Jane describes summers back in Ireland…

“It was in the middle of nowhere, in the bog land, right in the centre. One of my aunts had a pub, one of my dad's sisters, married someone, they had a pub so we stayed in the pub which was quite exciting. And we were kind of allowed a lot more freedom to go out and go to dances and all that sort of thing during our teens, yeah, which was good fun.

I'm a real townie so I hated the rural side of it and some of our cousins were a bit mean, they used to chase us with animals and, you know, just do all sorts of things to terrorise the townies. But having said that, we did have good fun and I had a few holiday romances while I was over there which was good fun.

There was a hotel, Dooly’s Hotel, we used to go to or the County Arms hotel and it was so exciting because I didn't do— you know, I hadn't gone out as much over here so yeah, it was good fun.”

Jane was born in London in 1959, the second eldest of five children. Jane’s father had moved to London from Birr, County Offaly. He served in the British Army during the Second World War, in the King’s Liverpool Regiment. During her childhood, both of her parents worked in the police force having met whilst working at Streatham Police Station. As the eldest daughter, Jane describes carrying out a significant amount of the household responsibilities, especially after her mother’s death in 1977, when Jane was seventeen. Jane shares fond memories of her schooling at Coloma Convent Girls’ School in Croydon, studying A-Levels in Geography, Classical Civilisation and Economics. Jane shares memories of trips back to Ireland in the summer from the age of eight, she describes her initial visits to Ireland as “a shock to the system” due to the difference in amenities available as well as the very rural location of her family’s farm. Jane shares fond memories of going to dances as a teenager at Dooly’s Hotel and the County Arms Hotel in Birr.

Although her school urged her to apply for university, Jane’s father urged her to get a job after she left school and she began working for Social Services in Croydon. She subsequently worked for Southwark Council and they later funded her training as a social worker. Jane describes living at home until she was around 27 years of age, navigating long-term romantic relationships during that time and the dynamic between her father and her partners. She describes an informal network of aunts and older women, such as neighbours, colleagues and boyfriends’ mums, who supported Jane as maternal figures following the death of her mother.

For more information on accessing Jane’s full interview or transcript please email faisneis@unaganaguna.org