'Yes! We Have No Bananas' is a series of stories and reminisces of life during the Second World War in Northern Ireland. Author Lorna Quin interviewed 24 people over the course of 2 years beginning the project before the COVID pandemic.
The book features stories from a range of people from Co. Armagh, Co. Down, Co. Fermanagh, Co. Tyrone, and three who now live in England. The oldest interviewee was 101 years old.
Tandragee during the Second World War
I knew that these stories were going to be lost if we didn’t write them down. I’m not talking about the big war events and the battles, I’m talking about the lives of ordinary people. Especially the children who grew up during the war years, what it was like for them. I believe everyone has a story to tell. I also wanted to celebrate the qualities of the wartime generation, qualities such as resilience and optimism.
Lorna Quin
Lorna Quin is a retired primary school teacher from Tandragee, Co. Armagh who spent 33 years educating at Mullaghglass Primary School. Her research into the book began through Markethill and District Historical Society. The results now form this important piece of work.
‘Yes! We Have No Bananas’ is dedicated to Lorna’s uncle John Grant. He lived with Parkinson’s Disease for many years in Banbridge, Co. Down. All profits from the sale of the book will go towards research into Parkinson’s Disease.
You can buy the book for £10 at Hunter’s in Markethill, Macari’s in Armagh, Winnie’s in Portadown, Woods’ in Richhill, Garden Fresh in Tandragee, Trotters’ in Dungannon, The Bookwell in Belfast, and The Petty Sessions in Poyntzpass. You can also buy direct from the author by contacting Lorna Quin at ricloelehq@hotmail.com.