H Ford & Son, Cork. The final days.

In 1984 Henry Ford & Son, Marina, Cork closed down for ever. These photos were taken around the time of the closure. It is my personal tribute to all the people with whom l worked there for 18 years!

[@Robbie7441]

he just kept single my head is melted listing to him sing

[@patbreen8374]

Hi Bill my name is Pat Breen (jnr) just to say thank you for a brilliant show of life in fords at the time ,you can see some characters in some of the faces on the pictures,my farther appears in it too. It was great to be able to show him and bring back a few memories for him . Thanks again. The story of bikes was also shown brilliant ! Thanks again

[@BillDaly]

Good to see your father is still fine and fit Pat. I met him recently!

[@themadfarmer5207]

Ford would be gone now anyway. So would Dunlop. But as a junior I seem to remember the endless strikes and disputes. Bus strikes. Train strikes. Bank strikes. Postal strikes. Building strikes. Trades strikes plus .Dunlop and Fords and a lot of other institutions.Ford's never reached its targets of output. Militant unions closed or moved so many companies. Ford. Dunlop. Leibher. Ferenka, and a myriad of small companies. Damn it a steady wage and a job was important, but the loudest mouthed idler was usually head of the union and the sheep followed. No wonder late seventies and eighties are remembered as dark years with massive emigration

[@neiltwomey3898]

Hello Bill, Thanks for sharing this. Lovely to see it, lot's of familiar old faces. Not least my uncle Chris Twomey aka "Handsome Chris". Nice Work.

[@BillDaly]

Yes Neil, we all miss Chris and his wonderful music!

[@bwbillwilliamsbw]

@@BillDaly Many thanks for including the homage to Christy and his music.

[@Jungleland33]

The heart was ripped out of Cork when Goulding's, Ford's and Dunlop's closed.

[@mfitzy100]

Jungleland33 cork bounced back majorly

[@arleenheffernan2424]

It was bittersweet to see this video. My father, the late Christy O'Connell, worked there and I remember when it closed. Thanks for putting this together!

[@stevecostello4278]

Jesus, I remember the day that place closed, it still sends a shudder down my spine.

[@finbarrbradley8170]

Pretty sure that's Peter Doolan, Cork Senior Hurling All-Ireland medalist 1966 in middle of photo at 1.03.

[@acollins9968]

Fantastic film - very sad and upsetting for those of us who were actually there.

[@BillDaly]

It's worth noting Tony that several of the 'social' photos in the middle of this project were taken in the "Eagle Bar", Blackpool.

[@sammyodriscoll]

Wonderfull to see my dad Jackie O'Driscoll with a big smile on his face in happy times. Thanks for sharing this. Just great.

[@BillDaly]

Sammy, I was sad to see Jackie go so soon. He should be still organising 'Shamrocks' games!

[@wobblewobble7330]

sorry god bless people people who have passed over..

[@zodriscoll]

Hello Bill, My late father Billy (o) Driscoll worked on the chassis line but I did not spot him on the video unfortunately . Really enjoyed the video great job. Just wondering do you have any snaps of him in your collection of archieve pictures it would be really appreciated if you did as he passed just last year. If you do you might let me know thanks a mil

[@davidlevy3372]

Hi Bill. I am an enthusiast of Irish motoring, looking to do a bit of research into the history of Ford in Cork and talk to a few people. I was wondering if it would be possible to get in touch with yourself?

[@rodhurley1154]

my fatherworked for henryand allmy family. why did you ever leave cork.

[@woffwoff9939]

old cork is no more... sadly..

[@Del-yv1qy]

bla blah

[@wobblewobble7330]

my first car was a ford cortina mark 3.... god bless people who are still alive... and may god people who have passed over...

[@norrie49khr]

Hello Bill, my late dad Eamonn O'Sullivan pronounced Yamonn worked there on assembly line for more than thirty years. He's not in photo's but still great to see them. Eddie O'Sullivan

[@BillDaly]

Hi Eddie, I looked through all my 'Ford' photos and i don't see any one with you dad in it!

[@norrie49khr]

Bill Daly That's ok Bill, thanks for taking the trouble, still nice to see the photo's.

[@BillDaly]

norrie49khr I remember that Eamonn was often called 'Legsey' Eddie. I think it was his reputation as a dancer!

[@norrie49khr]

+Bill Daly His Dad was called Legsey, he was Irish heavyweight boxing champion. Nothing to do with dancing Bill although it made me smile. Thanks

[@markdaughton]

Thank you Billy. Really enjoyed that. My own Dad Bill Daughton worked there. He passed away over 20 years ago now. Never did see a photo of him in work.

[@joshea12345]

Brilliant Video. Great to see my Dad Brian O Shea with some hair :)

[@BillDaly]

Brian keeps most of his hair on his chin James!

[@tomjones5240]

had friends who worked there and family who worked in the Dagenham plant. Great history and memories.

[@Del-yv1qy]

Sadly the staff stole as much as they could and went on strike alot. Looking at the pictures alot of them had their hands in their pockets.I would of pulled out years before they did.

[@harry50191]

Lovely pictures Bill, my Dad John Harrington, worked there, in Stores Dept, for 24 years, "great memories", he said when I showed him the clip.

[@BillDaly]

Thanks Martin! I haven't seen your dad for over 30 years. I hope he's well!

[@marypenney5603]

Great to see this video. My fatherJoe Penney was a panel beater in Fords for 38 years.

[@kevinfitzsimons41]

Great video and pics but why oh why do Irish nostalgic videos have to have a soundtrack of awful didle di Owe music? It ruins it for me

[@themadfarmer5207]

It is called tootlie wootlie music. Some think it is necessary for oirish documentary

[@johnnorth1961]

Ford and Dunlop were side by side, on many visits to Cork the factories stood out as you drove towards Cork City 👍

[@johnosullivan6547]

What’s wrong with yer man ? There nothing wrong with him at all, I’d say if you pushed him he’d start ! 😅

[@woffwoff9939]

very nice

[@fredvickery450]

fred vickery brilliant billy some great memories

[@BillDaly]

You put in a few appearances along the way Fred!

[@nathanbreen4784]

my grandad is in this and love it dad

[@Mftw767]

Why did Ford's of cork close.what was the reason for the closure.please could someone tell me.

[@seamusburke9101]

They were really good at going on strike if memory serves me correctly

[@Mftw767]

@@seamusburke9101 Seamus thank you for taking the trubble to answer.i am told that was the case

[@seamusburke9101]

@@Mftw767 there was away more to it than that Tim. I remember being in Lennox's chipper one saturday night in the queue and this fella stumbled in after a few stouts and walked straight to the front of the queue. When a few of us got on to him about it he told us he worked in Fords and to fuck off and get chips somewhere else if we didnt like it. Of coarse he didnt get served. They really believed they were above other people as did anyone else who had one of the few good jobs.

[@Del-yv1qy]

Strrikes and stealing come to mind.

[@jeremiahquinlan2482]

God forbid you bought a Monday ford from this plant?? The fellas there really took the piss!! I had friend that worked this plant god how they would brag about sticking it to the boss. Well things didn’t work out between labor and company at the end!!! Well ford said baby! Just look at all the pictures here who is doing the work???????

[@Del-yv1qy]

Spot on ,lazy lot.They were well known for it.They were good at getting pissed though.