diary.
"A page a day" is her motto and if you don't know where you were on the June 2nd 1978, chances are Mary does.
Her collection of diaries, with an accumulation of intelligence that would embarrass the CIA itself, are her pride and glory. Mary is very strict on what she enters - top of the page features a weather check - and she tells me not to "write anything that you'd be ashamed of".
The diaries are of assorted sizes, shapes, colours and condition. Even her first diary of 1953 is legible. The reason she didn't use "53 as a starting base was purely financial. "Diaries at the time were very expensive. Sixteen shillings was a lot of money back in 1953 and it was money I didn't have" explains Mary.
Local news takes centre-stage with a dash of World news thrown in for good measure; weddings, funerals, emigrations, births, purchases of land, all the happenings that keep the rural village of Kilmaine ticking.
Mary, from her earliest entry on January 1st 1953 to this day, has seen a number of changes in the way of life of the local people.
"Before, we knew everything that happened, every little detail." To prove her point she reads aloud an hilarious entry from the 60's reporting that such and such a one received £550 for milk, but was expecting a few pounds more.
"Nowadays people have closed up so much and keep to themselves a lot."
It makes Mary's job more difficult, but she doesn't mind. Now Mary, what
was I doing on....
Connaught Telegraph - News - June 1996
Connaught Telegraph - Sport - June 1996
