| In 1928 in Ireland, perhaps like most of the world it | | | | No television, no electricity, no running water just |
| was a country dealing with a lot of political strife and | | | | good old story telling that sometimes would frighten |
| unrest, so one can only imagine how difficult it was | | | | you to high heavens. Then you would go asleep with |
| to make ends meet and raise a family.This was a | | | | one eye half open. |
| time just after the Easter Rising of 1916 and the Civil | | | | He intended to emigrate as did nearly all of his eight |
| War of 1921, momentous occasions in the history of | | | | brothers and four sisters, but he just loved Ireland so |
| Ireland and well documented in history books around | | | | much and the Irish way. Then in 1954 he met my |
| the world. | | | | darling mother Catherine Grehan. After a few years |
| Dad's Arrival | | | | courtship they tied the knot on the 14th of February |
| Well during all this strife, like today and everyday life | | | | 1955 and over the years blessed me with four |
| goes on, and on the 29th of January 1928my father | | | | brothers and ten sisters. My brothers are Martin, |
| was born to proud parents Martin and Margaret. And | | | | Aidan, John, Francis (R.I.P) and my sisters are |
| as was tradition in Ireland one son would be called | | | | Margaret, Ann, Claire, Gabrielle, and Joan (R.I.P). |
| after the father, and lo and behold Dad was | | | | Majella, Angela, Carmel, Frances, Mary. Many of us |
| christened Martin. | | | | wear the family crest rings displaying the family pride. |
| Martin and Margaret were normal average good | | | | We have a sport in Ireland which is known as GAA |
| descent folk, who had a small holding of about thirty | | | | Hurling, it is reckoned to be one of the fastest |
| acres, set under the foothills of the Slieve Bloom | | | | games in the world. The game is played with a Hurley |
| Mountains in the County of Laois (once referred to | | | | stick, and the ball when struck at full force travels at |
| as Queens County during an occupation of our | | | | a speed of one hundred miles an hour. Playing this |
| nearest neighbours England). During the winter | | | | game or looking at other teams playing was our |
| months the conditions were harsh in this part of the | | | | pastime on Sundays and I treasure every moment I |
| world, with the wind sweeping down from the | | | | spent with my Dad on these occasions. When I was |
| mountain, and especially if there was sleet or snow | | | | very young I actually thought he invented the game |
| falling and you happened to be caught out in it, I still | | | | because he knew so much about it and knew so |
| get a tingling feeling when I think of the way those | | | | many people involved. The culmination of the sporting |
| hailstones would pelt off my face and hands it sure | | | | year was when the final was played in Croke Park |
| was tough. | | | | when family members from all over the world would |
| Summer, now that's a different story. The beautiful | | | | return and attend. For close on forty years I |
| mountain took on a different meaning to me, it was | | | | attended those games with my Dad and I'm so glad |
| the most wonderful place to be, the scent of | | | | I did, as now that he has passed on I sometimes |
| heather wafted through the air and I felt sad for | | | | dwell on those precious memories to lift my spirits |
| those people who lived in cities that would never | | | | when things get a little tough. |
| experience the joy of this freedom and living with | | | | A little advice on Dads |
| nature in this way. | | | | You don't always have to agree with what they say, |
| By all accounts Dad was a well liked young man in | | | | but it's no harm to listen because remember if your |
| the locality, no saint either, got up to all the mischief | | | | lucky enough to have a Dad around for the amount |
| and devilment that young boys get up to, simple | | | | of time I had, they sure experience a lot and a lot of |
| stuff like grabbing apples from orchards or pulling | | | | what they experienced can certainly be helpful when |
| pranks on neighbours. One of the stories I still find | | | | analyzed and used correctly. Tolerance is a great |
| quite funny was a time when he and his older | | | | attribute. |
| brother John, during nightfall tied a burning fir bush | | | | My Dad passed on to next part of his journey on the |
| behind a bicycle and rode at speed past a neighbour | | | | 3rd of July 2010, I miss him, I love him and I know |
| on our very dark road. The neighbour ran as fast as | | | | we will meet again. |
| he could, entered another neighbour's house and | | | | Today I am a Dad with three sons, two daughters, a |
| recanted that he had just encountered Satan on the | | | | granddaughter and I hope that one day, you too will |
| road outside and requested that they send for the | | | | be a Dad and get a passion for life and have great |
| priest and have the area blessed immediately. Good | | | | memories. |
| old honest to God fun. | | | | Don't ever be afraid to say sorry for mistakes that |
| Dad's Early Life | | | | have been made and always have a sense of |
| Dad worked hard from an early age, this meant | | | | forgiveness, its healthy and rewarding. |
| getting up at six in the morning before going to | | | | My dad was a classy man and loved wearing his |
| school to help with the milking of cows and other | | | | custom made suits complimented with a nice piece of |
| farm chores, a three mile walk to school after that, | | | | jewelry like his family crest rings or claddagh. He was |
| where he got a basic education and then a three mile | | | | a proud, considerate and humble man that would |
| walk back, farm chores again, a bit of study and bed. | | | | assist anyone at any time. May he rest in peace. |