Fortycoats & Co ceramic mug (issued by RTÉ)

"Fortycoats & Co was a children’s TV series produced by the Irish national broadcasting service, RTÉ (Raidió Teilifís Éireann) and was first broadcast in January 1983. The show was a spin-off from Wanderly Wagon, a children’s TV series created by the puppeteer Eugene Lambert and which ran from 1967 until 1982. Fortycoats was one of the main characters of Wanderly Wagon and was played by Fran Dempsey in its latter series. The character of Fortycoats was inspired by the famous Dublin tramp known as Johnny Fortycoats, on account of the multiple layers of coats that he wore. Fran continued to play the character of Fortycoats for the full series of Fortycoats & Co which was broadcast by RTE from 1983 to 1988. Eugene Lambert was not involved in the production of Fortycoats & Co. This mug is made of a white pottery with a clear glaze and measures about 3 1/8” high (78mm) x 3 3/16” (81mm) across, excluding the handle. There is a maker’s imprint impressed into the base and its text reads CARRIGDHOUN CO OP IRELAND along with a shamrock motif. Carrigdhoun Co Op pottery was based in County Cork and was also known as Carrigaline Pottery. The pottery was established by Hoddie Roberts in 1928/1929 and for much of its life was a very successful company, but declined with financial difficulties during the 70’s and went into receivership in 1980. After that, the company changed ownership a number of times and in name as well, until it finally ceased all production and closed for good in 2002. Every object that has an emotional and tangible link to our own past are worth having, worth preserving. They are also of interest to others too."