A Return Home

During my long life I have been fortunate to have had a number of real family friends.   In August 2015  I enjoyed being home in Donegal at a gathering which included many relatives.   Having the company of my Jane, our sons Warwick and Simon with his wife Lyn made it a really memorable week.   It was actually the second of such events. The first was organised ten years ago by enterprising members of the famous Doohan family from Drumnatinney in Donegal who had emigrated to New York for a better life. Warwick and I felt lucky to be invited to that original and unique week.  This recent one was equally enjoyable and it seems likely that it will not be the last.

The great family of fourteen were born to James from the Rosses and Maggie who was one of my Dad's sisters.  The one I knew best was called Bridget or Birdie because she wheeled me in my pram to the strand until I was a year old.

That strand, known as the Back Strand, with its sand dune banks, clean white sand, and fabulous views out to Tory Island, is still there, almost totally unchanged, near Drumnatinney where I was born. There is no building, no caravans, no cafe, and no shops. The only addition has been a life saving ring tied to a post.

My good Dad and Mama slaved and made many sacrifices to rear and educate my three younger brothers, two sisters and myself . Three months before I qualified from the Vet college the sudden death of our wonderful Dad was a bitter blow to our dear mother and every one of us.

Dad had been a life-long supporter of Britain, but he had a brother, a priest, who rarely agreed with him.  He called on us a few months after the war with Hitler started. British troops had sustained heavy losses and the holy one took pleasure in forecasting that the Swastika would soon be hanging in London. I still remember Dad grabbing his arm, pulling him off the chair and kicking him out the door onto the street.

At the time Dad died, Tony was on the Medical course at Trinity, Ted was at the Veterinary College, Owen was giving his life for the Church, and Eileen was also studying. Carmel was working in a chemist's shop so that she could earn enough to support the family. Mama decided that it made economic sense for her to buy a wee house in Dublin and move there where Carmel was working.

Whenever we went over to Donegal we often stayed with Mary and Danny in Cashelnagor. Danny would play wonderful music on his fiddle. We would also visit Packie and Veronica, Alfie and Pat, and Josie and Teresa.   It was hard to get out of any of these houses without refreshment to help us on our way.   Our Warwick, Simon, and his son Neil, enjoy spending time with the next generation, and are good friends with Seamus and Marie, and Denis. Jude has also been over in the last month.

On our way to Donegal we always pass through Dublin and visit Raoul in the nursing home. Tony and Bridie, who live in Celbridge, regularly visit him and we are very grateful to them for their love and care.

My Aunt Bella married Henry McGee, a brave sailor who often went out to fish in stormy seas in a small boat. Bella lived with her family in Knockduff. We always visited her daughter Mary, and her son Father Eugene from Glasgow would be over every summer.  Sadly they have both passed on but this year we called again and met Henry McGee and his wife Marie.   Near Knockduff is the wonderful Marble Hill strand, close to Port na Blagh where we sometimes stayed in the hotel years ago. When I was a small boy aged about four or five I used to go on holidays to my Aunt Rose Sharkey in the Rosses. I remember watching the trains pass the house on the way to Burtonport. In 1925 four unfortunate people were killed when the train to the Rosses was blown off the viaduct.  That story is often spoken about to this day.

In the old days we always used to call on our relative John the Saddler in Dunfanaghy. He was noted for giving news of all the relatives we used to know.

John McConnell and other good friends

One of the best friends I met in my life was John McConnell from county Meath.  John grew up with a sister and nine brothers at Mitchelstown between Kells and Ardee. I also knew two of his brothers Kevin and Dickie.  John told me that as a school boy he often drove cattle over the sixteen miles to the Dublin market.   In his teens he did farm work with horses and later with tractors.
When Jane and I settled in Rugby we were very lucky to  meet two other life-long friends.
They were  Bill Mannion and his good wife Nuala. Bill was from Roscommon and Nuala from Tyrone.    She was one of the distinguished Donnelly family of Lakeview House in Coagh.  Her sister
Ethna was a respected matron in Larne hospital and so was Eve in Northampton.  Another sister Creagh was married to John Black who was among the best helpers I met in the greyhound world. Her brother Brendan was a priest who served in Florida for twenty years and another brother Kevin operated a thriving nursery from their home.

Photo of Tony, me, Warwick, Jane, Raoul and Bridie

At a party in Dublin to celebrate Raoul's 80th birthday : - Tony Doohan, myself, our middle son Warwick, my dear wife Jane, my brother Raoul and Bridie Doohan.

I`m sure I have told you before that I had a brother who was a Priest.  His name was Owen Roland.  We called him Raoul.  Our Mamma was a devout Catholic.  I was the eldest of the family and I think she hoped I would be a Priest.  She was also disappointed when Tony became a Doctor and again when Ted followed me into the Veterinary college.  The happiest day of her life was the one when Owen became ordained.  When she stood up to speak at the celebration dinner she said "Firstly I wish to thank God for giving me two good girls and now one good son."  

Sadly Tony and Ted and our two wonderful sisters Carmel and Eileen are gone and Raoul is in a home in Dublin.  I am glad to say he has frequent visits from my cousin Tony Doohan and his loving wife Bridie. I have no better friends.