Date of Birth: 2nd December 1927

Place of Birth: Swansea, Wales

Date Interviewed: 15th April 2009

Summary: Kevin Foley was born in Wales but came with his family to Clonroche in 1931. His brothers and sisters eventually returned to Wales but Kevin remained in Ireland. He recalls walking to school barefoot and describes Clonroche village as being like a “ghost town” at the time. He remembers the first talking picture show arriving in the village and the excitement it caused. There was also a travelling variety show that called on an annual basis and proved very popular – possibly due to the bare-legged dancing girls! Not surprisingly the show did not meet the approval of the local clergy. He was tempted to go to Wales at the end of WW2 but was playing hurling for Castleboro at the time. He then got a job “following horses”, ploughing, harrowing, and rolling, and this kept him in the area. Kevin has always had an interest in breeding sheepdogs and one of his dogs, Pip, had international success with local handler Tim Flood.