Mayo recollections of the great snowfall of 1947

by Auld Stock

I HAVE vivid memories of the great snowfall of 1947.

The blizzard started on Monday night, February 24. By Tuesday afternoon the snow was two feet deep.

The Second World War had ended two years previously, rationing was still the order of the day, there were very few telephones; turf, the main fuel at the time, was scarce, and people were much poorer than nowadays.

Rural electrification was still a few years away in 1947 and only better off people could afford cars.

There were frequent breakdowns in the ESB supply and workers toiled around the clock to ensure the system was kept going.

Frederick Everard, who lived at Station Road, Castlebar, was area electrician at the time.

Local postmen Jack Griffin,Westport Road, John McGarry, Ballynew, Tom McGreal, McHale Road, and Jack Flannery, Blackfort, delivered their mail under atrocious conditions.

Jack Flannery had a narrow escape at Glenisland when he was trapped in a 10 foot high snowdrift.

The late Martin Hopkins, Ballinaglough, Castlebar, told me he remembered seeing frozen snow as far out in the year as the end of April.

Martin, a great character, was brother of Bridie Deane, St. Bridget’s Crescent, Castlebar, and Ena O’Malley, Ballintubber, both of whom died some time ago.

He worked in Dunleavy’s Bungalow Bar, Main Street, Castlebar, for many years.

Council workmen piled heaps of frozen snow on the streets of Castlebar so that people could use the roads and footpaths.

The heaps of snow seemed to last for ages.

There was very little central heating in 1947, most homes didn’t have hot water on tap, there was no television and the only wireless I remember in McHale Road at the time was owned by Charlie Guthrie.

The Pye radio was so big you’d nearly have to have planning permission for it.

The blizzard lasted several weeks and there was much drudgery at the time.

However, there were many examples of bravery as people made great sacrifices to help the poor.

The blizzard brought out the best in the Irish people.

Given a fair crack of the whip we are a great little nation.