Kevin takes a trip down memory lane

A SHANNON Banks pensioner has written a new book on the trials and tribulations of his childhood, growing up in Limerick City in the poverty-stricken ’40s and ’50s.
I Remember Well was officially launched by RTÉ Mid-West correspondent Cathy Halloran in Leamy’s Old School, Hartstonge Street, Limerick recently.
Writing about his childhood memories fulfilled a life-long ambition for 75-year-old Kevin Egan.
There are some similarities to Angela’s Ashes, the 1996 memoir by the Irish-American author, Frank McCourt. Interestingly, when Kevin got a job with Eason’s in Limerick, he worked for a period with Frank’s brother, Mick, and knew Malachy and Alfie.
Kevin’s detailed description of everyday life helps the reader to relive a world of hardship, poverty and ill health in a simpler, more innocent Ireland, where the Catholic Church was at the height of its powers.
Instead of modern technology, such as television, mobile phones and computer games, Kevin and his friends enjoyed playing games in the street and the park, as well as savouring the famous Cleeves toffee at various cinemas.
Kevin was an orphan but didn’t realise this until his friends informed him at the age of about 14. His mother ran off to England and he didn’t know his birth father. Kevin was reared by Mary Hassett from Corofin, who married Arthur Hassett and they grew up in Number 2, Little St Joseph’s Terrace, Vizes Field.
As far as he was concerned, his name was Kevin Hassett, Mary and Arthur were his mother and father and his brothers were Andy, Johnny, Tony, Tom and Peter. His sisters included Vera, Bridie, Lima, Angela and Sheila.
Andy died tragically in 1988, while Johnny, who was only 22 years of age, got electrocuted while trying to assist a workmate on the railway in 1968.
Kevin’s neighbours, Patrick and Tommy used to work down the docks in Limerick City. When he got a bit older, he would bring them down breakfast in the mornings before school and they were delighted to see him. He provided a “cannie of tea and sandwiches”.
When Kevin was a young child he suffered from ill health and was diagnosed with TB by a local GP. The doctor sent him to Cappagh Sanatorium in Newcastle outside Dublin and he was taken there by Nurse Fitzgerald.
Born in 1936, he married Phyllis Bedford and they have four children, Kevin, Helen, Anthony and Jennifer. He spent most of his working life with Polygram Records as a sales representative in Ireland.