Maura & Sylvia

Maura came to our heritage centre to meet Sylvia, a writer who's been commissioned to do some stories about the  connections between Ireland and Wales.
Maura is both doyenne and bastion of the not-inconsiderable Irish community hereabouts. Many came, and settled, on this side of St George's Channel, to work on the ferries or the harbour.
In her 91st year Maura is as sharp as a razorclam and as full of stories as a seasoned mariner. She checked Sylvia's credentials by greeting her in Irish and establishing exactly where she came from, and did she know so-and-so, and such a place, and how about this song? (There were a lot of songs.) Sylvia's pen was soon racing across her norebook as Maura (who could talk for Ireland) recounted tales of her childhood and adolescence  in Waterford, followed by early marriage and a move to Wales. She's been here 50 years now, not only as the materfamilias of a burgeoning  family clan but also as a shop keeper, community leader and even town  mayor  one year.  She's still the centre of her extensive web, up there above the harbour, and when her driver had to leave she briskly reassured us she'd take the bus home  -- I wouldn't be at all surprised if she made it take her right to the door. 

Maura was still going strong when I left after 90 minutes so I don't know the final outcome but I think Sylvia got some stories.