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