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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PARTING SHOTS
An early instance of different parts of the extended family, from both Ireland and America, getting
together was Uncle Jim and Aunt Catherine's 1958 wedding in Hockessin, Del. Guests seen here in the
receiving line outside church include Uncle Pat, far right; in front of him is cousin Tommy Gallagher; to
Tommy's right is his brother Eugene. Leaning in to talk to Aunt Catherine at the center of the photo is her
brother George's wife Marie (Matlusky).
Eugene Gallagher's family
celebrates his 90th birthday
in January 2017. Back row:
Eugene's niece Therese
(Pete's daughter), daughter
Angela, nephew Andrew
Haughton (Philomena) and
daughter Claire; middle
row: nephew Peter
Haughton, niece Nollaig
(Jack), niece Eithne (Peter),
and Andrew's wife Andrea
Haughton with daughter
Tasha Wynne; front:
daughter Maria with
Louise's daughter Millie,
nephew Peter (Peter),
daughter Louise and son
Patrick.
... good night and joy be to you all." ...
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