My grandmother and the bracelet I was given when she died in 2007

This is a picture of my Grandmother Eileen, which was taken when she was 17, before she headed over to England where she was a nurse in the 2nd World War.  She was also born in a Workhouse in Bawnboy Co.Cavan, her Mother Mary died two weeks after giving birth to my grandmother.

This gold bracelet always reminds me of her,as she was always wearing it, and to me she was always glamorous in life.

Necklace

The necklace was a present from my Mam. She gave it to me on my graduation day, September 10th 2014. On the front it has my name in Greek letters and on the back, the year of my graduation in Roman numerals representing my area of study, Ancient Greek and Roman civilization. She knew I had a great love of Ancient Classics, I absolutely love my necklace.

Another story from a former occupant of the Moses Basket

The first time we placed Eva into her Moses basket was amazing. It was the first day we had brought her home and we just stared at her for hours. She looked so tiny in it. It was a lovely feeling as I knew I had slept in that very same basket as a baby too. It was great to have that to share with her.

A memory of the basket and Eva:

Eva was asleep and her aunty Louise and cousin Sibéal came in. Both of whom had slept in the Moses basket too. As Eva was asleep, everyone was being very quiet. Louise then started stomping around the place, trying to wake Eva up for a cuddle. Sibéal got really cross with her. She was 5 at the time.  It was very funny. Sibéal was upset with me too for not giving out to her mammy aswell. But I knew Eva wouldn't wake, she was a deep sleeper from day 1.

Moses Basket

In 1973 I was expecting my first child so naturally I was very excited.  I decided that I would like to get a Moses basket for the first couple of months as I felt a big cot was not very warm for a new born. I started looking around in all the nursery departments but was not impressed with the quality of the baskets on offer.  I was living in Ferbane in Co.Offaly and someone told me that The Blind Craft shop in Rathmines in Dublin made beautiful baskets.  I travelled to see what they had to offer and was so pleased with the quality and workmanship that I decided to order one there and then. They were made to order and came with a wicker stand similar to the wicker used in the basket.  It also had a mattress shaped to fit the basket which was cut from foam so it was a snug fit.  I was very pleased with my order.  The shop agreed to keep the Moses basket till my baby was born.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

My son was born two weeks early so after my stay in the maternity hospital I collected the basket and returned to Ferbane.  I had a very talented friend who made a cover which surrounded the inside of the basket and hood which protected the baby’s head from the bare wicker.  She also made me a matching duvet.  I had five more children and each one used the basket till at least two months old. My brother and his wife also made use of the basket for their two girls.  Through the years numerous people borrowed and used it too.  I would say that forty or more babies had the use of the basket.  I loaned to many work colleagues and apart from the stand which had an altercation with a DOG! it remains in perfect condition.  I am now a Granny and all my five grand children have used it.  I have a God child who is from the Phillipines and he used till he was five months old.  My latest grandson has broken that record by remaining in it till he was six months old! Not that we are trying to break records!!!!!!!!!!!!