The Gallaghers of Ballinrobe

Photos from the Bustleton construction site show Uncle Pat at work in May 1953; with Mary Kathryn; and with
Aunt May, Ange Rodriguez and Uncle Pete.
A 1955 DeSoto Fireflite sits outside the Bustleton home
in April 1955.
marry another St. Hubert’s graduate, Lynn Keough, in
1993.
Uncle Pat and Aunt Catherine were very friendly
and helpful toward their neighbors. However, social
activities would almost exclusively have been with family,
including Uncle Ed and Uncle Joe. Mary Kathryn
remembers times spent with cousins Connie, Mary, Rita,
Steven and Janice were always fun. Trips to Riverside Park
in New Jersey with Aunt Delia’s family, the O’Briens, also
are well remembered.
WORLD TRAVELERS
Uncle Pat and Aunt Catherine came to love world
travel. And Uncle Pat took a liking to first class. When
Mary Kathryn first started working for Allegheny Airlines
(later US Air) she had the benefit of earning free air miles.
She and her roommate Kathy liked to vacation in San Juan.
One time, they asked her parents to join them. Aunt
Catherine was a little hesitant. But Uncle Pat kind of liked
the idea and was eventually able to convince his wife to
come. Since it was a special trip, Mary Kathryn arranged
for them to fly first class. The airlines had male first-class
stewards who wore white jackets and served champagne.
They treated the family royally. Uncle Pat couldn’t get
enough of the special treatment and exquisite service. Both
he and Aunt Catherine had a terrific time.
In 1966, Mary Kathryn was able to get her parents
tickets for a trip to Ireland on TWA out of JFK Airport in
New York. At first, Uncle Pat was reluctant to go. He felt
things would have changed too much in the old country. He
wouldn’t have that many people to see who would
remember him. And most important, his mother had
passed away. But as the time for the trip grew closer, he
warmed to the idea. Everything about the experience turned
out great. Uncle Pat very much enjoyed his time in
Cornaroya, where a brief notice in the June 30 Connaught
Telegraph noted that “Mr. and Mrs. Paddy Gallagher” were
staying with his brother Owen. The paper noted it was
Uncle Pat’s first trip home in 25 years and his wife’s first
ever visit to Ireland.
At the time of the visit, there turned out to be
plenty of old acquaintances for Uncle Pat to see, especially
Willie Walsh. Willie and his brothers and sisters lived just
down the boreen from the old Gallagher home. Peter
Gallagher (Next Door) was just to the left of the old
cottage, with the Walshes the closest house on the right.
When Mary Kathryn arrived a few days after her parents,
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