Growing up on a farm can have its perks… ample green space for frolicking, animals to care for and constant chores to pass the time, all of which serve to foster a deep love and appreciation of the natural environment.
Armagh woman, Sandra Davidson loved her childhood spent on Spring Farm. She looks back with nothing but fondness, remembering the close relationship she had with her siblings and the joy the family farm brought into each of their lives.
So proud was she of her upbringing that during quiet moments in the midst of the Covid Pandemic she felt compelled to put her memories down in writing.
After many hours of recalling her favourite moments, Sandra has finally finalised and published her first memoir, ‘Beneath the Armagh Sky – Growing Up on Spring Farm’.
Spring Farm, Sandra says, was a place where they had “dairy cows, sheep, pigs, hens and everything!”
As one of seven children growing up on the farm, Sandra had plenty of company. And while they all “chipped in” with the day-to-day chores, her fondest and most profound memories are in the games they played and fun they had.
Recalling one such example, Sandra said they would often “pretend to be tennis players after watching Wimbledon and at night we would go back to the main yard and would be banging and hitting balls and breaking window panes!”
She also fondly remembers attending the now demolished Wastelands Primary School, near Hamiltonsbawn, saying it was a school where their grandparents and parents would have attended so “we went to it too”.
She explores the beauty and serenity of rural life… where the hustle of farm chores, the joy of music, and the warmth of family bonds created those unforgettable memories.
Particular attention is paid to family traditions, summer holidays, school days, and the simple pleasures of playing in the fields, tending to animals, and celebrating Christmas at the farm.
She says of Christmas: “Everybody would have been at your house, everybody had a bite to eat. It was all such fun.”
The memoir is sprinkled with stories of her grandparents’ influence, local events, and the small yet significant moments that shaped she and her siblings into the people they became.
Part of the reason Sandra felt compelled to record her memories was in seeing the landscape of farming change over the years to a much more automated or “computerised” process than it was in her day.
‘Beneath the Armagh Sky’ is Sandra’s celebration of family, love, and the richness of rural life, making it a perfect read for those who cherish memories of their own childhood or those seeking a glimpse into a simpler, more innocent time.
She’s delighted to announce that it is now available to purchase on Amazon here.
