Category: People

Judge Sean C. Gallagher 13th August 2003
To the Citizens of Currane,

Just a brief note to thank everyone in Currane for the heartwarming reception
we received at the Welcome Home Celebration at the Currane Community Center.

Mayor Jane Campbell was very impressed with all the preparations and the
outstanding turnout on Sunday morning.

She related something to me after the event that summed up her first trip to
Ireland. She said many people tried to tell her what it would be like to be a
mother when she was pregnant with her first child, but the actual experience
was so much greater. She said the same analysis was true of Ireland. Everyone
tried to tell her what Ireland would be like, but the actual experience of
seeing it and meeting the people was so much better. Currane was really the icing
on the cake for the Mayor’s visit.

Getting to see and spend time with my cousin John “Winnie” Gallagher, Bridgie
and family was great. Seeing a photo of my grandparents Pat Gallagher and
Maura Winnie and my father John F. was emotional. The weekend events were
wonderful.

To everyone who was so kind and helpful we owe a great deal of thanks! You
all know who you are.

To Seamus and Majella we owe a debt of gratitude for getting us where we
needed to be, and on time! Special thanks to Charlie Gallagher for offering the
use of one of his autos to make the Sunday events really special. To Andy Dever
and his sisters who were great hosts for the Mayor on Sunday, a special thanks
is offered.

Again, thank you for welcoming us home. It was truly a rewarding experience.

Judge Sean C. Gallagher
Ohio Court of Appeals
Cleveland, Ohio U.S.A.
gallareed@aol.com
scg@8thappeals.com

From: Ann Sweeney 7th May 2003
Hi Everyone,

Hope you are all well and happy, apologies for only emailing you all now after 3 weeks in New Zealand but its just been all go, travelling from place to place and taking part in so many activities! I’ve been so tired – so thats my excuse up front!!!,

Well, I have to say, New Zealand is so like Ireland, the scenery is absolutely beautiful throughout the North and South Islands, the mountains and the lakes and waterfalls are all stunning. We started off in Auckland in the North Island where we hired a car and drove further up North to the Bay of Islands. We were very good to ourselves as we booked into a hotel for the night – really nice, overlooking the bays, really nice!

The following day, we went to a place called Rotorua. This place absolutely stank of sulphur – exactly like rotten eggs which I couldn’t get used to!!! Here we watched the local people (maoris) perform a little maori concert, really enjoyed it, especially when they did the hacka!!! From here we went to Taupo. This is the main place where you go to do your skydive and needless to say I couldn’t wait to do it!! It was touch and go because of the rain and cloud cover but the weather picked up, thankfully. The skydive was brilliant and I wasn’t one bit nervous. That is, until I was sitting at the edge of the plane. For a second you think – ‘oh my god, what am I doing?’ but you are pushed out of the plane straight away. Your heart skips a beat, but then the worst is over. The view you have over Lake Taupo is amazing and its so worth it all, its a must to do!!,

From here we went to Tuarangi, where we did, (wait for it!) the Tuarangi Crossing! A 16k hike over an active volcano! What I mean by active is you can still see the hot steam coming from the ground and it was still so hot to touch it was amazing. We walked for 7 hours, so we were pretty stiff the following day!!!

From here we went to Wellington. I really liked it here. It’s a great place for going out!!, From Wellington we took a 3 hour ferry over to the South Island. We then went to Nelson where we did a 4 hour walk through Abel Tasman National Park, again very scenic!!!

From here we went to Greymouth where we decided to go horse riding through the bush and rivers. It was great fun, especially when your horse doesn’t like to be at the back of the group, sticks up his head and goes onto auto pilot to get to the front!!

From here we went to Franz Joseph, really enjoyed it here. This is where you can climb the glacier or you could get a helicopter up to the top. Never having been in a helicopter I decided to do it!! It was brillant, got the best views, the glacier was lovely, but very hard to climb in places!!

From here we went to Makararora, a really small place all of 83 people, here we jet boated down the river going fairly fast and doing some 360 degrees turns great fun!!!

From here we arrive in Queenstown. I think my favourite place of all. The scenery was by far the best, beautiful lakes, snow capped mountains, beautiful trees. I would have loved to have gone skiing but they don’t have snow until June. Queenstown was freezing cold and it actually snowed over the mountains while we there, making it even prettier!! We did a full day trip to Milford Sound, a cruise around a glacier, very scenic,

From Queenstown to my very last stop, Churstchurch. It’s a very nice place – especially Cathedral Square. Here I’m just relaxing. At this stage you feel like you’ve done enough. There is just so much to do and see in New Zealand. Now I think I need a holiday in Fiji!!, so tomorrow I fly out of New Zealand to Fiji for 6 days. I’m looking forward to it. Then it’s on to San Fran for 6 days. I can’t believe its so near the end of my travels. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it all.

So now I must go and pack my bag for tomorrow. I’m wrecked and I’m up at 6am to catch my flight.

Well guys, I hope all is well and I shall be seeing you all real soon!!,

all the best,

Ann

From: Suzanne Kelly 1st May 2003 (suzyq4@bigpond.com)

Hello,

I have just finished reading all the information on your site.

My Great Grandparents were James Sheerin and Martha Lendrum they were born about 1832-1835 . James was a schoolteacher and farmer on Innisbiggle, so far I have not been able to find where he was born but he married Martha around 1849 no marriage date has been found they had nine children;
Alexander , James, Mary ann, Andrew, Maggie , Kate , William Lily and George. Four of these children emigrated to Australia.

Marthas family had been on Achill since the 1700’s .
Marthas parents were with the Achill mission and also ran the printing shop for the Achill Herald at Dugort and a flax mill on Innisbiggle. There were records of seven Lendrum families on Achill and Lendrums are mentioned in Griffiths as leasing land from the Achill mission .

One of James and Marthas sons may have drowned in 1869 a William.

James died 1905 buried Dugort

Martha died 1917 buried Dugort no marker has been found for their graves

Have you come across any of these names in your research, I would be very interested.

Thank You

Suzanne Kelly

Australia

 

From: John Carrington 29th April 2003 (john.carrington@actrix.co.nz)

Hi

My name is John Carrington. My Wife’s name is Mary nee Campbell.

We have stayed in Achill three times over the last few years. Mary’s cousins are the Pattens and the Devers from Belfarsad.

Sadly Mary’s dad Pat Campbell passed away last month. Thank you for all the cards and letters.

We both miss the George and the Compass, especially Pat Ó,Malley’s songs and tales.

If Ann Sweeney or anyone else wants to stay a few days in Wellington New Zealand, Drop us a line.