The Gallaghers of Ballinrobe
IN MARCH 2020, Pat Gallagher had an idea. He asked his brother, Owen, what he thought of writing a book about the family of their father, James Gallagher, who grew up in the early decades of the 20th century in the West of Ireland in the small town of Ballinrobe, County Mayo. The shutdown from COVID-19 was just beginning, and the thinking was they would have more time on their hands than usual. What better way to spend quarantine than exploring the stories of our aunts, uncles and other relatives. The task turned out to be much more complicated (and rewarding) than anticipated. It involved sifting through ship manifests, census, birth and marriage records, newspaper archives, and, most enjoyable, sessions delving into the memories of extended-family members. Sorely missed was the chance to hear first-hand the tales from our deceased cousins John O'Brien and Pete Gallagher. This book's stories and more than 500 images are the result of the past year's journey. The goal was both simple and ambitious: making the memories of the Gallaghers of Ballinrobe ours forever.
IN MARCH 2020, Pat Gallagher had an idea. He asked his brother, Owen, what he thought of writing a book about the family of their father, James Gallagher, who grew up in the early decades of the 20th century in the West of Ireland in the small town of Ballinrobe, County Mayo. The shutdown from COVID-19 was just beginning, and the thinking was they would have more time on their hands than usual. What better way to spend quarantine than exploring the stories of our aunts, uncles and other relatives.
The task turned out to be much more complicated (and rewarding) than anticipated. It involved sifting through ship manifests, census, birth and marriage records, newspaper archives, and, most enjoyable, sessions delving into the memories of extended-family members. Sorely missed was the chance to hear first-hand the tales from our deceased cousins John O'Brien and Pete Gallagher. This book's stories and more than 500 images are the result of the past year's journey. The goal was both simple and ambitious: making the memories of the Gallaghers of Ballinrobe ours forever.
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A headstone in the Abbey Cemetery in Ballinrobe
includes the names of six family members. (Aunt Mary
was added after she died in 2006.) It was erected after
John Gallagher died while bicycling home from a
show in Kilmaine in 1930. At left is the monument
after Uncle Owen had it cleaned in the 1990s.
drink -- he stood Gallagher a bottle of stout. And he had
another bottle of stout with him before he left. Altogether
they were about two hours in each other's company, and
left together about midnight. Gallagher seemed quite
sober, and he saw him get on his bicycle and cycle off in
the direction of Ballinrobe. There was no light on the
machine. He offered to carry him home. He said he would
come, but changed his mind on finding that the bicycle
could not be brought. A few minutes after he left, witness
followed and passed him about a half mile from Kilmaine.
(O’Donnell said Uncle John) was going quite steady and
straight. Witness added he did not stop until he reached
Partry.”
BREATHING HEAVY
“Sergeant P. Reynolds, Kilmaine, said that on
receiving the report from Michael Garvey about half-past
one he went to the place and found Gallagher there, lying
on his back with his head towards the fence. He was
breathing heavily and was unconscious. About two yards
away the bicycle was lying against the ditch, and appeared
to have been placed there normally. He could not find any
track, but there was a small mark on the road as if the brake
of the bicycle was put on suddenly. Gallagher died on his
way to Dr. Hawkshaw.”
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