The Garngad Heritage
The unpublished work

CONCLUSIONS

With this latest update, I have decided that no further information concerning ‘blood’ relations will be entered in this file.   (May be included elsewhere).

This dissertation started purely and simply as a sort of biographical information of my own life after an appeal in 1996 by a Group, looking for material to include in a book about the Garngad, the area of Glasgow where I was born and raised, which they hoped to produce.   The co-authors, a librarian in the Public Library in Royston Road and a teacher in St. Roch’s Primary School also in Royston Road, in their wisdom, later had published a book that contained only photos and information about those photos; a worthy production.   Only two others, whom I mention at the very beginning, submitted written information to which I was given access and was grateful to receive.   Those two, the librarian and the teacher have the original, earlier copy of this material.

I decided to expand a little more to include some of my forebears, the earliest of whom I was aware of where my paternal Great Grand Parents, “Big” Tom McLaughlin and his wife “Lizzie (McClure) McLaughlin, both born, lived and died in County Donegal, Ireland.  I along with my sister and some cousins had met Great Granny McLaughlin in 1946, after World War 2 and that meeting has been documented.   I added this information to the document to pass on to my sister Betty, in Eugene, Oregon USA for the benefit of her own children and friends who may have been interested.   I passed a copy of this expanded information on, not only to Betty, but also my four daughters, Anne, Clare, Frances and Julie or as I call them Nos. 1, 2, 3 & 4.  One correction I can make here is that my sister Betty, with a far better memory than mine convinced me that we didn’t stay with “Lizzie” McBrearty (my grandfather’s sister) in Leckie Road, Derry, but with his other sister, Ellen Wade who also lived in the City.   I believe one of my other Scottish cousins stayed with the McBrearty’s.   There is mention of a flo chart on page 32, which contained information of my forebears.   That information also contained information about my wife Anne’s forebears but unfortunately a flo chart can’t be reproduced on this web page.

THE MYTH

There have been many myths about “Lizzie” McClure’s age.   I was informed in 1946 when we met her that she was 99.   She died in 1949, age 102.    Wrong!    I have heard from other relations that she was 104 & 106; someone even suggested 108.   Totally and utterly preposterous.   She died on 20^th February 1949 and on her death certificate, she is recorded as being 84 years of age; born 1865?   Wrong again!    Her oldest child, a son was born in 1873 and that would have made her 8 years old at his birth.   She married “Big” Tom on 24^th October 1972 and on their marriage certificate, she is recorded as being 19 years of age; born 1853, making her 96 when she died?    That too may be wrong.   I received information that she was only 16 when she was married, but that was from a verbal source, 150 years after she was allegedly born.   Was she only 93 when she died?   The myth goes on.   I have tried desperately to find her true date of birth but that information does not appear to be recorded in any of the official records of Ireland.  I have found, by way of Census forms that my dear Great Grandparents were a little economical with the truth about their ages.   They were 40 in 1901 but 60 in 1911?  I think it is safe to conclude that Great Granny “Lizzie McClure” was in her 90’s when she died.   

FOLLOW UPS

I have went after and sought out ‘relations’ whom I have been made aware of and tried to make contact by letter or ‘phone if I had a contact reference.   It has been a not unrewarding journey.   I have met, spoken to personally, emailed, ‘phoned and been delighted to renew acquaintances with not only full cousins, but also 2^nd & 3^rd cousins as well.  I recalled receiving a large number of photographs last year from ‘cousin’ John Martin at Keeloges, taking them home, scanning them on to my computer then returning them to John in Ireland.   I had a look at the photos recently and saw one of a young schoolgirl, about 15 years old, wearing a school uniform, which I recognised.   The photo, about 30 years old had her name and address on it which I knew was in the north of the City where I used to work as a police officer and on chance, I visited that address.   It was a shot in the dark.   When I arrived in the area I noticed that all the houses had been rehabilitated, upgraded and were completely different from my memory but never the less I went to the address, (there was no name on the house door) and knocked.   An older lady, though younger than myself, opened the door and I explained why I was there and showed her a copy of the photo.   She identified the girl as being her younger sister, 17 years her junior and said that she was a schoolteacher, married and lived a few miles away.   She allowed me into her home and we had a chat, but her memories were very hazy and although she too informed me that she had visited “Keeloges” Aghilly about 8 years ago we were unable to make a family connection.   She however provided me with the address and telephone number of her sister and I left thanking her for the information.   It was my intention to ‘phone the younger sister a few days later but I received a ‘phone call from the lady of the house the same day we met, informing me that she had contacted her sister who had informed her that she had no wish to revisit the past.    I got the impression that there were perhaps, unhappy family memories, which the girl in the photo had no wish to resurrect.   I thanked the lady for ‘phoning me and of course respected their view.  It has never been my intention to intrude on any family matter, which may have caused some pain.  

I have been sent photographs from relatives for which I am grateful, some that contained names on the rear indicating who they were.   When I followed up looking for more information, sadly, in some cases, it was withheld.  Perhaps the person(s) felt that they were too old and did not wish any further bother, which is their privilege, and one I respect.   Other ‘relatives’ had no hesitation on passing on family secrets, which in a more unenlightened age may have been considered a little risqué.   It has been a pleasure and a privilege to meet up again with cousins last seen many years ago and I am most grateful to all these relatives for opening up their hearts and souls to me.