Local Shops
21st July 1938
About sixteen years ago there was a shop in Tavanagh about a half a mile away from where my father and mother lived. This was owned by a family of the name of Coyles and is not in it now as the family moved away to another part of the district. This was the only local shop. They sold flour, meal and all kinds of bag stuffs. They also sold all kinds of groceries such as tea, sugar, bacon, and currants.
Oil was also sold at this shop. Many a day my father and mother went to it for oil after school closed. The shop woman was very kind. She always gave a piece of a sweet cake to every child who went to the shop.
The people of the locality bought half their wants at this shop. When Christmas came they always had a nice present to get from the country shop. They usually got one pound of tea, a half stone of sugar, two pounds of currants and a sweet cake.
Nowadays the present they get is very small and easily carried.
“INFORMANT: Mrs Corcoran, Age 32, Prison, Balla Co. Mayo”
My home is in the village of Prizon, Parish of Balla, Barony of Carra, Co. Mayo. There are fourteen slated houses in it and one thatched one.
May Adams, Address, Prison, Balla, Co. Mayo
May Adams, Address, Prison, Balla, Co. Mayo