Eighty-one year old Catherine Spratt gives her recollections views and opinions of Limerick.
Born in 1889, Catherine Spratt has lived most of her life in Limerick and has seen it go through war, poverty and change. When she was growing up her family may not have been wealthy but,
We were contented, quiet people.
Catherine Spratt’s world was peaceful until 1914 when World War I broke out leaving many people living in great hardship with very little money to feed their families.
If they hadn’t the price of it, they couldn’t owe it.
Catherine Spratt believes young people were more mannerly and nicer in her day. Modern young people have more advantages. She wishes girls dressed more modestly but also finds it difficult to distinguish between males and females.
You meet a girl, you meet a boy, you can’t tell which is the boy or the girl, for the boy has long hair and the girl has the girl long hair, the girl has pants on and so does the boy.
She is also disparaging about the people who run the Maoist bookshop across from her house inside King John's Castle.
I can’t understand it.
Catherine Spratt is full of praise for the Shannon development which is
A miracle compared to what we did have.
She does not think the abject poverty experienced in 1930s Limerick will ever return.
People are not going to look behind them anymore, only in front.
Catherine Spratt is optimistic for the future of Limerick and feels both the city and its people deserve good fortune.
A 'Newsbeat’ report broadcast on 4 June 1970. The reporter is Michael Ryan.
