I was eight years old in 1914 the first time I visited Bonmahon.
We went by train from Cork to Kilmacthomas, where an Irish sidecar (known to the rest of the world as a jaunting car) awaited us. Seated in this, my mother and I jogged the remaining few miles to Bonmahon.
Bonmahon consists of a cluster of cottages along the only road, which runs right down to the sea. Passing the cottages, we came to the Watts shop, farm and creamery. The shop sold grocery and household goods on one side, and fabric and sewing materials on the other, whilst along the back wall was the Bar, where the men went for their beer or stout.
At this time the Watts family lived above the shop, with the farm behind and the Creamery alongside. My mother's cousin, Dick Watts and his wife May, together with Dick's youngest sister Violet lived there. There was another sister, a widow, and her daughter Ettie, who lived in one of the cottages. The remaining cottages were owned by employees of the Watts family.
There was, however, a Post Office which in those days was Crown Property. The postmistress had her office clock set for British Summer Time, but in the kitchen her clock was left at "God's time" so that she knew when to have her "bit of dinner".
The road ended in a beautiful bay known as the Strand, where Ettie and I used to play. There was a large rock to undress behind when we bathed, and another slightly smaller one where the men undressed. We would reappear in our somewhat voluminous bathing costumes!
On a hill the other side of the road from the shop was a house called The Glebe belonging to the Watts. It must have been let on my first visit, because I have no memories of it.
When the road reached the coast, it turned left and went over a small river to Knockmahon, where there were more houses and a church.
When next I visited Bonmahon, I was thirteen or fourteen, and there were many changes.
Dick had died, Violet had married Eddie, and Dick's sister Blanche and her husband Tom Buckley and son Roy were installed.
They lived in The Glebe, together with Dick's widow, May.
There were also two small children whose (Watts) parents had died.
Blanche and May had each adopted one.
There was a girl, Sara, and her little brother, always called 'Bruddie'.
Tom was not liked by the locals as he was English, and during the Troubles and shortly before the south became a Republic, they burnt the creamery down.
The business has now passed into other hands, and I know nothing of it.
Enid Dodsworth, February 1992