Family Fortunes: ‘A trip to Dublin, a handbag and a silver thrupenny coin: I’ll never forget that Christmas’

I will never forget that Christmas. On December 8th, 1961, I boarded the train at Portarlington with my parents and siblings for our annual Christmas shopping day in Dublin. Stalls lined the streets of the city and traders shouted: “Get your Cheeky Charlie here” and “Starlight’s a penny each”.

We visited Roches Stores, Clerys, Arnotts, Woolworths, McBeirneys and the toyshop Hector Greys. Whilst shopping in Woolworths, I spotted a red handbag on a hook above the counter. I tugged at my mother’s arm and pointed to it. “Mammy, I hope Santy brings me that handbag.”

Mam glanced at it then continued to rummage through books. I purchased bath cubes for Mam, and a jar of brylcreem for Dad’s hair with savings from my moneybox. We had dinner in the canteen upstairs. The highlight of the day was our visit to Santa in Clerys, then it was off to Grafton Street. We gazed in Switzers’ window at the enchanting reindeers, elves, snowmen, the sleigh piled high with toys and Santa sliding up and down a chimney pot before enjoying tea and scones in Bewley’s Cafe.

The last item purchased was sausages from Hafner’s butcher store. The 79 bus brought us to Heuston Station, or Kingsbridge, as it was known then. Mam fried the tasty sausages, rashers, eggs, pudding and fried bread when we arrived home tired and hungry.

On Christmas morning, our presents wrapped in brown paper lay at the end of our beds. I ripped open the parcel and squealed with delight when I saw the red handbag. It was shaped like a half-moon. Inside, was a small square mirror neatly tucked into a frilled pocket.

I dashed into my parent’s bedroom. “Mammy, Daddy, look what Santy brought me.” “Daddy, what do you think of my handbag?”

“Oh, that’s, lovely, lovely” he replied with one eye opened and the other closed.

I placed the white embroidered cotton handkerchief, a gift from my sister, Carmel, and a shiny pink purse from my youngest sister, Clare (RIP), into the bag.

After breakfast, Mammy slipped a silver thrupenny coin into my bag. “That’s to handsel your bag, a token of good luck.”

With my newfound wealth I bought a bar of chocolate, a treat back then.

I loved my bag and I loved showing it off. No one in the town had one like it. I will never forget that Christmas.