I miss the Irish I have lived in Cricklewood all my life 65 years now Friday an Saturday night was like the wild west taxis going up an down to Kilburn back to Cricklewood wonderful times Will never see this again Bless you all the Irish men an woman who gave their blood sweat an tears you built this country the house I live in Fordwych Road was built by the Irish beautiful house made with love Thank you everyone of you Xx
Well said. The Irish really put the heart and soul into Cricklewood. The pubs were full lively places and the caffs like Sheila's always good for a home cooked meal.
Worked on sites in London during the 70's and 80's carried the Hod . Best years of my life . Hard work but great money. The London Irish were the best bunch of lads and girls you could hope to meet! I'm 66 now and retired living in a cosy bungalow in the Mourne Mountains. I often feel for the ones who never made it back to Ireland . The Irish government should do FAR more for the elderly Irish abroad and bring them back!
My family were from the Windrush genaration, the Irish were always good to us then, we lived on Elm grove, the irish family over the road used to look after my brother and myself when our parents were at work, we used to play music and our irish friends would come and watch my brothers and me play music in our front room, one of the brothers of the irish family died which was very sad, now most of my family have gone, the cemetary that they are buried in the folks that are buried there their family knows the family that used to look after my brothers and me, small world. Love the Irish.
I was born in London to Irish parents and I remember my Dad (Kerryman) being a steward in the Union late 70s early 80s..and fought hard for the lads on sites and he usually won.! He passed in April 21 an by christ he was a mighty man, hands the size of shovels.. really enjoyed the video, it brought back memories of my Dad.
I had the pleasure of being given a job on the M5 motorway in 1975, working with Irish gentlemen.I had just finished 5 years in the RAF,and was keen to work and earn good money. Joe Caldwell,Martin Thorn were in the gang I worked with.Our boss man was Barney Carney.The best days when it was too wet to lay pipes and we spent the day in the tea hut.I made endless pots of tea and they told me the way of the world.They were tough,rough and did not allow stupidity but had gentle hearts.No harm could come my way when I was in their company. Surprisingly they were very well read and knew a lot of poetry and could they sing. I look upon those day as some of the best of my life.
Yours is a lovely comment sir. And Cavan (ish) man, Frank O'Reilly here referring to the pavement as 'the towpath' brought fond memories of old friends, most sadly now departed.
@@sixmagpies It was a nauseating comment designed to illicit fawning return comments. Peter Saupe is a cringing excuse for a man and needs to be told .
My mum and dad met in the Galtymore in the 80s. Nora salmon from county Mayo and Matthias Mcgrath from county Clare. God rest both their souls I miss u mum and dad 💕
I’m a scouser who moved to Willesden Green in 1985 . I loved Cricklewood some legends round there, Irish folk made it a cracking place to be .. Sad to see now. RIP Eddie S
A smart,no nonsense little film,my late father was one of these men,not Irish,but one who in the late fifties and sixties in this country,like Tim Finnegan "to rise in the world he carried a hod",cold days,hard work,no holiday pay,no unions,and like these guys all said,sometimes not even an idea where you were working at times.I can relate to all of this.He too is now gone this fifteen years past,but men like these,and him,and those before them,built this country.God rest them every one.
Worked with lots of lads from all over particularly far West. I was a Welshman who could move a shovel kust like them,so I got taken on board ,What a life experience,later I became an employer and by best and loyal men came from the Emerald Isle. I guess mostly it was the fact that 90,% of us were country boys so the remainder fell in with us. Building /Civil Engineering all the major firms together with the utility service fims could not have existed wiithout these proud hardworking loyal men
Real hard working men salt of the earth , these men made the UK what it is today hard lonely lives rough working conditions never really knowing where there next meal or money was coming from , you did Ireland proud
Most became alcoholics and died buried in mass graves in st pancreas graveyard London. The Irish built more than roads, railways and buildings. They built community’s. London is a lot worse for them moving on.
@@djharto4917 Absolutely 👍.. Now u might have someone watching this Vid(or reading a similar article in a paper/Mag)and comment well times change and now u have foreigners from all over Europe doing the same in London and draw a "false equivalency"!!,Which is complete BS!! . The difference was when the Irish(and all of those coming over from the Caribbean Islands)came over to the UK,the country had nothing! "Sweet f##k all"It had been smashed to pieces by the German Luftwaffe(in WW1 and WW2),so u had a lack of accomodations,money,food,everything and those new immigrants helped the UK back up off it's knee's,assimilated(did their best to anyway)had family's,contributed to the Economy and it's culture,(spent most of their money in the UK) and ultimately became part of it's Society!(one which wasn't particularly welcoming to them when they arrived!). .So it isn't quite the same today,that Parallels can be reached! No Sir!! And needless to say Happy St Patrick's☘️☘️☘️day!
I lived in Harlesden in the eighties and often got a start on Cricklewood Broadway. Dozens of men standing around early in the morning waiting to get a days work labouring. Hard working men and some great characters. Many would go straight to the Crown pub for a bit of craic after their shift and end up in there for the night. It's an incredible story about some incredible people and their story deserves to be told.
I lived in London in the 80s having come down from Liverpool and sometimes would gather outside the Crown pub to be carted off to a building site in who knows where . Met some great Irish lads and would often bevvy around cricklewood and Kilburn at Biddy mulligans . As well as a carpenter , I am also a poet and musician .
@@Smudgeroon74 Hi smudgeroon . Other than the few songs and the odd piece of poetry I have up on my TH-cam channel , I don’t have anything specific other than that . I continue to write and perform my songs and poetry and should I suppose , have more material available for viewing and will try to upload a couple more pieces for your viewing . Thank you for your interest , much appreciated. Kind regards .Tony
Great little documentary, well done. I have nothing but admiration and gratitude to this generation of Irishmen and women of my parents generation who had to leave their beloved homeland. I myself remember the Galtymore and the craic.
Both my parents left Ireland for London in the early 1950's. Originally living in Dean Rd, Willesden we moved out to Wembley when I was a youngster. Both my parents were work orientated people, really drove the message to myself and my siblings of personal responsibility and work ethic and thank God it stuck with myself and the rest of the family. I joined my dad in construction and really enjoyed the camaraderie of the men he worked with. Some say it was tough, but work isn't hard if you enjoy what you're doing, and I enjoyed every day, still do. Those days in London were never bettered, not sure what made it so, certainly different to the experience of those who went to America, which I am familiar with as I emigrated to the States in '84. I like it here but the laughs we had in Wembley, Cricklewood, Harlesden, Kilburn etc were unmatched. Those were the days, a unique history of a country's diaspora. I still visit London, both my parents have gone now, their ashes sprinkled into the Liffey, although they were happy to live and contribute to England, they didn't wish to be buried there.
Come back to Harlesden, it's unrecognisable. No Irish, No British. Less than 15% according to the latest census. That's the whole of Brent. Church Rd = Mogadishu
My mother was from Fenit Kerry, and met my father at The Burtons night Club on the corner of Cricklewood Bdy. We lived in Dartmouth Rd. Cricklesood. I loved the bars. The Irish pubs were full of life. My father sang Danny Boy in the Crown Willesden. They loved it.
I came to London in 1971 went in to the first pub in Fulham got a job from a Fermanagh man i was still working for him for 30 years or more he was a great man now i am in cork on the dole but i had a ball in London great town slán
Been down from Scotland 3 times this year as my pal was gravely ill. The funeral was this week gone. There's no Irish cafes left in Cricklewood or Kilburn now, all Turkish these days. I wish I'd appreciated the place more when I lived there!
Ha your right was over der i 92.93 met a few nuts from cork nice dudes they akex me to go to yougoslavia skulled a pint tben sorry boyz im off ha joke on me ended up ack in the joy a well tbats life 4 ya
I use to work weekends in a garage oak grove off Fordwych Road The garage was Imperial Motors Jim Riley or Jim O Riley an Paddy Kelly did the mot back in the 70s
Very forgotten men hard workers who built some fine motorways & iconic buildings. If u Google Gerry Carney song Paddy it is a fine tribute to these hard workers.🇨🇮
@@1bigjohnnyd Ohh and those that did came home to state and social persecution and to be treated like pariahs by there families and those they risked there lifes defending. Yet more denied or conveniently forgotten shame that not be sung by the chieftains
Wonderful stuff being a plastic Paddy from London myself this fills me with a nostalgia for Irish London that has all but gone. Its nice seeing the legendary Banjo player Mick O'connor doing his thing in The Crown. It reminds me how much I miss my dear much missed mother who came from Athlone,and spent much of her life in London returning to Athlone in the 1980's. She and I had many a boozy wonderful evening out and about in London's Irish pubs,and in the Irish centre in Camden. Happy Days.Happy Memories.
You're no "plastic paddy". The bravest ones left Ireland to make room for those that stayed. You're the offspring of the courageous Irish. You can be proud. I am. 🙂
@@davidgorman702 very well said! Hate that term 'plastic paddy' I'm Irish and more proud than the indigenous population that never had to leave like our courageous parents in the 50s ... God be good to them all
I remember the Galtymore on Cricklewood Broadway - it's long gone now... It was the ultimate Irish music venue - All the big names used to come like Larry Cunningham and Joe Dolan.
Im only an eighth irish but by god im proud of my heritage and id give my right arm to be alive back then god bless the working man, o mother deer im over here and never will go back what keeps me here is the rake of beer the women and the craic
Lived in Kilburn during the late 60s -70s. Stayed in some rough digs or in a flat with 3 or more other guys. Drank in places like the Crown, the Cock, the Bell, the Rifle and Volunteer, the Prince of Wales, and a pub on Kilburn high road more popularly known as the Kingdom. Recall nights in the National Kilburn, the Galtymore Cricklewood, and the Buffalo Camden town. Those were the days my friend, we'd thought they'd never end we'd sing and drink forever and a day.
Windmill pub Cricklewood tavern Castle pub childs Hill now a block of flats Neasden Partick McGoohan drank around there The spotted dog Harlsden those were the day's
Met a few corks dudes in the black lion in kilburn in 93 they were of to yougosliva to fight they said u wana come wit us i taught will r not sometimes i think i should ave but read a book in nick about that war fuck me they slaughterd each other bigtime
My parents came from Ireland in the 1950s looking for work, in London, myself and my brother and sisters were born in London mum was from limerick and dad was from Clare sadly both have passed away now, my dad always went to the galtymore he loved dancing .......my husband came to the UK in the early 1970s also looking for work he came from county Mayo London had changed sadly not for the better, I do t live in London now but have great memories of living in Muswell Hill, and going to school at coney hatch lane. In the 1960s.......my husband still works very hard as a ground worker .
Diana Connors We came to London back In the 70s both my Husband and I came from Clare Ennis co Clare We settled had 5 children ,,,husband and 2get 40 years Sadly he Passed away few months ago
im born in paddington and we moved to south london when i was 10 took dad 5 years to aclimatise every friday & saturday hed head back to harrow rd kilburn crickewood from listowel always in work ended up a tunnel tiger good days for family miss him john barry
+Michael Barry did he go from listowel in ireland? or is there a place listowel in england? just asking, i love the history of irish in crickelwood, im trying to organise a weekend for the people that came home crickelwood, trying to organise a weekend away back to crickelwood and hear the old stories, any help or history would be accepted
+americansarebeggers thanks for the intrest My dad been dead now some 12 years he came from listowel eire arrived in london aged 15 and found work straight away on building sites his life was shaped by older hard irishmen it was a tough time back in 50is for irish despised by many thanks for your intrest good luck
Hats off to the London Irish community, that rebuilt London and helped build and maintain the NHS. Along with the London Caribbean community like wise, particularly the transport and the NHS
Bring back the Irish ! Still doing the graft &. Worked with the very best of old school in and around Manchester & all over uk ? still love the work ! & the crack ! It's a shame to see it so quite now ! Long live the Irish ! Mayo are us ! 🍀🍀🍀🍻🍻👍🏼
Ireland's four extra counties. Co. Cricklewood, Kilburn, Willesden. Camden. The three venues. Galymoore, Spotted Dog, Biddy Mulligans. Worked as schoolboy potman on a Saturday at Galtymoore during late 70's
I knew a fella who said he was in the spotted dog when twas only a pup and he was around the jubilee clock when twas only a watch. RIP Ronan McDonagh the old chancer.
@@djharto4917 Born off Holloway RD, next door to the Queen Victoria Pub on Chillingworth RD. Used to fall asleep at night, with the sound of Irish music wafting through the open windows, from the QV next door.
I was born in London and never out of work because of my Irish Mother. The work was hard but the Craic was brilliant. We used to go to a pub at lunchtime and some of my colleagues used to drink 5 or 6 pints in an hour and go back and work like hell.
Nice video, watched it twice now, I worked at it in the early 80s. 6 men shared a room, what a drinking working racket. Great fun though with the right mind set. Love to go back in time for a week. Bizarre culture really.
My father came home from the Congo in 61 and left the army shortly afterwards. Headed of to England for work. He was in cricklewood and Hendon and other places in the 60s. He came home in 69 and met my mother. Never went back. He had a job in the Silvermines near Nenagh
I remember in 1988 i moved to london, went to crickelwood and into the crown. i had one drink and left, I swore I would never ever EVER return to crickelwood area again.... lol ... i moved back there in 2001 till 2008. it was the greatest time of my life, although i managed to get an alcohol and drug addiction problem.... lol ... sober now thank God ..
irish raver good man, well done, im trying to organise a weekend from my county, to go to crickelwood for all the old stock that has came home, im trying to organise a 10 euro payment into a bond, every week in the local pub here in the west of ireland, i hope it works, i will also record all the old stories that happened in the past wlile im over there, i love history and this will be fanstatic histoer for future people as when these people go over for the weekend, they will remember ols stories and open up
I know. My husband might get to bed by two on a Saturday morning. But he would be up again at 6am to face a hard day's work. They never complained. He loved the craic around Kilburn back in the 80s. Sad days now, it's all changed. But what a buzz it was there and the Holloway road. Just a few left living out their years. They never went back to Ireland. Bless them all.
I was born the same year as you and went to St Agnes primary school in Cricklewood but never left the area! Ivy Road is just a stones throw from where I live!
Real men them days,my dad came over in 1960,then later on to luton,on the hod all hi life,still kicking now,his horses keep him going,end of an era when they all go,different kind here now!
Love the accent my mother was Irish, I know my father Michael Barrett from Mayo worked around Kilburn area mid 1960s I’d love to have known his friends from this time....
I worked in the Cricklewood Hotel on the corner of the Broadway and Mora Road and my goodness me there was no finer pub to be, the craic was good and the first pint was free, Brendon was the Guv’nor he was as wide as he was tall and Louise the assistant bar manager she kept the Lads in good order, a 3 course Sunday Dinner for a pound and upstairs there would be Ceili dance or a Feis or kids just practicing the Crick was always full Sunday night was busy Lads looking for work & Lads looking for workers, goodness I miss that place 96-99 many memories of great people & great times
Well said sir thank you Charles Lenzi And to all as I was 17 years old at the time conse ently I went on in life to be become on electrical contractor in the U.S A. but I will never forget the bitter/sweet/ memories I have of a time so long ago .YEA I to worked on the building sites of LONDON. THE pubs GREAT CRAIC AND FRIENDSHIPS IN KILLBURN AND ALL OTHERS. Are an experience I will cherish forever. Though now 70 years old it remains part of my sojourn in life. Therefore thanks for the memories. To all who share such those memories god bless all GHTUNINY
I still live in Fordwych Road Cricklewood has lost tha Irish magic We never knew then how good life was the pubs were full the dance halls were bustling life was sweet The Castle Pub Childs Hill is now a block of flats The Prince of Wales Fortune Green now flats the Black lion west Hampstead bistro Pub All the best pubs have gone The church Sacred Heart kilburn an Saint Angus church Cricklewood still there the Irish paper shop gone We will never see the like of that again The Irish men an woman built Cricklewood an the rest of England God bless you all much Respect Xx
So Sad, the atmostphere has gone out of London altogether. Once the Paddies all go, will be a sad end to Great men. Who worked Hard , Played Hard ...enjoyed life and Generous of Heart and Spirit. Thats all gone. Great video.
Hi Mary, I'm from Scotland from Irish stock. My forebears moved here in the 1840's. I was in London 3 times this year as an old friend was ill and passed away. I am just back from the funeral. The place is rubbish now. All the old haunts in Battersea and Tooting are either gone or changed to yuppie hang outs. Very sad.
It's very sad how places in England like London have been destroyed but what's really tragic is that the new young generation in Ireland want Ireland to go the same way. I hear Dublin is not far from being like London now. After so much struggle of their forebears the young are just handing over the land to the invaders without a shot fired!
@@boldbhoy67 Every Glasgow/Irish home had the same collection of Irish LP's and Mcalpine's fusiliers by the Dubliners was a particular favourite...Ronnie Drew's glorious intro...was delighted to visit the famous Crown bar a coupla times in the mid 90's....must have sold 1million pints a week in it's heyday😂😂😂HH
@Joe Kelly the subbies enslaved us work hard try to drink even harder. 17years in an around that area I know a few of the faces in the video one with the beard is a cavan man Frank reilly great characters around in those days young and old. Merry Christmas to you an have a good one.
I grew up in Gratton Terrace just a short a walk to the Gallymore and the crown. Would NEVER wish for a better upbringing then being Irish in Cricklewood in the 60s and 70s 😢
I worked in the 80s in london on the sites lived in hayes willesden green great days home in ireland now thank god.WAs a privilege to see the last of the hard working irish.
Met my Missus at the Galty 1973. She is from Cork. Sadly we are separated. But I still think she’s a good woman. And I have worked with Frank on the Underground years ago.. A fine Man.
County kilburn. I remember seeing the bearded man in Pedro's cafe on the Broadway, I've been moved from London over 10 years, had a fantastic time in my years spent they're especially having a few beers in the crown moran .
Fantastic piece of film.wonderful scene at the end when the gentleman was talking about the Bosnians looking for work standing at the roadside and he knew that was him 40 years before.no hate just people trying to do a honest days work.
@@grlfcgombeenhunter2897 personally I worked with most of the guys in the video, Coleman (Mad John), and they might have been resentful at the time, but that's a lot different to hate.
I miss old Kilburn and Cricklewood. A shame a lot of the old lads never made it back home. Sadly, a lot of their descendants have a very difficult time growing up in England, and some also when they try moving back.
+Fionn Reilly thats so sad, contact me here and ill try to get you my PH number, i live in the west of ireland, roscommon, im trying to set a 10 euro saving fee per week in the local so all the old crickel wood stock can head over for a weekend and book accomadition, few beers and remember the old days!
Great men who done hard work 💪 thank god now the Irish people are so highly educated no longer have to do the hard building work like their grandparents had to do. We are welcome every where in the world ☘️☘️☘️
My father and his brother Willie were working in London in the 50s where they were working on building a chimney stack. The stack collapsed killing my uncle Willie. McAlpine didn't give a damn.
wont be many of them boys left now,got took on a trip to london many times but never seen any of the sights.loads of pop and crisps in cricklewood.xxwouldnt of changed it for the world.xx
"cricklewood oh cricklewood you stole my youth away for i was young and innocent and you were old and grey." This is a line from a song by Patsy Farrell RIP who played in many a pub in north london with the james connelly folk group Patsy was from co longford
was there 86 to 89, the carpet in the crown u would stick to it it was so dirty, Shila's Cafe for dinner, lived on Maura rd , close to the Cricklewood hotel, bar , a few moons ago now.
I was in London 1990 -1994 the mud rack Camden Town + Murphy's road work for work the archway tavern Sunday night Lee Lynch just to hear him say. I feel Elvis coming. Fridays getting my check changed Finsbury Park Tavern.
we used to cook our egg and bacon on the shovel at the site in the summer. wore the shirt through the week and bought a new one on the friday for the week end.
An area in Glasgow south side in 80s 90s was home to thousands of Irish mostly Donegal people called govanhill pubs Irish club the clada bands music now it's all change to Roma poles Asians all took over but that's change for you
Govanhill's Irish population peaked in late 60's early seventies and used to be a great place where folk would be trying to move to but exact opposite now...Irish long gone to the better areas...the graffiti artist sprayed it on the wall...GOVANHELL
Correct Matt. He played the Santa role many times. He's a Cavan man Frank O Reilly also know as "Boxcar" a great character lives in Willesden Green now 🎅 .
I miss the Irish I have lived in Cricklewood all my life 65 years now Friday an Saturday night was like the wild west taxis going up an down to Kilburn back to Cricklewood wonderful times
Will never see this again
Bless you all the Irish men an woman who gave their blood sweat an tears you built this country the house I live in Fordwych Road was built by the Irish beautiful house made with love
Thank you everyone of you Xx
Well said. The Irish really put the heart and soul into Cricklewood. The pubs were full lively places and the caffs like Sheila's always good for a home cooked meal.
charles lenzi Oh do shut the fuck up you creeping twat
Used to live on shoot up hill amd behind the train station.
@@housecarl6 What's your beef
I lived in Fordywch Road for a long time myself. Then I moved to County Cricklewood.
Worked on sites in London during the 70's and 80's carried the Hod . Best years of my life . Hard work but great money. The London Irish were the best bunch of lads and girls you could hope to meet! I'm 66 now and retired living in a cosy bungalow in the Mourne Mountains. I often feel for the ones who never made it back to Ireland . The Irish government should do FAR more for the elderly Irish abroad and bring them back!
ciaran caughey I agree they should bring them back but they are too busy replacing indigenous Irish ☘️ ATM
Irish ☘️ goverment are traitors
It was the Irish subbies that flogged those men, got the work out of them and then dumped them when they got too old and the drink had taken over.
i know Im pretty off topic but do anyone know a good website to stream new series online?
@Joshua Arthur flixportal :P
My family were from the Windrush genaration, the Irish were always good to us then, we lived on Elm grove, the irish family over the road used to look after my brother and myself when our parents were at work, we used to play music and our irish friends would come and watch my brothers and me play music in our front room, one of the brothers of the irish family died which was very sad, now most of my family have gone, the cemetary that they are buried in the folks that are buried there their family knows the family that used to look after my brothers and me, small world. Love the Irish.
I was born in London to Irish parents and I remember my Dad (Kerryman) being a steward in the Union late 70s early 80s..and fought hard for the lads on sites and he usually won.! He passed in April 21 an by christ he was a mighty man, hands the size of shovels.. really enjoyed the video, it brought back memories of my Dad.
I had the pleasure of being given a job on the M5 motorway in 1975, working with Irish gentlemen.I had just finished 5 years in the RAF,and was keen to work and earn good money. Joe Caldwell,Martin Thorn were in the gang I worked with.Our boss man was Barney Carney.The best days when it was too wet to lay pipes and we spent the day in the tea hut.I made endless pots of tea and they told me the way of the world.They were tough,rough and did not allow stupidity but had gentle hearts.No harm could come my way when I was in their company. Surprisingly they were very well read and knew a lot of poetry and could they sing. I look upon those day as some of the best of my life.
Nice memories..Nice to read!!
Yours is a lovely comment sir. And Cavan (ish) man, Frank O'Reilly here referring to the pavement as 'the towpath' brought fond memories of old friends, most sadly now departed.
@@housecarl6 What a gutter level comment, indicative only of the commentator. Withdraw.
@@sixmagpies It was a nauseating comment designed to illicit fawning return comments. Peter Saupe is a cringing excuse for a man and needs to be told .
@@housecarl6 Almost as nauseating as your own self-evidently presumptive and disgustingly plebeian ejection.
Cockney Irish here .. proud be God bless ☘ 🇮🇪. ☘..proud my roots ireland Tipperary Thurles .. ancestors
My mum and dad met in the Galtymore in the 80s. Nora salmon from county Mayo and Matthias Mcgrath from county Clare. God rest both their souls I miss u mum and dad 💕
Excellent. "Its full of foreigners now". That made me smile.
I’m a scouser who moved to Willesden Green in 1985 . I loved Cricklewood some legends round there, Irish folk made it a cracking place to be .. Sad to see now. RIP Eddie S
A smart,no nonsense little film,my late father was one of these men,not Irish,but one who in the late fifties and sixties in this country,like Tim Finnegan "to rise in the world he carried a hod",cold days,hard work,no holiday pay,no unions,and like these guys all said,sometimes not even an idea where you were working at times.I can relate to all of this.He too is now gone this fifteen years past,but men like these,and him,and those before them,built this country.God rest them every one.
Fantastic film. Thank you for making this tribute to the men (Like my father) that built Britain.
But didn't fight for it
Vinegar Joe you are an idiot and a sad bigot
Great film God Bess the Irish
@@vinegarjoe6794 Why would they.
@@johnmc3862 thing is such a stupid comment cause he clearly doesn’t know his history
My dad came over from Sligo in 1960, he never went back ,6 brothers followed , thank you for videos like these that keep their memory alive.
I've worked with the lads , shoulder to shoulder & I never stopped laughing because even though I'm only half Irish I got the Craic .
Any craic with you now?
Worked with lots of lads from all over particularly far West. I was a Welshman who could move a shovel kust like them,so I got taken on board ,What a life experience,later I became an employer and by best and loyal men came from the Emerald Isle. I guess mostly it was the fact that 90,% of us were country boys so the remainder fell in with us. Building /Civil Engineering all the major firms together with the utility service fims could not have existed wiithout these proud hardworking loyal men
A sure the craic was good in Cricklewood as Paddy hit the crown .OH happy daze with the lads ,now in Australia these last 50 odd years .
thank you, it was a privilege spending time with these men and hearing their stories.
Real hard working men salt of the earth , these men made the UK what it is today hard lonely lives rough working conditions never really knowing where there next meal or money was coming from , you did Ireland proud
@N/A N/A lol
Ireland abandoned them, and still does!
Did most of these men not find wives and settle down or did they die alone?
Most became alcoholics and died buried in mass graves in st pancreas graveyard London. The Irish built more than roads, railways and buildings. They built community’s. London is a lot worse for them moving on.
@@djharto4917 Absolutely 👍.. Now u might have someone watching this Vid(or reading a similar article in a paper/Mag)and comment well times change and now u have foreigners from all over Europe doing the same in London and draw a "false equivalency"!!,Which is complete BS!!
. The difference was when the Irish(and all of those coming over from the Caribbean Islands)came over to the UK,the country had nothing! "Sweet f##k all"It had been smashed to pieces by the German Luftwaffe(in WW1 and WW2),so u had a lack of accomodations,money,food,everything and those new immigrants helped the UK back up off it's knee's,assimilated(did their best to anyway)had family's,contributed to the Economy and it's culture,(spent most of their money in the UK) and ultimately became part of it's Society!(one which wasn't particularly welcoming to them when they arrived!).
.So it isn't quite the same today,that Parallels can be reached!
No Sir!! And needless to say Happy St Patrick's☘️☘️☘️day!
I lived in Harlesden in the eighties and often got a start on Cricklewood Broadway. Dozens of men standing around early in the morning waiting to get a days work labouring. Hard working men and some great characters. Many would go straight to the Crown pub for a bit of craic after their shift and end up in there for the night.
It's an incredible story about some incredible people and their story deserves to be told.
Well I am proud to say I am Irish and I still live in the Cricklewood area
..my home town Cricklewood, met my husband in the Galty! Thank you for this, a beautiful history! ☘🙏🏽
I lived in London in the 80s having come down from Liverpool and sometimes would gather outside the Crown pub to be carted off to a building site in who knows where . Met some great Irish lads and would often bevvy around cricklewood and Kilburn at Biddy mulligans . As well as a carpenter , I am also a poet and musician .
@tonykehoe123 please direct me to where I could listen to your music and read your poetry.. many thanks
@@Smudgeroon74 Hi smudgeroon . Other than the few songs and the odd piece of poetry I have up on my TH-cam channel , I don’t have anything specific other than that . I continue to write and perform my songs and poetry and should I suppose , have more material available for viewing and will try to upload a couple more pieces for your viewing . Thank you for your interest , much appreciated. Kind regards .Tony
Great little documentary, well done. I have nothing but admiration and gratitude to this generation of Irishmen and women of my parents generation who had to leave their beloved homeland. I myself remember the Galtymore and the craic.
Both my parents left Ireland for London in the early 1950's. Originally living in Dean Rd, Willesden we moved out to Wembley when I was a youngster. Both my parents were work orientated people, really drove the message to myself and my siblings of personal responsibility and work ethic and thank God it stuck with myself and the rest of the family. I joined my dad in construction and really enjoyed the camaraderie of the men he worked with. Some say it was tough, but work isn't hard if you enjoy what you're doing, and I enjoyed every day, still do. Those days in London were never bettered, not sure what made it so, certainly different to the experience of those who went to America, which I am familiar with as I emigrated to the States in '84. I like it here but the laughs we had in Wembley, Cricklewood, Harlesden, Kilburn etc were unmatched. Those were the days, a unique history of a country's diaspora. I still visit London, both my parents have gone now, their ashes sprinkled into the Liffey, although they were happy to live and contribute to England, they didn't wish to be buried there.
Come back to Harlesden, it's unrecognisable. No Irish, No British. Less than 15% according to the latest census. That's the whole of Brent. Church Rd = Mogadishu
Went to London for a week's holidays in March 86...... I'm still here.
tigerspuds Ha ha me too, April 1986... still here!!!
@@esmeraldaoreilly5945lol. Me too. Moved to Cricklewood Nov 86.
Jeanette Mac 😂😂😂
Ha ha ha
@@michaelheery6303 ha ha hee hee ha hee ha ha
My mother was from Fenit Kerry, and met my father at The Burtons night Club on the corner of Cricklewood Bdy. We lived in Dartmouth Rd. Cricklesood. I loved the bars. The Irish pubs were full of life. My father sang Danny Boy in the Crown Willesden. They loved it.
I live not far from Fenit. It’s a lovely area, walked the dog on the beach, last year. His last one , he’s not well. Best wishes from Tralee
Such a great film. It's perfect. You honoured those people. Well done.
I came to London in 1971 went in to the first pub in Fulham got a job from a Fermanagh man i was still working for him for 30 years or more he was a great man now i am in cork on the dole
but i had a ball in London great town slán
Cool ..no alkohol
Hi from county Offaly
The greyhound pub?
I spent many a cold wet morning in Chichele Road waiting for a shift in the seventies. Hardly an Irishman to be seen in Cricklewood today. So sad.
Been down from Scotland 3 times this year as my pal was gravely ill. The funeral was this week gone. There's no Irish cafes left in Cricklewood or Kilburn now, all Turkish these days. I wish I'd appreciated the place more when I lived there!
swinderby lol
The Crown, The Galtee, The National in Kilburn and Biddys. It’s all gone now. Sad. Very sad.
Ha your right was over der i 92.93 met a few nuts from cork nice dudes they akex me to go to yougoslavia skulled a pint tben sorry boyz im off ha joke on me ended up ack in the joy a well tbats life 4 ya
I use to work weekends in a garage oak grove off Fordwych Road
The garage was Imperial Motors
Jim Riley or Jim O Riley an Paddy Kelly did the mot back in the 70s
My people, God BLESS them.
Total respect to everybody who built the houses shops libraries schools roads n railways etc in the years after WW2.
Sadly it was in vein as they are all being handed over to the invaders now.
Very forgotten men hard workers who built some fine motorways & iconic buildings. If u Google Gerry Carney song Paddy it is a fine tribute to these hard workers.🇨🇮
Be nice if they stayed to actually fight ww2 hmmm guess easier to run from the fight and return for the pound
@@vinegarjoe6794 Oviously you dont know much about history . Many Irish men went & fought in the world wars 1 & 2 .
@@1bigjohnnyd Ohh and those that did came home to state and social persecution and to be treated like pariahs by there families and those they risked there lifes defending. Yet more denied or conveniently forgotten shame that not be sung by the chieftains
Wonderful stuff being a plastic Paddy from London myself this fills me with a nostalgia for Irish London that has all but gone. Its nice seeing the legendary Banjo player Mick O'connor doing his thing in The Crown. It reminds me how much I miss my dear much missed mother who came from Athlone,and spent much of her life in London returning to Athlone in the 1980's. She and I had many a boozy wonderful evening out and about in London's Irish pubs,and in the Irish centre in Camden. Happy Days.Happy Memories.
videocurios brings
Hi honey
You're no "plastic paddy". The bravest ones left Ireland to make room for those that stayed. You're the offspring of the courageous Irish. You can be proud. I am. 🙂
@@davidgorman702 very well said! Hate that term 'plastic paddy' I'm Irish and more proud than the indigenous population that never had to leave like our courageous parents in the 50s ... God be good to them all
@@davidgorman702 Well said mo chara...Glasgow/Irish by way of Co Donegal and bloody proud of it😆
@@carolineporter3805 Good on ya ghirl😉
my old man sang in the crown,drank in the crown and fought in the crown :) thanks for posting this :)
neverbeen2 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 cool 😂
Fighting Irish ☘️
Fair Play To Yer Old Man Up The Rebels 🇮🇪☘️
I remember the Galtymore on Cricklewood Broadway - it's long gone now... It was the ultimate Irish music venue - All the big names used to come like Larry Cunningham and Joe Dolan.
Two of my favourite singers sad to think they gone
Im only an eighth irish but by god im proud of my heritage and id give my right arm to be alive back then god bless the working man, o mother deer im over here and never will go back what keeps me here is the rake of beer the women and the craic
Lived in Kilburn during the late 60s -70s. Stayed in some rough digs or in a flat with 3 or more other guys. Drank in places like the Crown, the Cock, the Bell, the Rifle and Volunteer, the Prince of Wales, and a pub on Kilburn high road more popularly known as the Kingdom. Recall nights in the National Kilburn, the Galtymore Cricklewood, and the Buffalo Camden town. Those were the days my friend, we'd thought they'd never end we'd sing and drink forever and a day.
Some names there for drinking at
Windmill pub Cricklewood tavern Castle pub childs Hill now a block of flats Neasden Partick McGoohan drank around there
The spotted dog Harlsden those were the day's
Met a few corks dudes in the black lion in kilburn in 93 they were of to yougosliva to fight they said u wana come wit us i taught will r not sometimes i think i should ave but read a book in nick about that war fuck me they slaughterd each other bigtime
You coudnt get into the national if you didnt have shoes on you
@@charleslenzi7552 fuck me havent heard about the spotted dog in yrs first pub i drank in and puked up in
My parents came from Ireland in the 1950s looking for work, in London, myself and my brother and sisters were born in London mum was from limerick and dad was from Clare sadly both have passed away now, my dad always went to the galtymore he loved dancing .......my husband came to the UK in the early 1970s also looking for work he came from county Mayo London had changed sadly not for the better, I do t live in London now but have great memories of living in Muswell Hill, and going to school at coney hatch lane. In the 1960s.......my husband still works very hard as a ground worker .
Diana Connors
We came to London back
In the 70s both my Husband and I came from Clare Ennis co Clare
We settled had 5 children ,,,husband and 2get 40 years
Sadly he Passed away few months ago
The man at the end has a lovely tone of voice, there was teal sadness, longing in his voice. God blesd
im born in paddington and we moved to south london when i was 10 took dad 5 years to aclimatise every friday & saturday hed head back to harrow rd kilburn crickewood from listowel always in work ended up a tunnel tiger good days for family
miss him john barry
+Michael Barry did he go from listowel in ireland? or is there a place listowel in england? just asking, i love the history of irish in crickelwood, im trying to organise a weekend for the people that came home crickelwood, trying to organise a weekend away back to crickelwood and hear the old stories, any help or history would be accepted
+americansarebeggers thanks for the intrest My dad been dead now some 12 years he came from listowel eire arrived in london aged 15
and found work straight away on building sites his life was shaped by older hard irishmen it was a tough time back in 50is for irish despised by many
thanks for your intrest good luck
Hi from county Offaly
The Irish ☘️ are the best
I want all Irish people to come home ...from America from England from Australia. ..come back
Sure, where would Ireland put them all?
Hats off to the London Irish community, that rebuilt London and helped build and maintain the NHS. Along with the London Caribbean community like wise, particularly the transport and the NHS
Brought tears to my eyes!!
It's nice seeing the old faces you not seen for some years ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️💯
Oh Mary this Londons a wonderful sight,
Bring back the Irish ! Still doing the graft &. Worked with the very best of old school in and around Manchester & all over uk ? still love the work ! & the crack ! It's a shame to see it so quite now ! Long live the Irish ! Mayo are us ! 🍀🍀🍀🍻🍻👍🏼
Ireland's four extra counties. Co. Cricklewood, Kilburn, Willesden. Camden. The three venues. Galymoore, Spotted Dog, Biddy Mulligans. Worked as schoolboy potman on a Saturday at Galtymoore during late 70's
Holloway rd ?
I knew a fella who said he was in the spotted dog when twas only a pup and he was around the jubilee clock when twas only a watch. RIP Ronan McDonagh the old chancer.
yeh archway was one also
@@djharto4917 Born off Holloway RD, next door to the Queen Victoria Pub on Chillingworth RD. Used to fall asleep at night, with the sound of Irish music wafting through the open windows, from the QV next door.
I was born in London and never out of work because of my Irish Mother.
The work was hard but the Craic was brilliant. We used to go to a pub at lunchtime and some of my colleagues used to drink 5 or 6 pints in an hour and go back and work like hell.
Nice video, watched it twice now,
I worked at it in the early 80s.
6 men shared a room, what a drinking working racket. Great fun though with the right mind set. Love to go back in time for a week. Bizarre culture really.
My father came home from the Congo in 61 and left the army shortly afterwards. Headed of to England for work. He was in cricklewood and Hendon and other places in the 60s. He came home in 69 and met my mother. Never went back. He had a job in the Silvermines near Nenagh
No holiday pay, no unions, no overtime rates. Some things in construction haven't changed!!
Question:
Could the Irish live without their music?
I love it!
I remember in 1988 i moved to london, went to crickelwood and into the crown. i had one drink and left, I swore I would never ever EVER return to crickelwood area again.... lol ... i moved back there in 2001 till 2008. it was the greatest time of my life, although i managed to get an alcohol and drug addiction problem.... lol ... sober now thank God ..
irish raver good man, well done, im trying to organise a weekend from my county, to go to crickelwood for all the old stock that has came home, im trying to organise a 10 euro payment into a bond, every week in the local pub here in the west of ireland, i hope it works, i will also record all the old stories that happened in the past wlile im over there, i love history and this will be fanstatic histoer for future people as when these people go over for the weekend, they will remember ols stories and open up
riki stacey
not yet me owl skin, not yet
they all want to do it, but wont put a few bob every week into a kitty
riki stacey
roscommon
Went to Tooting in 1990, dried out in 94 and moved home in 98. Some craic though.
Well done, thoughtful, personal... this was really interesting! Changes indeed, and all of those "gone home".
The last of the Irish in Cricklewood-today it's a changed area same as Kilburn-today it's a 3rd world slum sadly. God bless all wh made this video!
Yes I went there 2 years ago what a difference so sad
who you knew. not what you knew. That was the Craic. Those Men worked mighty hard back in the Day.
Mary Cull it was very hard work, I worked laying kerb stones you knew you'd done a days work I can tell you..
I know. My husband might get to bed by two on a Saturday morning. But he would be up again at 6am to face a hard day's work. They never complained. He loved the craic around Kilburn back in the 80s. Sad days now, it's all changed. But what a buzz it was there and the Holloway road. Just a few left living out their years. They never went back to Ireland. Bless them all.
I worked and lived in Cricklewood from 1988 for14 years loved it
I was born in 1958 and we lived in Ivy Rd, Cricklewood. We moved to Kent when I was a kid.
It is not the Cricklewood these days, that I knew.
I was born the same year as you and went to St Agnes primary school in Cricklewood but never left the area! Ivy Road is just a stones throw from where I live!
Lived on cricklewood in the 70 written rd behind Smith's factory drank in cricklewood hotel
lived in cricklewood in the 80s,loved the galtmore and the national in kilburn
It really was something else wasn't it..we worked so damn hard, but knew how to enjoy ourselves...great times
Real men them days,my dad came over in 1960,then later on to luton,on the hod all hi life,still kicking now,his horses keep him going,end of an era when they all go,different kind here now!
Good and factual, God be with the good old days.
Lovely viedo thanks for posting,
I worked with the boys in the 80s in and around London and Essex. Great times plenty of money to be earned and good craic
Love the accent my mother was Irish, I know my father Michael Barrett from Mayo worked around Kilburn area mid 1960s I’d love to have known his friends from this time....
Respect brothers 🇺🇸🇮🇪🏴🍺🍺
I grew up in Cricklewood a great place to grow up left in 1978 for Sydney but always missed the place
GOD Bless England for The Irish and Visa Versa.
I worked in the Cricklewood Hotel on the corner of the Broadway and Mora Road and my goodness me there was no finer pub to be, the craic was good and the first pint was free, Brendon was the Guv’nor he was as wide as he was tall and Louise the assistant bar manager she kept the Lads in good order, a 3 course Sunday Dinner for a pound and upstairs there would be Ceili dance or a Feis or kids just practicing the Crick was always full Sunday night was busy Lads looking for work & Lads looking for workers, goodness I miss that place 96-99 many memories of great people & great times
Well said sir thank you Charles Lenzi And to all as I was 17 years old at the time conse ently I went on in life to be become on electrical contractor in the U.S A. but I will never forget the bitter/sweet/ memories I have of a time so long ago .YEA I to worked on the building sites of LONDON. THE pubs GREAT CRAIC AND FRIENDSHIPS IN KILLBURN AND ALL OTHERS. Are an experience I will cherish forever. Though now 70 years old it remains part of my sojourn in life. Therefore thanks for the memories.
To all who share such those memories god bless all
GHTUNINY
I still live in Fordwych Road Cricklewood has lost tha Irish magic
We never knew then how good life was the pubs were full the dance halls were bustling life was sweet
The Castle Pub Childs Hill is now a block of flats The Prince of Wales Fortune Green now flats the Black lion west Hampstead bistro Pub
All the best pubs have gone
The church Sacred Heart kilburn an Saint Angus church Cricklewood still there the Irish paper shop gone
We will never see the like of that again
The Irish men an woman built Cricklewood an the rest of England
God bless you all much Respect Xx
Hi from Offaly great reading I’ve never been to London but it makes me sad
@@user-ns8ld5sn7k youre too late Tony no craic anymore.
So Sad, the atmostphere has gone out of London altogether. Once the Paddies all go, will be a sad end to Great men. Who worked Hard , Played Hard ...enjoyed life and Generous of Heart and Spirit. Thats all gone. Great video.
Hi Mary, I'm from Scotland from Irish stock. My forebears moved here in the 1840's. I was in London 3 times this year as an old friend was ill and passed away. I am just back from the funeral. The place is rubbish now. All the old haunts in Battersea and Tooting are either gone or changed to yuppie hang outs. Very sad.
It's very sad how places in England like London have been destroyed but what's really tragic is that the new young generation in Ireland want Ireland to go the same way. I hear Dublin is not far from being like London now. After so much struggle of their forebears the young are just handing over the land to the invaders without a shot fired!
@@boldbhoy67 Every Glasgow/Irish home had the same collection of Irish LP's and Mcalpine's fusiliers by the Dubliners was a particular favourite...Ronnie Drew's glorious intro...was delighted to visit the famous Crown bar a coupla times in the mid 90's....must have sold 1million pints a week in it's heyday😂😂😂HH
@Joe Kelly the subbies enslaved us work hard try to drink even harder. 17years in an around that area I know a few of the faces in the video one with the beard is a cavan man Frank reilly great characters around in those days young and old. Merry Christmas to you an have a good one.
My dad was Irish, born Ladbroke Grove, the Kilburn End. My friends never knew what my Dad was saying.😁
County Cricklewood
I grew up in Gratton Terrace just a short a walk to the Gallymore and the crown. Would NEVER wish for a better upbringing then being Irish in Cricklewood in the 60s and 70s 😢
Best description I've ever heard about Kilburn...there was 90% Irish and 10% foreigners now there's 10% Irish and 90% foreigners.
I worked in the 80s in london on the sites lived in hayes willesden green great days home in ireland now thank god.WAs a privilege to see the last of the hard working irish.
We Irish are filed in the same category - foreigners.
Joe gilligan your still there I worked with you in 1990 bulling steel in bond street its time ye lads headed for ireland too !
Fascinating. Great clip.
Thanks so much for the upload
Met my Missus at the Galty 1973. She is from Cork. Sadly we are separated. But I still think she’s a good woman. And I have worked with Frank on the Underground years ago.. A fine Man.
Sometimes when i'm down on the Tube I think of the Iirsh grafters back in the day who made it all possible
Casewell The majority of them where English Scots and welsh miners, farmers
@@housecarl6 dont talk shite!
County kilburn. I remember seeing the bearded man in Pedro's cafe on the Broadway, I've been moved from London over 10 years, had a fantastic time in my years spent they're especially having a few beers in the crown moran .
As the man said on 7 minutes, "there was loads of Irish people here and everybody working" golden days, what's happened to London since then!
Fantastic piece of film.wonderful scene at the end when the gentleman was talking about the Bosnians looking for work standing at the roadside and he knew that was him 40 years before.no hate just people trying to do a honest days work.
How do u know there was no hate
@@grlfcgombeenhunter2897 personally I worked with most of the guys in the video, Coleman (Mad John), and they might have been resentful at the time, but that's a lot different to hate.
You don't appreciate how many great men got the start in Cricklewood lane from John Galvin 60s 70s 80s Frank Galvin
I miss old Kilburn and Cricklewood. A shame a lot of the old lads never made it back home. Sadly, a lot of their descendants have a very difficult time growing up in England, and some also when they try moving back.
+Fionn Reilly thats so sad, contact me here and ill try to get you my PH number, i live in the west of ireland, roscommon, im trying to set a 10 euro saving fee per week in the local so all the old crickel wood stock can head over for a weekend and book accomadition, few beers and remember the old days!
Worked in the crown 87/88Mighty Craic indeed
Was there from 87 to 97.... we worked hard and played hard..great times
Buddy Mulligans was my watering hole back in 1973 - 1976.
Biddy
Great men who done hard work 💪 thank god now the Irish people are so highly educated no longer have to do the hard building work like their grandparents had to do. We are welcome every where in the world ☘️☘️☘️
Speak for yourself😂, i was in cricklewood in 90,s, still working hard now at home, maybe cause im uneducated🫤
Lived in Cricklewood for a few years, changed too much now, but was good while it lasted Éire a aontú 🇮🇪
Drank there the weekends in the 90s and now New York 2018
Thnx you for video 👍🏽 really interesting ❤
Nobody like them,heroes in their own right....
My father and his brother Willie were working in London in the 50s where they were working on building a chimney stack. The stack collapsed killing my uncle Willie. McAlpine didn't give a damn.
wont be many of them boys left now,got took on a trip to london many times but never seen any of the sights.loads of pop and crisps in cricklewood.xxwouldnt of changed it for the world.xx
some went usa some uk--god bless us irishmen wth out you we have no roads sure- UP THE TIPPS
The good old day's
"cricklewood oh cricklewood you stole my youth away for i was young and innocent and you were old and grey." This is a line from a song by Patsy Farrell RIP who played in many a pub in north london with the james connelly folk group Patsy was from co longford
Yes Pascal. May have been Sung by Patsy but it was penned by Kerry playwright John B Keane.
Pascal O'Neill beautiful sums it up
Thanks for sharing I am only 37 and my heart goes out to these Men
The Irish gang masters took advantage of their own
was there 86 to 89, the carpet in the crown u would stick to it it was so dirty, Shila's Cafe
for dinner, lived on Maura rd , close to the Cricklewood hotel, bar , a few moons ago now.
Remember the times hard graft .and happy times
I was in London 1990 -1994 the mud rack Camden Town + Murphy's road work for work the archway tavern Sunday night Lee Lynch just to hear him say. I feel Elvis coming. Fridays getting my check changed Finsbury Park Tavern.
Lee Lynch what a fantastic singer.
the craic was good in cricklewood. Oh mother dear I'm over here and never going back. What keeps me here is the rake of beer the women and the craic
we used to cook our egg and bacon on the shovel at the site in the summer. wore the shirt through the week and bought a new one on the friday for the week end.
The colour of the collar on the shirt was as black as coal they were the days
An area in Glasgow south side in 80s 90s was home to thousands of Irish mostly Donegal people called govanhill pubs Irish club the clada bands music now it's all change to Roma poles Asians all took over but that's change for you
Govanhill's Irish population peaked in late 60's early seventies and used to be a great place where folk would be trying to move to but exact opposite now...Irish long gone to the better areas...the graffiti artist sprayed it on the wall...GOVANHELL
It was better with the Irish ☘️ I bet
@@torquemada3273 Is that you Studs 😂🇮🇪☘️🍀
That older man with the thick or full beard should be a Santa for Christmas lol 😊
Correct Matt.
He played the Santa role many times.
He's a Cavan man Frank O Reilly also know as "Boxcar" a great character lives in Willesden Green now 🎅
.