Now & Then: Michael Boyle from Lavey

Now & Then: Michael Boyle from Lavey 

Michael takes a trip down memory lane reflecting on growing up in Co Derry.

Q. What do you remember about the place you grew up and how has it changed over the years?

I remember most of all my family and our neighbours in Drummuck, Lavey namely - The McCrystals, Mooneys and Murrays. I pause and think of those who have passed on.

In my time I heard the corncrake from the front hill keeping us awake at night.I remember “the pleasant perfumes" from the lint dam and the peaty aroma of turf fire with the crickets singing in the chimney. I often went to the cow tail pump to get water for the house or even haul water up in a bucket for thirsting cattle tormented by clegs on a hot summer's day. Oh and I still wonder about the strange experience of being in the dark and  getting  startled by someone whistling a tune.I can never forget that mystical journey in  ambling  home in the darkness up the moss lane focusing on glimmers from hurricane lamps in a window of our white washed thatched house. Many times I have  trudged along the moss paths to Lavey chapel and Dreenan School. Now- today these paths are a dense overgrown jungle.

That  way of life that I experienced in my youth is not only gone but has totally vanished as if it never existed. It is now a memory of a memory.

Meanwhile today, everything has all gone modern-the houses ,cars ,cell phones, manicured  gardens and new farm machinery.

However, it pleased me to say  that younger people not only in Lavey and generally in Ireland have super confidence that earlier generations like mine - did not have. This is an amazing change and brings new energy to a family and a community. For example - last year  a nephew of mine Brian Og, on a weekend visit to London had little trouble driving through rush hour traffic. Fantastic progress has been in sports of all kinds and many GAA clubs like Lavey in South Derry have absolutely first class facilities .

But I do worry that many of the old stories of the likes of Paddy McCrystal and my late brother Brian will be forgotten unless this generation sees the importance of it.

Q. What was your first job, what lessons did it teach you, and how has that role changed over the years?

If you are up on a farm that is an easy question to answer.

Folks- it was a given .No choice. Yes -you helped out on the farm from an early age. It was not optional. I did it all from helping out in saving the hay and the turf.I helped my brother Phelim in arranging hay bales on our trailer. My greatest claim to fame was helping in driving cattle on the road to markets in Bellaghy and Kilrea. One lesson I learnt early in life was the importance of being able to bush a gap. My first paid working job was gathering potatoes for one of our neighbours. Yes I found out early with my brother Harry about doing your share of work.

My major subject area  from St Joseph's Training College was English and Geography. In my early days in Newfoundland I always taught Geography and Art. Very quickly I learnt one  had to  be flexible in what subjects I could teach. Sometimes, because of declining school population you could often be assigned often in early September to teach Science, Economics, Math or Religious Studies. At one city school I thought I might be teaching English Literature at the senior level. However the venerable Headmaster wondered about my ability and background in Literature and  so he assigned me Canadian history and Religious Studies.

I didn’t have the heart to tell him I was in Seamus Heaney’s  English class for three years at St Joseph’s and I was a writer.

In teaching at Baltimore high on the Southern Shore I was a cross-country coach and I experienced fantastic team spirit and dedication. Students didn’t go to a meet to make up numbers but responded.I experienced something amazing  first hand -the unspoken gratitude of students.

ABOVE: Michael age 4 at Dreenan School 1948 

Q. What was your first car?

My first car was a 1966 flashy Vauxhall Viv HB. It  was bright red ,like a rosy apple or an overripe peach but it quickly became a certified lemon of the highest order. My good friend Leo Burke had warned me it could be a dud. And he was right.

Once at a school dance in Fermeuse my High school students rushed in to tell me I had a flat tire on the Viva.

I didn’t have a clue what to do but those five students knew what to do and changed my tire in less than  ten minutes .

Q. Where did you go on your first holiday? You got to be joking.

If you lived on a farm in the mid sixties your holidays might be a day at the Port (Portstewart) for The Big Sunday or a visit to the Lammas Fair in Ballycastle.

However my brother Phelim once rode our bicycles from Drummuck to Cranagh Village to climb Mount Sawel, the highest peak of the Sperrins. Then, we discovered the youth hostel movement  and we hitchhiked to Donegal, Dublin, Kerry and one year we almost completed the Mourne Wall walk and had to finish near midnight at Bloody bridge.

Q. What did you and your siblings or friends do for fun? 

In younger years we played cards at Mooney's on a Friday night and whist games at Mayogall Hall.

Listening to the radio was important. We listened to McCooeys, Ceili House, and of course to GAA games from Radio Athlone.

I read comics like Hotspur and Eagle .I loved to listen to Dan Dare on radio Luxembourg.

My brothers and I often listened in the middle of the night to radio commentaries of heavy weight boxing matches from Madison Square Gardens in New York.

Our first film we saw was “Song of Bernadette” and “Mise Eire”

We lived through the Showband  and attended dances at Clady, Dungiven, Kilrea and Dunloy.

My brothers and I always played football and games ended when we were called for the Rosary or if there was some disagreement.

Folks I must have been a slow learner as often on school nights I had only a few chores but many times it was almost midnight when I finished my homework at high school.

Q. What is your favourite memory from your school days?

Where do I start? The old school was old and had few resources.

I remember the smell of herrings being cooked in Miss Mooney’s classroom.

We had enjoyed learning about many places on the thread bare maps in the classroom.

Writing poetry and the arts were important at Dreenan school and I learnt my prayers in Irish.

Hearing the story of "The Children of Lir" brought tears to my ten year old self.

I was not always a model student but I didn’t appreciate how my teachers had instilled a deep love of our Irish culture.

At Rainey Endowed as a shy curly red haired fellow from Lavey I did Art and I still remember to this day when our teacher Miss Madden selected my art work for the class display.

Q. What type of music did you like growing up and what do you like now?

Clancey Brothers and today Irish language music. For many years I was a Crow Boyle but my wife has music and my son Patrick teaches Music 

Q. What are the most important lessons you’ve learned in your life? 

1- Things in life do not always go as we planned or thought.

2-Folks do not expect perfection in life.-for yourself or anyone else.

3-Enjoy and celebrate the things that bring you joy in life.

4-Having great memories is the most valuable thing in life.

Q. If you could go back to any age, what would it be and why?

Are things going to get better in our world?  NO. Climate Change is real.

Presently wild forest fires are raging across Newfoundland .

I am happy in the era I was born.

Of course there are things I would have done differently or not at all.

Q. What are you most proud of? What makes that achievement so special?

My family….my wife and son Patrick.

All my sisters and brothers .Indeed my extended family in Ireland, England and Canada 

I am thankful to complete my memoir ON NEW TURF.

When I first looked out at my classroom in 1969  little did I know in front of me was Randy Crane ,who later in life became the editor for my memoir.

It was not a solo run and I had great people help me.

Q. How have your dreams and goals changed throughout your life?

YES …Enjoy the simple things . Walk, do Tai Chi or meditate John Main style.

Michael’s memoir ‘On New Turf’ is now available in paperback and Kindle edition to purchase from Amazon. 

Michael will be in Seamus Heaney Homeplace Strand Room on 13 September at 7.30pm. Admission is free but donations are welcome. He will give a short talk about the writing process of his memoir, he will also do a few short readings from the book, answer questions and sign copies.