Stewart, John Thomas (John)

Date of Birth: 23rd December 1928

Place of Birth: The Ring, Carne, Co. Wexford

Date Interviewed: 29th November 2008

Summary: John Stewart remembers a happy childhood growing up in a family of six. When not in school he would go bird-nesting or play football. He recalls meeting boys from Wexford town who came to the Carne area with Fr. Gaul’s club. He was helping to draw in corn in 1940 when they heard the bombs being dropped on Campile. It was days later before they heard what had happened. John remembers going in to Wexford town in 1945 just to watch Nicky Rackard play. John got married in 1953 to a baker’s daughter from Carne – he remembers the Bakehouse in Carne as being a great centre of activity. In 1965 he began sheep farming and continued until he retired from active farming. John recalls some funny incidents about hurling, a football match with a final score of 28 – 0 and how a dead cat in a neighbour’s milk churn did no harm to the contents! He talks about his father’s republican ideals and of his own involvement in politics and the Fianna Fail party over the years.