In this episode of Muintir na Déise, we hear from Sylvester Ó Muirí.

Each episode in this series features an individual who has been closely associated with or has lived all his/her life in Gaeltacht na nDéise.

This second series of Muintir na Déise features people from An Rinn, Waterford's Gaeltacht.

The programmes are presented by Waterford and Ring native, broadcaster and writer Catherine Foley.

The participants tell their stories of growing up, finding work, getting married, rearing families as well as their beliefs, wisdom and reflections on life as it was lived in this corner of Waterford during the last century.

This all-Irish series celebrates their lives as well as showcase the wealth of Irish that is still spoken and used in the Ring and Old Parish Gaeltacht area.

About Sylvester Ó Muirí

Sylvester Ó Muirí was born in the village of Baile na nGall, the eldest of three children born to Tomás and Máire.

His father was a fisherman and a mechanic on the RNLI lifeboat in Helvick.

Sylvester is a former teacher, teaching in Waterford city’s Mount Sion CBS and then in Dungarvan CBS.

He was a history inspector from the early 1970s with the Department of Education until he retired in 2001.

In this interview he talks about getting married, his family of two boys and four girls, how he dealt with the tragic death of one his daughters in the Middle East and he recalls the impact of the deaths of three local fishermen has on him in 1945 when they were blown up by a mine that was caught in their nets.

He talks about his interest in history and in particular about the history of fishing off the south and west coasts of Ireland and his book on the subject which was published in 2013. He is an authority on local history and he is an experienced sailor.

To listen to the full conversation click the link in this podcast.

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