Mikey Callaghan’s

Michael (Mikey) Callaghan was born circa 1904 to a large family in the neighbouring townland of Lisheenfurroor which is about 10km from John’s home house. Mikey is listed as one of 14 children to Martin & Margaret Callaghan in the 1911 census, 11 of which were still living. Mikey was the second youngest child.

In 1927 Mikey married only child Mary Lynch and then moved to Rehy West, to a house that is a 5-minute walk from John’s home and took over the farm there. Mikey & Mary went onto have 7 children together, 4 boys and 2 girls and another girl who died at a young age.

In July 2021, I visited Patricia Troy, Mikey’s daughter in her home only a few kilometers from her home house to ask her about her life growing up and her father.

She remembers John being a regular visitor to her house to see her Dad when she was very young. She recalls he would mostly come over for a chat but sometimes they would play together.

Patricia recalled her mother talking about John, saying he was always so anxious to learn tunes all the time.  She recalled her mother telling a story about a time when John was trying to learn a tune he was obviously having trouble with and then went into the other room in the house and sat on the floor to learn the tune in peace.

Mikey sadly passed away on the 13th of September, 1986 at the age of 82 and is buried in Kilballyowen Graveyard in Cross, Co. Clare.