Longford holds special presentation for one of Peter Keenan Branch loyal members

A special presentation was made last Friday to one of the Peter Keenan Branch of the Organisation of National Ex service Personnel's longest serving and loyal members.

Jimmy Airlie joined A Company 17th Infantry Battalion in 1956 and after 19 years of service he left to take over the family business at 35 Main Street in Longford.

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He described his memories of the FCA recentand he recalled joined up aged just 13 and he quipped he was 'hardly big enough to carry the boots and the trouser pockets were under my arms'.

Jimmy said they had one exceptional Sergeant, Jim Manning, who taught them respect for authority and the country, self-discipline.

He lauded Sgt Manning, who he stated was a man had an incredible 'positive influence on my life' and he stated the friends he made during that period are 'friends for life'.

Jimmy joined The Organisation of ex Service Men and Women, (ONET) over 35 years ago, and with the late Peter Keenan was one of the main reasons the branch stayed in existence.

There was a sizeable gathering of colleagues and friends in attendance when he was presented with his 25-year service medal at a function in the Vintage Club Connolly Barracks on Friday, January 23.

Jimmy has described Longford then as being idyllic and wonderful.

He said he is the fifth generation of the family who were in the tailoring business until he deviated and they lived in the one premises - 35 Main Street for '140 years'.

He stated they were frequently in and out of each other's houses and it was like one big family with money moving locally within the community.

Jimmy attended St Michaels Boys National School, which he described as being tough at the time with corporal punishment handed out on a regular basis and with just one outdoor toilet.

There was free dinners available at the McGoey Hall (the Family Centre today) with staples such as bread and jam, cocoa and stew dished out frequently to the adolescents.

Jimmy said they looked forward to the colour and atmosphere of fair days when they would also get the benefit of a day off school.

He stated there would be noise and chatter from the abundance of farmers and the sounds of a variety of farm animals from about 6am in the morning with horses on Lower Main Street and cattle, sheep and pigs were on Ballymahon Street.

Jimmy recalled that after mother nature intervened there was a big clean up operation required later on that afternoon and evening.

PICTURES | A selection of Longford photographic memories from yesteryear

He has stated he used to get sixpence or half a crown for cleaning down the front of buildings and premises.

Jimmy met his wife Ann at a Joe Dolan Slashers fundraiser dance in a marquee on Market Square.

The happy couple had two daughters and in later years they became proud grandparents to five grandchildren.

Jimmy said when he recalls the Longford of his childhood there was significant poverty and conditions were atrocious, however, people were honest, decent and honourable and there were some fantastic characters.