Date of Birth: 7th March 1925

Place of Birth: Lower Shannon, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford

Date Interviewed: 10th April 2009

Summary: May Nolan has been interested in local history all her life. As a child she used to climb the huge mound of the Norman Motte at Motabeg – this lies just behind the house she now lives in. Up to 1979 the site used to be kept in a reasonable condition but in recent years has become overgrown and neglected and has even been used as an illegal rubbish dump. May feels quite angry that such an important historical site has been so badly neglected. May also talks about her enthusiasm for cycling. It was not unusual for her and her friends to cycle to Kilkenny and back for a hurling match. May bought a 3-speed Raleigh bike in 1946 and used it continuously until 1985 – she even got more for it when she traded it in than the original cost! May’s other great passion is gardening as is evident from the beautiful gardens around her house.