During some of these forays a common practice was to purloin some unfotunate farmer's turnips and sit down and eat them with the aid of razor blades. The ballast pit was a favourite haunt for youngsters and many of our adventures took place there. Another winter game was Relievio.

Come Spring, out came skipping ropes and tops; games consisted of ball-beds or a game of hopping the ball against a wall accompanied by different ryhmes or actions. Marbles were most popular, particulary taw-in-the-hole and taw-in-the-ring. The ruins of the old costguard station at the harbour was another popular venue. The old tanks were wonderful places for hide-and-seek. These buildings were cleared away after the war and a park laid out in their place.

Further on, where now is a car park, was Flower and McDonald's coal yard. The outer walls were white-washed and made a good background for the light-keepers when they stood against them to communicate with Rock-a-Bill by semaphore.

With modern technolagy and radio communication, it now appears to have been a very antediluvian method and must have been laborious. After having semaphored for some time, the man put down his flags, took up a teloscope and looked through to recieve a reply.

Maura Behan (SHS, 1983)

The boys (and men) of Skerries are very fond of making little boats with corks, a slender rod and some feathers.

First, they take three corks,and pass the rod through them lengthwise leaving a space of about an inch and a half in between the corks. They then stick a feather in each cork, as a sail. If the "boat" is inclined to capsize, a light stone is suspended by means of a cord passed through the middle cork. This, if at all possiblie, is to be avoided, as it somewhat mars the speed of the boat.

The bigger lads make bird-snares, cages, etc.

One type of bird-snare is made with a long piece of tin about six feet in length. This is bent in hoop-shape, and a loose network of cord is placed over the whole. This is propped up by a stick, with a cord attached. Some bread placed inside brings a bird, and as soon as it ventures within, the person holding the other end of the cord (who is, of course hidden) jerks it away, the snare falls, and the bird is a prisoner.

Alan Owens (HNS, 1937-'38)