Category: Letters

From: Bernadette Madden and Allan McAdam – 8th October 2002
From Bernadette Madden and Allan McAdam, taken, 20/07/02

From: Adrian & Laima Whitty (a_lwhitty@yahoo.com) 17th September 2002

A big hello to all of our friends in Currane. I just thought I’d update you all on my mother Pauline following her rescue from Currane hill. She’s going to make a good recovery, she had her cast off two weeks ago. The doctor gave the surgeon in Galway ‘ten out of ten’ (in fact, it’s not clear she would have received such good treatment in the U.K.). She still has a bit of a limp, which will go away in time, but she?s walking around without any support, and has been driving – to her considerable joy – for a week or more. She still tends to be a bit careful with her ankle. I keep telling her that, with the pins and plates, that’s probably the strongest part of her body now. The outcome could have been far worse without the help provided by you, Michael Ruddy (forever ‘Jane’s uncle Michael’ to us!), Helen O’Malley, Noreen Gallagher, Tim Daly, and the rest of the Achill Mountain rescue, Gerald Sweeney, and (of course) Caroline O’Malley. We think of you all often.
I wonder what my next birthday has in store?!

With our very best wishes from

Adrian, Laima, and family

 

From: Eamon Campbell (eamon_campbell@lineone.net) 16th September 2002
I would like to introduce my Dad, Thomas (Tomas) Campbell
Tomas was born of Catherine Madden and Tomas Campbell in Glasilaun or Polabroic (forgive the phoenetics), Corraun.
His (Tomas’) siblings were Mary (older), Michael, Tony and Patrick.
My Great uncles (Madden) were Uncles Terry ,Willie, Tony and the Gracie (phonetic).
My family Campbell is less well known to me.
The Navvy was my great-grandfather who, I believe, built the house in Corraun where my family still live.
My Aunt Biddy (nee Madden) had her home at Cloghaun; my cousins Theresa, Gertie, Breedge (forgive spelling) and John grew up there. John, the Harbour Master, is the only one left there.
I would like to suggest my Dad as one of your personalities in your person of the moment section.
There is much to say about his life, most of which is still being researched by yours truly.
Dad was born and grew up in Currane until the age of about 14 when he, like many others, left for the great Scottish adventure. He came home during the war years where he was a coastguard based both in Currane and Keem. He later became an Army/Marine instructor. He has had a varied and vivid life taking him all over the world (I was born in Borneo, of all places). My Father always ‘came back’, every year to see his Mammy. We, as children, came and enjoyed ourselves, but learnt the values that kept this community together then and now. My Children also have learnt the same.

For now, slean agus beannachts,
Eamon, Susan
Katherine Siobhan, Bethany Marie, Sophie May Campbell
Norfolk
UK

From: Matthias Rübben (irlmat@t-online.de) 1st September 2002
This year we stayed from August 10th until August 23rd at Frank Charlys in Currane. We had a good time and we were lucky to have more sun than rain.
I’d like to thank the Ryders who did everything to make our time so comfortable.
Thanks to everyone I met for the incomparable kindness, especially my friend Eoin Moran for a lot of good conversation and the great fresh fish.
Our children cried the whole way to Castlebar when we had to leave.
I look forward to come back as soon as possible.

Thanks Matthias, Elke & children

From: Eileen McNamara 13th August 2002

John Hoban who at the time was being filmed by a Japanese film crew performed at the George last week.

He sang a song he wrote about Currane and the infamous characters of the George.

 

From: Margaret Gallagher (D) 29th July 2002
The marriage of Mary Carmel Gallagher to Derek Dolan.

From: Mary Deighan Fraser (Grnwitgold@cs.com) 19th July 2002
Hi to everyone in Currane,

My mother’s first cousin, Mary Ann Moran Mc Cafferty (Mrs. Thomas Mc Cafferty) of Currane and living in Cleveland, just told me about this wonderful website yesterday. I have been searching through it and found great photos to remind me of one of the best places in the world to live! I was especially pleased to see the photo of my Great-aunt Biddie Gallagher (my grandfather’s sister-in-law) who be will celebrating her 100th birthday in September!

My first trip to Ireland was in 1967. It has been six years since I last visited Currane with my husband and three daughters. At that time, one daughter was enrolled at University College Dublin. My memories of both trips to Currane are filled with the precious moments spent at the Post Office which was the family home of my grandfather, John (the Tailor) Gallagher who left Currane and came to Cleveland in 1902. Aunt Biddie recalled stories of my relatives who once lived in Currane or visited her. I always intrigued and loved to listen for it kept alive the bonds of a family separated by miles and years.

In tribute to Aunt Biddie, I have a story about her which I would like to tell as she marks her centennial birthday. After a 34 year absence, my grandfather made his first trip back home to Currane in 1936 to see his mother before she died. While raising her own young family at the time, Aunt Biddie took great care of her mother-in-law and unselfishly welcomed my grandfather “home”. My grandfather only planned to stay a few weeks but shortly after arriving in Ireland, he developed a severe case of pleurisy which almost cost him his life. His illness delayed his return to Cleveland by nearly one year. Credit goes to Aunt Biddie for she not only warmly opened her home and her heart to care for her husband’s mother but to her brother-in-law as well! For her unending patience and love to my great-grandmother Ann Gallagher, to my grandfather and especially to us, “the Yanks”, who have dropped in on her whenever we found the time to make it “home”, Aunt Biddie (Bridget Gallagher) deserves to be named The Currane Person of the Century!

My husband and I want to send special greetings to the Post Office gang: John, Mick, Breege and Family and to Martha O’Malley (Mrs. Walter O’Malley) and her family. We also send our best wishes to my grandfather’s other nephew John Moran and his wife. John is Mary Ann Moran Mc Cafferty’s brother.

We wish we could make the trip and join in singing birthday wishes to you, Aunt Biddie, but our daughter Megan is getting married the week after the big day. Once again, the pond separates us all on the days that mark family milestones.

We do pray that God will continue to bless you and your family.

Love to all,
Mary Deighan Fraser