A group of Scarteen Parkers and friends gathered for a specially organised hike along the Old Killarney Road, meeting at upper Torc Waterfall and trekking to Kenmare. Participants recalled childhood experiences in the estate, including games of rounders and soccer, and the sense of craic and mischief. The walk prompted reflection on how the area supported growing up, with treats from mothers and townies joining in games. Scarteen Park is named after Tom and John O’Connor Scarteen, local brothers and National Army soldiers shot in the Civil War. The estate began with multigenerational housing and the Juneman Estate for Ceann Mara Plastics workers, first occupied in the 1970s, and memories included Halloween bonfires and walking to town after school.
"“Whatever mother was baking on the day, all the kids got treated. There was a section of the park where a blade of grass didn't grow because there was always either a game of rounders or soccer going on. We would consider ourselves 'Scarteen Parkers' but a lot of townies, as we used to call them, they used to come up and join in the games,” Christopher said."
"“There was always a bit of craic or mischief,” he added."
"“We chatted about it on the walk, we used to have our own bonfire at Halloween time. And we'd spend weeks gathering timber for the fire and so we'd light the fire on Halloween Friday night, and the fire could burn all weekend long. If the weather was good we'd sleep out all night by the fire. It was good craic,” Christopher said."
"Scarteen Park, named after local brothers and National Army soldiers Tom and John O'Connor Scarteen who were shot in the Civil War, is located across from Pobailscoil Inbhear Scéine off the Railway Road in Kenmare."
Read at Irish Independent
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