Date of Birth: 3rd September 1917

Place of Birth: Tipperary

Date Interviewed: 15th February 2010

Summary: Margaret Roche was born in Tipperary where she spent her early years before the family moved to Dublin. On their 16 acres they had cows, hens and ducks and regarded Stillorgan as being “in the country”. Margaret led a privileged life with domestic servants and the house had its own electricity. She talks of her family’s involvement in Powers Distillery. Every summer the Ryan family would move, domestic staff included, to Ballytrent House in Co. Wexford. She recalls happy days on the beach playing and swimming. She talks of the class divide that existed between her family and the locals. Margaret tells the story of how the very tall flagpole at Ballytrent House came all the way from Canada and was dropped off a ship at Tuskar Rock for collection. She married Dr. Harry Roche in November 1941.