Bennett's of Ballinacurra Descriptive List (Ref. B609)

B609/

maltings, and on leave, occur in many volumes, and wages are a recurring subject. Barley buying from September to December is also noted. The diary for 1948 is not present. There are no diaries for the years from 1952 to her retirement in 1969. As in the case of John H Bennett’s diaries (B609/9/A), the descriptions which follow are not intended to be exhaustive, but rather to give a flavour of the diaries’ content and scope, and to draw attention to significant developments. B609/9/E/1 Diary, 1936. On 14 January Miss McNeill attended a barley conference at the DoA, afterwards meeting family friends, including the Stoneys (see B609/9/A/49). In late January she attended a Church of Ireland Conference of Youth in Dublin (see B609/9/F/1). On 2 February she attended the Savoy Celebrity Concert, noting ‘Paul Robeson, the “draw”’. On 15 February she visited Gwen Bennett, her step-sister, at Farnham, near Reading. On 26 February she notes ‘Mr Chaloner [DoA] very depressing about future of Ballinacurra’. On 1 March she and her mother listened to King Edward VIII’s first radio broadcast at Eastgrove in the company of the Bagwells, Jack Smith, and Mr Lavery. On 4 March Hugh Clifford indicated he would join the Company if finances were satisfactory. On 16 March photos of permanent staff taken. On 26 March some department officials and German, Dutch, and English visitors inspected the Cereal Station. On 14 April Ms McNeill was re-elected to the select vestry (Midleton parish). On 17 April a letter came from Hugh Clifford changing his mind regarding a position with the company. On 25 April she met with Richard Minchin, Limerick, who agreed to join the company [as farm manager] in June for £250 per annum and a free house. He arrived on 8 June, and was moved into Ballinacurra Lodge. On 30 May she attended a ‘wonderful performance’ by the Ballets Russes at Cork Opera House. On 21 August McNeill records a ‘bad attack of depression’. On 5 September she played tennis for first time in four years, but twisted her knee ‘so gave up & think tennis must now be ruled out’. On 12 September four tonnes of potatoes were sent to Dublin. On 17 September she notes ‘had a long discussion with M. [mother] Mr Read & Mr O’Connor (Magennis) [accountants] about a/c’s: salaries, etc: most helpful’. On 26 September she notes ‘413 pts milk sold. A new record!’. On 12 October she notes ‘heavy deliveries in Bc [Ballinacurra] & all places humming: more like old times’. On 26 October the effects of the 1936 Conditions of Employment Act were discussed, and on the 30 th employees were informed of new wages: ‘a complete bombshell & very well received’. On a visit to the Lanes at Rock Lodge on 6 November McNeill played ‘Monopoly’ for the first time. On 19 November her dog Billy died of heart trouble and old age, McNeill noting ‘curious similarity between Billy’s symptoms and Father’s’. In late November, early December McNeill came to an arrangement with Cloyne Collodial Clay Co regarding a water supply to them. McNeill spent much of 24 December distributing presents and fruit and flowers to employees and villagers. On 31 December she records an arrangement agreed with baggers for remuneration for loading malt onto ships, describing it as ‘historic’, adding ‘a definite advantage to have conference in lieu of threat & no hostile feeling’.

187