Date of Birth: 30th January 1941

Place of Birth: King Street, Wexford

Date Interviewed: 28th July 2009

Summary: Vonnie’s book ‘The House in the Faythe’ describes her early years growing up in this southern area of Wexford town. She moved with her family from King Street to the Faythe when she was just two years old but says she remembers her father preparing the house for the family to move in. Vonnie talks of how safe it was for her and her friends to play on the street and how neighbours looked after one another. The house had gas lighting and her mother cooked on a large black range. She describes the variety of activities and games they played – they were never bored. The community operated around church events and there were many devotions to attend. The death of a neighbour meant that everyone, children included, got the chance to view the corpse laid out in the parlour for the wake. Vonnie has happy memories of those carefree years growing up in the Faythe.