The Gallaghers of Ballinrobe

Pat Murphy's family was from Killour, about 4 miles southwest of
Ballinrobe. He was born in 1909.
Aunt Ann recalled that after the wedding, Nora
and Pat did not immediately live together. The Gallagher
cottage was apparently too crowded. But the situation was
soon resolved when Uncle Jim finally obtained his papers
to go to America. His leaving in early February 1949
opened up room for Pat Murphy. And Uncle Jim was soon
able to get his brothers and sisters in America to come up
with the funds to help Nora and Pat get their own home at
98 New St. Aunt Ann remembered that home, in an area
known as “the back cottages,” as not nearly as “cozy” as
Nora's old home. She said Nora and Pat would spend a lot
of their time visiting her and Owen at the old Gallagher
place. Ann, herself, left for America in April 1949.
When Uncle Jim emigrated, he was able to turn
over his job at the Convent of Mercy to Pat Murphy.
Eventually, Aunt Nora and Uncle Owen were the only two
of their immediate family remaining in Ballinrobe. There
were many other Murphy and Gallagher relatives nearby,
including Pat's younger brother Anthony, who lived at 79
New St. after marrying Kathleen Laffey in 1960. But Aunt
Nora particularly enjoyed the times through the years when
someone would visit from America. After her marriage,
there were trips by Aunt Ann in 1955, Uncle Tom in 1959
and the two together in 1970. Aunt Nora would see Uncle
Pat’s wife, Catherine, and daughter, Mary Kathryn, in 1966,
and Aunt Delia's widower Uncle Mike and son, John, in
1977. But Mary Kathryn and John were the only Gallagher
children from the next generation Aunt Nora would ever
meet in person. In her letters, she would often express the
wish for more visits. “Who knows, maybe I’ll see you all
someday, Please God” or similar sentiments were often
part of the letters she wrote.
Over the years, Owen and Pat Murphy became
best friends. They could often be found arguing about the
latest football match. You could set your clock by Pat
Murphy. Whatever he was involved in, he would be home
at 1 p.m. sharp and Aunt Nora would have the dinner on the
table.
Ann Gallagher, the wife of cousin Eugene, says
her children were very fond of the Murphys. When they
went food shopping they would be sure to buy some Fry's
chocolate treats to give to Ann's children come Sunday. The
shopping was done at the store run by Nora's cousin
Margaret (Gallagher) Burke. “Nora and her husband Dan
would come into our shop on Glebe street every Saturday
evening for their weekly grocery shop and have a cup of tea
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