Tuesday
We checked out of our penthouse suite at 11:00 for the short drive to Tuam, the birthplace of my grandmother. Since we weren’t expected until mid-afternoon and since it was only a forty-minute drive away, we killed some time with a visit to Silverstrand Beach. It was very cool and windy, so we didn’t expect much. To our surprise we saw people swimming and a couple of guys windsurfing. Fun to watch.
Then it was on to Tuam. Nana Geoghegan was actually born in Stripe North, a farming townplan near Tuam. The connections I had established came to pick us up at the Ard Ri House Hotel. Michael and Brid Flaherty were a delightful couple, and they drove us around the area where Nana Geoghegan (née Flynn) was born. The house she was born in was gone, but we stood on the spot where it was. (That’s the empty field in the pictures.) We visited the church where they would worshiped, but it’s been torn down and rebuilt as a lovely modern church. Are we related to the Flaherty’s? As best as both of us can figure out, our connection is thus: They are related to the McGagh family. Nana Geoghegan’s sister (so our great aunt?) was married to Thomas McGagh and had three children. Sue will remember them as cousins Mary Priest and Elizabeth Cox (the third became a nun) who we occasionally encountered, mainly at funerals. My Uncle John’s family was closer to them than we were. So, at best, we are related to the Flaherty’s as cousins by marriage. They were a fun couple to meet and they laid out quite a spread for us for dinner. And they gave us parting gifts. Quite extraordinary. Fortunately we had brought little gifts for them from Arizona.
Michael is a retired dairy farmer and still owns 50 acres and 200 head of cattle. His son runs the farm now, but he is still very active in caring for the cows. Calving season is just over, so there were lots of baby cows around. We saw the milking operations. Great fun. We met his son that runs the farm and another son and his family who stopped by the house with their grandchildren.
On to Castletown Geoghegan tomorrow.
Very cool. I can’t even imagine running into those waters, though I used to in Rockaway and Coney Island and Jones Beach (and THAT was chilly).
Nice about meeting your roots.
Wow. It’s so nice to meet new relatives even if related through marriage. The Flaherty’s sure look like a warm and friendly family and they certainly treated you as family. How great that they gave you a grand tour of the area and the dairy farm and served you a great dinner. I love that they are dairy farmers.
Yes, I remember Mary Priest and Elizabeth Cox very well. Elizabeth and her husband Paul (and their son Paul) used to visit Mom and Dad (and just Mom in later years) several times a year and I always tried to pop in to see them during those visits. I don’t remember Nana Geoghegan having a sister. Did we ever meet her?
Maybe when you get to Castletown Geoghegan, you’ll discover that you are part owner of an Irish castle!! Enjoy.
No, we never met Nana Geoghegan’s sisters as far as I remember. Not sure if they emigrated at same time (if at all).
Finally, pics of the “Irish clan”. They look like such welcoming people. Wow, that is quite the dairy farm. Reminds me of the ones in Wisconsin. Continue to have fun and meeting more of the clan. Sounds like they enjoyed meeting you all too. Sue, this part must be so exciting and interesting for you. Fun to see Joe and Elaine with the Irish side.
How wonderful to see where Nana lived and to meet the cousins!! You are lucky to have made the connection and actually have learned more about your family history. Did you discover them when you applied for Irish citizenship? Must have been such a special day!