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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DELIA GALLAGHER
1901-1975
In the early hours of that October morning,
brilliant moonlight brightened Cork Harbor. The sun
would rise a few hours later to a warm autumn day
with moderate winds from the southeast.
In 1924, most days were busy in the Irish port
city of Cobh, but this Sunday would be particularly
bustling. Within 16 hours, three of the newest ships
from the Cunard line would anchor in the harbor, the
point of departure for countless Irish heading for a
different life in America.
One of those steamers was the SS Aurania, an
impressive 14,000-ton vessel with accommodation for
400 to 500 passengers in Cabin Class and another
thousand in Third Class. She had made her maiden
voyage, from Liverpool to New York, the previous
month.
The Irish Examiner reported that on this
Sunday, the Aurania arrived from Liverpool at 11:40
a.m. and dropped anchor close to the Spit Lighthouse,
from where she attracted the admiration of spectators
on shore.
Among those watching was young Delia
Gallagher from the boreen in Cornaroya. Just 24 years
old, she was now on her own. She apparently would
have arrived by train from Ballinrobe after a stop that
Friday in Dublin to obtain her visa. Along with her
luggage and papers, she would have brought what
remained from a basket of apples her best friend and
cousin Sarah (Gallagher) Connell had given her as she
left her hometown. In addition, she carried a gold
sovereign from her father, which she saved all her life.
Her son would eventually have it turned into a ring.
Also among her few possessions, Aunt Delia
carried her prayer book. It would have been a treasured
item for a young woman strong in her Catholic faith.
Because of that faith, she would have been looking to
attend Mass that Sunday morning before becoming the
first of her generation to sail for a new country she
longed to embrace. An obvious option would have
been the Cathedral Church of St. Colman, commonly
known as Cobh Cathedral. The Gothic Revival
Aunt Delia, who left Ballinrobe for America in 1924,
eventually found her way to Wilmington, Del., where she
raised a family with Uncle Mike O'Brien, who emigrated
from County Meath.
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