Annie Costello nee Kinley of Derryvett, Crusheen, grew up in the nearby townland of Drumbaniffe, near a bog. The bog was shared by a number of neighbours, some of whom came long distances to cut turf there.

One such family was the Doolaghty’s of Barefield. Sometimes the Doolaghty girls came with their father to help with the turf cutting. Annie Kinley and Mary Ellen Doolaghty quickly became good friends.

Mary Ellen told Annie about an embroidery class that she attended once a week at Ballyalla. Annie decided she would love to join the class. She joined in 1921 and there were 10 to 12 girls in the class. It was arranged that she would walk the 5 miles to attend the class, spend the night at the Doolaghty’s and walk the 5 miles home the next day.

Annie loved the classes. The girls sat around the long table in the servant’s hall. Mrs Vere O’Brien used to sit at the head of the table with her pet robin on her shoulder and read stories to them. After the class there was plenty of tea, cake and chat.

Annie and Mary Ellen would walk home to the Doolaghty’s house and at night the neighbours would come in for some dancing. There were lots of young people as all the families had 6 or 7 children and there was always someone to play the fiddle or the concertina for the sets and step dances.

There were other events to look forward to. Once or twice a year there was an outing—sometimes a trip to the Limerick Lace School or a picnic. At Christmas there was a party to which all the locals were invited, and Florence had a present for everyone. Mary Ellen’s sister remembers getting a tweed skirt length which she had for years.

There were dances in the coach house at Ballyalla, which lasted until daybreak, and a sports day with donkey rides in the front field. Annie left the Clare Embroidery class after a number of years to marry John Costello, a traditional musician and an athlete. Annie Costello was one of the last of the talented group of Clare Embroiderers.