He was telling me he went to the funeral of a Christian Brother who taught him. The man was known as Brother Ennis and although I never knew him I'd heard of him. My friend said he was strict but very fair and he ended up head teacher in St Mary's. He was a great Gael who played for and managed a number clubs in places he was sent to teach. Whilst in Béal Feirste he managed the school teams, Naomh Treasa and Aontroim. I'd read his obituary and I was very impressed. His funeral was in BÁC so no doubt there will be more written about him.
I then told my friend I met a real character when out and about today. His nickname is Hector and although we weren't on the same block during the blanket protest I'd heard of him. Anyway we were standing in a supermarket and he had me in stitches with his yarns. Some I can't write about but this was the funniest and I hope I do it justice in print.
He had been mentioned in a recent book which I read and when he said about this particular part he was adamant it happened and I've no reason to doubt him. A lot of the food we got was terrible but we ate it because we were always hungry. Anyway whenever we got cabbage for our dinner Hector would keep some for later that night when we got bread and he'd make a cabbage sandwich. He then asked me if I ever made them. I liked bread and cabbage but would never think of making a sandwich. He then went on to tell me he still makes cabbage sandwiches. I thought he was winding me up but he got excited saying "they're great". He said that whenever he gets cabbage for his dinner and then keeps some for the next day - "none of that English crap of bubble and squeak", says he. He fries it with bacon and onions and sticks it between two rounds - of plain bread of course! There's very little I don't eat but not so sure about that but who knows...
Good old Hector!
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| Padraic Mac Coitir is a former republican prisoner and current political activist. |
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