Page 70 - Greystones Archaeological Historical Society

BEATRICE GUNNING: A GREYSTONES LIFE

Beatrice started school in the
National School (now a building site),
just opposite her house in La Touche
Place, and later went to Wesley College
in Dublin, travelling there by train. While
studying in Wesley, her singing voice
was recognised, and she auditioned for
Turner Huggard and sang in his choir.
She went on to complete her studies in
Barnes Academy and in 1940 got her
first job as a book-keeper in McFarland’s
Grocery Store on Church Road (now the
AIB). Not long afterwards she went to
work for barrister Michael McGilligan,
where she was a Dictaphone typist.
When Mr McGilligan decided to retire
from his practice, Beatrice got a job with
another firm of solicitors, Molloy Foyle
and Company, in Dublin.

Beatrice met the love of her life, John Gunning, in 1941. She
had been talking with her friends Bid Boothman, Sadie Kelly and
Carrie Taylor outside the La Touche Hotel when John walked by.
She asked him where he was going and when he told her that
he was going to the 'pictures' she decided that she would go as
well. (The picture house was on the site where Harbour Court
now stands, and before that was the site of Glen Press) The
'ninepenny rush', as it was known then, was great entertainment,
and the only downside was that any misbehaviour was dealt with
by Mrs Hipple and her trusty umbrella, which would see off any
wild carry-on!

John was also local to Greystones, and was a great footballer
having played with Greystones AFC in the Bog. John’s father

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