Wicklow Roots

[Navanman]

This is very impressive work done.

NM

[Strum]

When I was out and about late at night, if you were coming home from Bray you would walk to the
Dublin side of the bridge to get a taxi, it was cheaper. If you took a taxi from The Royal to Dun
Laoghaire you were charged country rates. Dublin taxis could not pick up on the Wicklow side of
the bridge as they were Metropolitan not country.
Just some useless info.

Sinéad

Yes I remember that Sinead. I used to work and socialise in Bray. Good one.

[Navanman]

I must have been poor I used walk home from the Arcadia or from The Television Club to Dun Laoghaire.

Whats all this about taxis??


NM

[Rocker]

Here's your sister. I had the high nellie bike and I used to chain it to the Burlington sign and cycle home at 3a.m.When we went to Wanderers we had to find a fella with a car and turn up for the lift with the five friends...trick was getting out of the car first!!We never had a bob for a taxi. Like you we walked home from Stillorgan and Dun Laoghaire. did I tell yis I had the dirt poor Wickla roots! (back on topic).

[spudseamus]

Yep the Mot and I walked from Dublin to the Farm many a time ! Missed the last us!! Lol! Great times ! Ohh sorry been told to change that to my better half !! Not the Mot!!! Sorry dear !

[Strum]

Yep the Mot and I walked from Dublin to

Yes been there many times Spud. Went out with a Girl from Clontarf in the late 70's and used to walk home. Merrion gates was the middle point for me. When I crossed the tracks there I used to think...ahh, almost home.

[spudseamus]

Yep the Mot and I walked from Dublin to

Yes been there many times Spud. Went out with a Girl from Clontarf in the late 70's and used to walk home. Merrion gates was the middle point for me. When I crossed the tracks there I used to think...ahh, almost home.

Gezzz Strum ! At least I had some company on the walk and a few distractions !!!! Wow are we home already!!!!

[Navanman]

When I was at the Merrion Gates I felt I was home as well. There were always other people (in ones and twos) walking even at 2 or 3 in the morning. And whats more I never felt threatened in any way or shape.


NM

[Dancer]

I was lucky to live in the city so I was always able to walk home or get a lift and like you NM! I never ever felt
In any danger. Wouldn't do it nowadays. But sure no journey was ever too long when you were walking with the lad
or lass of your dreams and no matter how tired you were when you got home, you wouldn't be able to sleep
a wink for thinking about him ...... and the way he might look at ye
The stuff dreams are made of eh!

[bugrock]

Ah, Dancer, you're making me think of Wicklow roots again.

[Strum]

But sure no journey was ever too long when you were walking with the lad
or lass of your dreams and no matter how tired you were when you got home, you wouldn't be able to sleep
a wink for thinking about him

The things we did for lust!

I got offered a few lifts and took a few but they were usually gays lads hoping for a grope or whatever. Had the odd hand slide over to my leg...but that was easy to put off. "Get yer fkn hand off me Knee or yer dead!"

[jaytee]

Haha Thats your own too bad for being so gorgous.

[Dancer]

But sure no journey was ever too long when you were walking with the lad
or lass of your dreams and no matter how tired you were when you got home, you wouldn't be able to sleep
a wink for thinking about him

The things we did for lust!

I got offered a few lifts and took a few but they were usually gays lads hoping for a grope or whatever. Had the odd hand slide over to my leg...but that was easy to put off. "Get yer fkn hand off me Knee or yer dead!"

That reminds me of an old saying: "Use it an' lose it !"

[Strum]

What's all this got to do with Wicklow Roots?

[bugrock]

Lookup roots in Australia, and there's your answer!

[Rocker]

OMG..Bugrock..that is why there are so many Wicklow people in Dublin
They all went off the topic with the talk of taking taxis...that is an alien concept to us Wickla people.

[farmboy]

i think we all have our stories of being stuck several miles from home in the early hours. i was having a few cosy jars with the mot (sorry, better half) in the Old Sheiling a few miles from where she lived. It was mid winter some 35 years ago and was very icy and snowing on and off. Anyway, this chap (nearly sure he said he was from Wicklow ) came over to us and said the buses (or should that be bus,s ) were stopped because of the weather. When we came out of the hotel we were lucky enough to see someone we knew and cadged a lift over to her house. She wanted me to stay (on the sofa of course ) but I had work at 7 am the next morning and needed to get home to get organized. Off I trekked from Donaghmede intent on getting to the city centre and hopefully getting a taxi from there due to low funds. it was like siberia it was so cold but I felt comfy enough wrapped in my duffle coat with the hood up......that is until I slipped on the icy path and went face down into the sludge like snow and was immediately very wet and very cold! My spirits took a nosedive at that point but i trudged on and ended up in O Connell Street. I couldnt believe the crowds of people who were queueing for taxis but I,d no choice but to join them. Taxis were thin on the ground back then and after what seemed a long time the queue didnt look to be getting much smaller and I was frozen.

Suddenly a car pulled up beside me with a few lads in it and the back window open. I,m not normally that forward but I was getting desperate so I says to the lad in the back was there any chance they were heading out southside. The lad asked the driver and he said hop in. There were 4 lads in the car and they were dropping one of them off in Ranelagh. I said to myself, every little helps and I,ll be a bit closer to home. The other 3 lads were from Rathfarnham and I was trying to work out if that would be even closer. So they dropped their mate off and headed for Rathfarnham but when we got there the driver says sure its only a few minutes more out to the farm, stay where you are. I was never so glad to see the roundabout in the Farm loom up and as I got out thanking them profusely, I threw the 3 pound notes I had into the back of the car and started walking towards my house. Next thing I hear a shout as they pulled up beside me again and threw the 3 quid at my feet and said "see ya mate". Theres some really good and nice people out there and my faith in humankind was at an all time high as I snuggled into my warm bed that night.

[Rocker]

Farmboy,

How right you are. My mother always said "the you need will be sent". She was right. How many times I think of her words when just the right person turns up and helps.There are so many kind and decent people around.

[Jemser]

Great story Farmboy, restored my faith in human kindness, well done.

[farmboy]

Thanks Rocker and jemser, I,m a firm believer in Karma and although I,ve never met those lads again,they left a lasting impression on me.

[Rocker]

I never go to Bray but when Farmboy just posted about Cassoni in Bray I googled them and their mouthwatering site has enticed me to put up the link...sounds like my kind of plaice(sic) and a glass of wine as well.

http://cassoni.weebly.com/

[keeper]

Yes Rocker, long steeped in tradition alright, GREASE

[Snowhite]

Was told by a friend to have a look at this video all old black and white photo's of Bray, well put together. Wonder does anyone recognise any of the people in them.

[Rocker]

Snowy,

That is a gem. I'll have to watch it a few times to see if we know anyone. Brilliant.

[keeper]

Snowy ! Good vid, recognised a good few of the lads but can't remember a single name !! Some of the girls are familiar, I know one and met her at her husband's funeral in 2006, they had moved down the country many years ago close to my relations and because it's such a small locality they all knew each other, I used to greet her in the town not knowing who she was and was quite taken aback when I found out she was from Bray, the conversation we had later on that day, we discovered we frequented the same dances and events in Bray and knew lots of her friends as well. Small world, no doubt. She has been very ill for the last few years, but has battled back extremely well.