In 1978 we moved to Bray and bought a small terraced house in Ardee Street.  The original house had 3 rooms and a scullery with a back yard the size of the house itself.  Ardee Street was bleak in some ways, with no trees to offset the greyness .  Opposite our house was a coal yard and further down, standing back from the road, was Burna Fireplaces, which is still there.  They were mostly single storey terraced houses, with a few two storey houses at the top and bottom of the road.

Its saving grace was the People’s Park, stretching the length of the Dargle Road, from the Bridge at Castle Street (the town end) to Murphy’s Pub at far other.  It had been left to the people of Little Bray by the Brabazon family. The plaque still remains in the park. It is lined with beautiful old trees including Oak and Horse Chestnut, with an amazing view of the Sugar Loaf Mountains at the Murphy Pub end.

Its beauty is dazzling on a bright Spring day, and also in the Autumn, as the leaves turn every shade of brown and orange, leaving a carpet of multicoloured leaves on the path.  It has a children’s playground, changing rooms to facilitate the football matches played at weekends, along with various activities during the summer, like the dog show. Two of the local residents planted daffodil bulbs the length of the park, which spring up every year.  Years ago there were a multitude of flowers in the park, attended by a Park Keeper who lived in a large Tudor-style house on the grounds. It was demolished about 20 years ago when it fell into disrepair. Young and old alike enjoy this treasure in Little Bray.

When we bought the house in Ardee Street, our elderly next door neighbour sent one of her grandchildren in with a pot of tea for us on the first day. I was surprised at the thoughtfulness but the feeling of welcome remained.  If it rained, she would send a grandchild to tell me, so that I could get the washing in off the line.  She was a wonderful friend and neighbour. Having good neighbours is like a safety blanket – there if you need them.  They never intruded in your life, but the friendship and concern for one another was always there.

During those years, the children played in the street, with only two car owners, they had the freedom to play outside, or in the park at the bottom of the road. There were a lot of children at that time as younger couples moved in.  During Wimbledon week, the children had their tennis rackets ready.  They had such freedom then and many happy hours were spent outside.  Our house was in the middle of the street, adjacent to Dargan Street. The front door was always open while the children played with their friends outside.  Many times they played in our house, and the front room was full to the rafters. We didn’t have a lot in those days but we lived amongst wonderful people.

In 1986 Little Bray was hit by Hurricane Charlie and its aftermath was like a war-zone.  A neighbour’s son called to tell us the water was high on the Dargle River, and to lift any carpets and furniture we could and block the front door. The river broke it’s banks at around 10 pm and Little Bray was soon 4-6 ft deep in water.  The Civil Defence brought a boat down to rescue the elderly people later that night. Myself and my 3 children were in the back bedroom and didn’t hear the knock on the door.  Water seeped through the front door.  We moved to the front of the house where the ceilings were higher. I carried my youngest child.  One of my daughters carried our cat. The water was up to my waist by then. We sat on top of a cupboard built under the window, in the dark. I counted the bricks on the fireplace to gauge the water level, which subsided at around 6am the following morning. People were brought to the Convent at Ravenswell, where the nuns had mattresses and blankets waiting. In our single-story house, everything was destroyed. The force of the current moved and shifted things. Floors had to be lifted, furniture and electrical appliances had to be thrown out. Everything was piled up on the path for the Council to take away. They provided disinfectant and humidifiers to dry out the walls.  Friends rallied around to help.  Neighbours helped each other.  In spite of the destruction, there was a great sense of comradeship. People just accepted what had happened and got on with it.  Some residents had been through the same before.

During the World Cup in New Jersey on 18th June 1994 after Ireland beat Italy One Nil, the Irish flags were in abundance, blowing from every window. Buntings were across the streets. Bray was emptied of traffic, shops and businesses closed while the match was on.  You’d almost expect to see Tumble Weed rolling down the Main Street. Doors were thrown open after the match and the residents of Ardee Street and Dargan Street, young and old, were jubilant.  They did the Conga up and down Dargan Street, singing ‘Ola, Ola Ola’. What an unforgettable night that was.

Over the years things changed, some houses were knocked and more modern ones built.  Extensions were built on and homes were modernised.  Now most of the wonderful elderly neighbours have departed or moved and we have also. My children wouldn’t leave Little Bray. We moved to the Dargle Road, a short move around the corner, opposite the park.  Dargan Street and Ardee Street now have trees to give the area a ‘town house’ atmosphere, as the Estate Agents would say! What wonderful neighbours we had then, and I’m glad to say, have where we live now. Little Bray is and always will be, a very special place.