The Gallaghers of Ballinrobe

Above is the registration from Ballinrobe of John Gallagher's birth on Nov. 13, 1903. It notes he was baptized on
Jan. 12, 1904. Below is the record of his death. It lists his occupation as a farmer.
another detail about his life that is probably beyond
knowing for sure.
In 1993, Uncle Owen became emotional as he
reflected on the death of his brother and their father 12 years
later. He slowly shook his head and said certain things will
change you forever. You can’t come back from them. He
said he felt John’s death deeply affected his brother Jimmy,
and he believed Jimmy took it with him to the grave.
Another who was undoubtedly impacted was their
mother. Within the decade, she had seen her two eldest sons
buried, three other children leave for America, and she was
already feeling the effects of Parkinson’s disease. Our
grandmother must have been worried about what the future
held for her family. Uncle Jim remembered how John’s
death affected his mother. For a short time after the
accident, the bike itself was stored in a shed behind the
house. However, his mother was in such grief she insisted it
be removed. She could not bear to know the bicycle was on
the property or the thought that one of her three remaining
sons might someday ride it.
Uncle Jim further remembered that for years, on
nights not unlike that horrible evening in September, his
mother would see her beloved John riding his bicycle down
the boreen from the Convent Road toward their cottage. It
is hoped that our grandmother found some peace knowing
her son had come home and was now safe in God's arms.
Included in Uncle
Jim's possessions was a
newspaper clipping
about the funeral for
his brother John. It
notes that John had
been a gardener at the
Convent of Mercy and
mentions the
'affecting' scenes
during the ceremony
at the Abbey
Cemetery.
101