This Sunday, April 10 will be a momentous one for all relatives and connections of the Gallahue clan with a family gathering in Gallahue’s Bar and Restaurant in Ballylanders at 3pm.
The reunion was spurred on by a cousin of the late John Gallahue – Australian Peter Butterfield who is on holiday in England and Ireland at the moment.
Peter’s grandmother Alice Gallahue was born and reared in Lackendara, where Dan and Margaret Gallahue now live with their family. Peter was born and raised in Australia and is now a member of the Australian police force.
Like many of that generation, Alice (Peter’s grandmother) travelled to England seeking work. Her daughter Mary Ellen (Peter’s mother), emigrated to Australia as a young girl and settled there.
About a year ago, Peter was bitten by the bug to find out more about his roots and family ancestry and after furiously researching online about his late mother’s family, he was contacted by Breda Nolan from Burncourt, a descendent of the Gallahue family.
Breda contacted Dan Gallahue and from there, meetings with members of the Gallahue, Murphy, O’Donnell, Martin and English families were held, additional information was put together and old photographs were dusted off.
Back in the 80’s and 90’s, a number of Gallahue clan reunions took place in different parts of the world and the late John Gallahue put in a huge amount of work to build up a comprehensive family tree.
Two of those reunions were held in Angelsboro in 1989 and 1994.
While here, Peter plans to visit old graveyards to forge further links with his ancestors.
On Sunday, all relatives of the Gallahue family are encouraged to come along at 3pm for a meet and greet and enjoy some finger food.
Anyone who plays a musical instrument is encouraged to bring it along and there will also be musical entertainment at 6.30pm.
Anyone who can contribute old photographs (these will be scanned and returned), memorabilia or information, is asked to contact Dan Gallahue (086-2549014 or email dangallahue95@gmail.com) or Morgan Murphy (087-6489237 or email m.morganmurphy@gmail.com).
All are welcome to what promises to be a hugely interesting family reunion.
