In a series of articles I have put together entitled Absent Friends ,
I have managed to contact hundreds of people who emigrated from a village called Ardoyne in North Belfast and adopted another home in many places around Australia . There have been many people who were not interested in sharing their memories about the place they left . However some have and it is for these precious few that I am persisting to so the hard yards and research in the continuing search for Absent Friends here in Australia . With on the going cost’s of this project my ability to do what I would like to are not possible . I shall not let that stop me in bringing some more Absent Friends into the circle I have already found .
Now I would like to introduce you to Kathleen Ruth . The daughter of Anna and John Ruth from 47 Hooker Street in what was called old Ardoyne which has now been demolished for many years . Kathleen’s Father John Ruth R.I.P. ( or Big John as he was named ) originally came from Herbert Street (also demolished ) . Herbert Street had many characters and a few shops and The Hibs Social Club . Certain men in Herbert had stills and made the illegal Irish Potieen , that was sold to those people who were game enough to try it . For those who enjoyed a gamble there were the card schools behind Herbert Street in the entries . Herbert Street was always a busy thoroughfare for people .
Kathleen’s Mother Anna (nee) R.I.P. had a shop in Old Ardoyne on the corner of Butler and Hooker Street . The shop which was called Rocks was Christened The Peppermint Lounge “ by some of the local lads who would often meet there for a lemonade and a chat before going to the dances in town . Big John and Anna ran the shop in both the good times and hard times alike . Although the shop is now gone there are many memories that will live on in the heart of the district . Like so many of the corner shops it stitched together the fabric of the people in the district .
Kathleen tells me she could write a book about the people and the happenings in Rocks shop . Even when the troubles were on they always found a way to have a laugh about things she says .I’m sure it would be a very funny book called the wee shop . Who knows it may even come to be .
It’s encouraging when you witness the real character of people come through in tragic circumstances . Ardoyne certainly has had its share of tragedy over the years which has contributed to the strength of its people .
A great sense of humour has always been one of Ardoyne’s greatest assets .
Kathleen has many happy memories of the decent people in Ardoyne like Mary Ann and John Gillen the next door neighbours in Hooker Street , Mary Ann and John Gillen .Also from Butler Street was Kathleen’s best friend Mary Hughes . Lizzie and John Hughes were Mary’s parents and she spend a lot of time in their house . Kathleen loved to get out to the dances in town with the Clarkes . One of their favourites places was the Plaza Ballroom .
She says ,
“We were mad about the Miami Showband and we followed them everywhere they went ..We never gave a thought about how we would get home , but somehow we did . There was hardly a night we didn’t go out .
My Mum and Dad were so good . If I was sitting at home Mum would ask if I needed money to go out and she would slip me the price of a dance and I was away like a flash . “
Many of Kathleen’s best memories are of the little simple things she did most every week . She went on ,
“Dancing in Ardoyne Hall , sitting in Fusco’s fish and chipper over a coke all night .“
Summer nights in Ardoyne saw many young faces aglow , couples walking together hand in hand up and down the wee streets in the long twilight hours . Pubs packed until closing time when the patrons split out on to the streets of Ardoyne where they lined up for a pastie supper or a chip maybe . Then there were those who waited for a bag of sherbet lemons or a
Quarter of Merry maids from Rocks corner shop where the craic was always good .
As summer always drew people out on the streets so did it draw people away from the district . There were many who went abroad or to the holiday resorts . Kathleen herself loved to get away to Butlins with her friends in the summer . Many of Ardoyne’s young ones went across the border to popular spots like Salthill and Dundalk . Freedom was an innocent week away with friends in the hope of meeting somebody new .
Kathleen had a great affection for the Bone area and it’s there where she met John from Ardilea Street who would become her husband .
After John and Kathleen were married they were blessed with four children and the entire family of six emigrated to Australia .
Kathleen recalls ,
“There we all stood in Melbourne , myself , John , our four kids and 14 suitcases . It was hot . The buildings looked funny . Everybody spoke with an accent except us of course . We were tired and I said to myself , Oh my God what have we done .“
For people who have never had to make the big step it’s hard to imagine just how it feels . The enormity of it all being there but not really being there at all . It’s like you’re stranded not knowing what to do next . It’s a terrible feeling that comes over you when you’re a long way from home and you feel lost and alone . I’m sure there are many migrants who must have felt this similar thing arriving in a big country for the very first time .
That must be what links so many absent friends together . The feeling of finding the unknown and confronting the challenge ahead . But like so many other absent friends we have made a new life in Australia and many other lands . We have fitted in and made our contributions to society .
John and Kathleen soon settled into their new way of life . John secured a job with the Government as a technical officer and Kathleen got a job in a bank as well as teaching Irish dancing . Their children soon grew into their new environment and started taking up studies in new schools .
Kathleen started up her own dancing school in Australia and her daughter Catherine won many Irish dancing competitions at festivals here in Australia . Kathleen and John’s other children Ann Marie, Michelle and John . have made good friends and all have steady jobs . Their futures look very promising . The Somerville family from Ardoyne all enjoy good health and wish everyone who reads this the same . Another Absent friend leaves us with a positive statement .
Good luck and may God bless you wherever you are .
THE END
By Paul McCann
