MEMORIES OF THE PIGEON STATION

Recently, in connection with my work researching the history of the Pigeon House, I had the great pleasure of meeting Mr Philip Saunders, now at 84 years the oldest veteran of the Pigeon House Power Station.

Philip’s father also worked in the Pigeon House and he has a son continuing the family tradition in the Poolbeg Generating Station.

Philip’s grandfather was one of the famous ‘Torbays’ who came to Ringsend as a child, probably in the 1830’s, where he proceeded to marry and rear a family, keeping up the Devon shipping crafts.

Philip had many stories to tell of his time before and after the Second World War when he worked at the Pigeon House.

The 1930’s was a time for refitting and new buildings at the Pigeon House. German expertise and labour was brought in from Siemens by the ESB for the task.

According to Philip, there was sometimes mutual incomprehension between the Germans and Irish and their respective attitudes to work and discipline. This led on at least one occasion to scuffles and a strike.

When World War Two threatened, the Germans had to return home. Probably just as well for our neutrality.

I had never heard of a walking allowance until I met Philip. Apparently, men were paid an extra hour’s pay per day to compensate for the long walk from Ringsend to the Pigeon House.

The ESB, eager to nationalise things brought the ‘perk’ out in the late 50’s. Maybe employers could start this again. It would be very good for our health and for the traffic!

Meeting Philip was a very enjoyable experience, but also very instructive. Its important that we record the memories of our senior citizens in order that we have a well rounded picture of our past.

The above photo was taken at the Pigeon House Station inside the boiler house in May of 1951.
Left to right: W. Carey, M. Dalton, W O’Grady, Philip Saunders himself and Michael Hayes, who now lives in Liverpool, is a regular reader of News Four, and kindly sent us this historic photograph.

 

CHRISTMAS IN THE MEDIA
By Siobhan Hearty

 

Looking back at Christmas and the media over the last forty years, things have changed considerably.
For example, in 1958 an adult’s top-of-the-range coat would have cost one hundred and ten shillings and eleven pence, which in todays money is £5.50p. Nowadays, that same coat would cost from eighty to a hundred pounds.

The weather, unfortunately, hasn’t changed, when we see that the Dodder flooded in December 1958, causing similar devastation to that of Hurricane Charlie in 1986. Also in December 1958, President Eisenhower delivered an historic Christmas message:

“This is the President of the United States speaking. Through the marvels of scientific advance, my voice is coming to you from a satellite travelling from outer space.”

Space experts also maintained that they had the power and technology to put a man on the moon. Forty years later we realise how successful that prediction was.

Safety is one our biggest concerns, particularly on our roads. In 1968 The Department of Local Government announced in The Irish Independent of Monday 23rd December were taking measures to reduce the number of deaths on our roads.

In the first ten months of 1968 a total of 350 people died on our roads. The figures for this year will come in at around 380, which is interesting, considering the huge increase in car ownership.

Ten years later, in December 1978, Dublin was dealt a severe blow when Wood Quay was lost to the offices of Dublin Corporation. Maybe if people were more aware of the value of their past as they are now, the destruction of this valuable monument would not have taken place.

In the same month, the long-running RTE series The Riordans was axed. Most of the cast found out about the series ending through the newspapers.

The Sweeps Hurdle draw was worth £250,000. The North Eastern Regional Development Organisation were trying to direct primary school children into employment, but were also concerned about the lack of skills in areas such as computer operators and electricians as the educational system was not catering for these skills.

In 1978 and 1988 the problem of homelessness was brought to our attention. Despite the roar of the Celtic Tiger, the problem still exists this Christmas.

At the top of an article by one Brenden Kennelly, now Professor, in December 1988, it sums it up saying “Eat Drink and to Hell with the homeless.”

 


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