Where Were You When...

[The Mowl]

The earliest story from my family history, which we've all agreed is the most distant past recollection of an actual family event, is from Cashel way back when my Grandmother (RIP) was just a child of seven.

This one day she was sent out on her daily chores, which were various, but included the collecting of the eggs from the hen-house at the bottom of the garden. I say garden but it was actually a really huge field of potatoes, vegetables and what-not for domestic use.

Anyway, it was far enough away from the house that she couldn't hear that the place was being raided by a troop of Black and Tans. While they were inside tearing the house apart looking for something or other and terrorising my Great-Grandparents, she was down the field collecting the eggs. But they came down to the hen-house for a look around there too.

They opened the shed door and saw her standing there with the basket full of eggs and pointed rifles at her. They told her to put the basket down. She couldn't do it as she was so frightened, so one of them booted the basket out of her hands and sent the eggs flying. When they saw there was nothing else in the basket, they walked away, the one guy covered in egg splat.

She told it in such a way, between the child-like giggles, that she recalled how she thought that now he had so many colours on him, she didn't know whether to call him a Black and Tan man or a stream of scutter.

[Man or Mouse]

I was on the 34th floor. of an LA hotel when the WTC was hit. That caused lots of problems; the hotel was hit by a 4.5 tht morning

I remember watching a game from Candlestick Park one evening when a pretty big one hit SF. Can't remember the richter scale reading, but do remember well the faces of the commentary team, Al Michaels in particular who looked like he regretted not wearing the diaper that morning. That was when the top road on the Golden Gate collapsed onto the road below in places. For those who didn't see it, the commentary team were suspended in a gondola overhanging the stand and it waved like a willow in a storm. Rivetting TV.

Dear Lord, forgive me, I heard the breaking news of 9/11 on.........................Liveline. God I feel dirty after admitting that.

Topical at the moment was the last time Ireland could have won a grand slam while beating England and France away, but the Welsh and Scots didn't travel. Later on that year Ireland played the All Blacks and drew 10-10, with B McGann missing the convert that could have given Ireland their one and only win over them. But, during the match, a bomb went off in Dublin which was clearly audible. My most vivid recollection is of the different reaction of the Ulster players. They knew what it was, the poor ABs hadn't a clue. And further on teh same vein, the following spring I was in Lansdowne when John Pullin led his men out. That beat Croker 2007 by a mile.

And of course the Dublin bombing. Was in O'Connell Street at the corner of Henry st when they went off, waiting for someone. When he didn't show up it was pretty scary. He and another guy were on a motorbike pretty close to the second one. Both were thrown off the bike but their injuries were minimal. Next day was a pisser and I so wanted to go to the Curragh. Was afraid to pass a parked car and perhaps whatever other booby traps lay instore to eb honest and didn't go. Would ahve had a field day! Priorities as they say.

[Astral Peaks]

Was in Northern Italy when JP1 died, only a few months after Pope Paul VI, whole villages out by the churches, listening to radios and weeping, even kids my age, very strange.........

[Astral Peaks]

And why was it notorious?

CJH currying favour with the Tory PM.
Think Enda being cuffed by Sarkozy last Monday to the power of 10.

[gerhard dengler]

Was in Northern Italy when JP1 died, only a few months after Pope Paul VI, whole villages out by the churches, listening to radios and weeping, even kids my age, very strange.........

I was in Sicily when Pope John Paul II died in 2005.
Again like your experience, Italian TV played solemn music and prayers for three days. Businesses closed the day after he died (he died the previous evening), generally the streets of Palermo were deserted.

['orebel]

I remember watching a game from Candlestick Park one evening when a pretty big one hit SF. Can't remember the richter scale reading, but do remember well the faces of the commentary team, Al Michaels in particular who looked like he regretted not wearing the diaper that morning. That was when the top road on the Golden Gate collapsed onto the road below in places. For those who didn't see it, the commentary team were suspended in a gondola overhanging the stand and it waved like a willow in a storm. Rivetting TV.

Oct '89? I was there. It was the Bay Bridge.

[Bill]

And why was it notorious?

It was full of cocaine

[Roll_On]

Sept '08, I was in college learning about engineering economics when the lecturer decides to turn on the news. The banking guarantee scheme was signed and now only 12 of a class of 63 remain in Ireland, including myself. I remember looking at a photo on the wall of the class of 1983 another generation of emigrants, so sad, and so much more personal and home hitting than any car accident in Paris.

[Astral Peaks]

I was living in Limerick when 9/11 happened. Had been sick in bed all day and got up about 11pm at night to eat and drink something, walked downstairs and switched the tv on, as I walked away I glanced back at it to see these clips of a plane hitting the WTC, I assumed it was some movie or something. Came back from the kitchen with my sandwich and coffee, sat down, munching away, unmuted the tv, and watched as more clips were shown. I must have kinda squinted and frowned and thought what the hell is this? Then as I listened and watched it became ever more evident. My jaw dropped, couldn't believe it.

I remember walking into Limerick city the next morning and the gloom on peoples faces and the sombre mood was plain to see. One elderly woman, a total stranger, stopped me and we chatted about it for a few minutes.

Not being smart, but 9/11 happened at 2:45pm Irish time, not at 11pm?

[ruserious]

Not being smart, but 9/11 happened at 2:45pm Irish time, not at 11pm?

He only got up then and saw replays on the news!