Moran
Mag
2012
WELCOME . . .
M
ORAN CUPPERS AND MORAN CLANNERS!
T o th e M oran M ag of 2012 S incere
thanks to Séamus Moran, responsible for the
productions of The Moran Mag up to 2010. His support for the new venture is also greatly appreciated. As you read through this new-look Moran Mag, it will be evident that it is not our magazine but yours. Thank you to those who, throughout July, have responded to the call and contributed to its production. Thank you for your articles, stories, information and photographs. To others with good intentions, please get typing and email moranmagazine@gmail.com for next year’s publication! Breda Maguire’s large trove of family photographs eased our task as did her identification of the people therein. Séamus Healy’s 1994 Revised Edition of the Morans of Lavallyroe booklet proved invaluable throughout. In the foreword of the 1973 Moran Book, Ronan noted that the first child of the fourth generation, Kelly Ann McCormick, had been born in Maryland, USA, adding that the future of the clan was in safe hands and “we do hope that she will shoulder the full responsibility of this position in the established tradition” . Well as of 2012, Kelly Ann does not shoulder this responsibility alone. Generation four is still growing, while the arrival of Connor Wallace Love on 28 May 2012 is the latest addition to the fifth generation of the ever expanding family of Pat and Ellen Moran of Lavallyroe, Co. Mayo! We wish to extend thanks on behalf of the Clan to Betty and her family and Alan Moran and all at Ballinrobe GC for their continued work and support, as the Moran Clan continue a tradition of competing for the (Pat) Moran Cup and gathering together at the Annual Reunion aka ‘Moran Do’ at Cloonacastle. The best of luck to all taking part this year. We hope you enjoy the occasion. Claire Maguire & Shay Moran
B E G I N N I N G S by Séamus Healy
O
nce upon a time, back in the Nineteen Fifties, a tall handsome Dubliner named Ronan Maguire arrived in the small village of Lavallyroe, County Mayo. He had come to court the eldest daughter of Jim and Katie Moran’s eleven children. He carried some unusual baggage in the form of a set of golf clubs and a 22 Handicap. Surely it was a match made in heaven - Ronan and Breda, of course - but, almost as importantly, the start of a love affair between Breda’s seven brothers and the wonderful game of golf. Soon cousins Jack and P J Moran and Mike Glynn were bitten by the golf bug that spread around the village. About the same time, 6000 miles away in Spokane, Washington another cousin, Séamus Healy, was bitten by the same bug, a bug that would eventually infect most of the descendants of Pat Moran and Mary Ellen Murphy and their spouses both male and female, in all corners of the world.
Séamus Healy presents the Moran Cup to 1970 Champion, Mickey Moran in Albert and Nuala's house in Claremorris
As more family members improved their golf skills and whetted their competitive appetites around The Fields of Lavallyroe and elsewhere, they graduated to proper golf courses where they found that they could compete with the best. When their mutual love of family and horse racing drew them each year to the Galway Festival, a meal together, often at the Great Southern and a round of golf, usually at Ballyhaunis, were always on the agenda. After one such golf game the idea of an annual family tournament was suggested and quickly agreed to. All descendants of Pat Moran and their spouses would be eligible to participate and it would take place each year on the Saturday following the Galway Races. This competition continued informally for a few years until the first official Pat Moran Cup was contested at Ballyhaunis in 1969. The winner, fittingly, was Paddy Moran, aptly named and destined to do so much to keep the event alive in subsequent years. In the next three years Michael and Albert Moran and Séamus Healy also had their names inscribed. At that time all were single figure handicappers as were Jack and P J Moran. In 1970 the first formal Family Dinner was held at the Hermitage Hotel in Tuam. The following year the Dinner was held there also. Forty one members of The Clan including six of the first generation John A, May, Jim and Katie Moran, and Kit and Martin Healy, sat down to dinner together. Over the years, as the event has settled in Ballinrobe, the numbers have grown to more than one hundred each year. The occasion has been greatly enhanced by the inclusion of >>>
the ladies as golf participants and by the presence of so many overseas family members. Every branch of the Pat Moran family has been represented, at on time or another, at this happy event. In more recent years we have had the first lady winner, Linda Meehan and the first fourthgeneration winner, Cormac Delaney.
Generation 4 & 3 Golfers – Andrew Donovan, Mark Meehan, Fergal Moran & Pádraic Moran, Moran Cup 2011 When the original idea was discussed over a few pints in the Ballyhaunis Golf Club bar nearly fifty years ago P J Moran suggested, with a little of the hyperbole of any good cattle dealer, that this could become as big as the British Open. To date it has not quite reached such dimensions but has become a most worthy and joyful institution. Some of the giants have left us but with the participation of so many bright, talented members of the younger generations, the future is in good hands.
If you think it's hard to meet new people, try picking up the wrong golf ball. Jack Lemmon
Moran Cup Winners 1969-2012 1969: 1970: 1971: 1972: 1973: 1974: 1975: 1976: 1977: 1978: 1979: 1980: 1981] 1982] 1983: 1984: 1985: 1986: 1987: 1988: 1989: 1990: 1991: 1992: 1993: 1994: 1995: 1996: 1997: 1998: 1999: 2000: 2001: 2002: 2003: 2004: 2005: 2006: 2007: 2008: 2009: 2010: 2011: 2012:
Paddy Moran Michael Moran Albert Moran Séamus Healy Paddy Moran Michael Moran Paddy Moran Eamonn Sheehan Albert Moran Séamus Healy Michael Moran Paddy Moran competitions cancelled as a mark of respect Michael Moran Tom Moran Paddy Moran Michael Moran Paddy Moran Tony Moran Alan Moran Tom Moran Paddy Moran Dermot Sheehan Paddy Moran Dermot Sheehan Alan Moran Séamus Healy Séamus Moran Pádraic Moran Bernard Berney Linda Meehan Cormac Delaney Linda Meehan Nuala Moran Bryan Moran Pádraic Moran Derek O’Neill Ray Spain Jonathan Moran Seán Delaney Pádraic Moran Mark Meehan ____________
Moran Cup 2011 - Results Winner - Mark Meehan with a spectacular score of 39 points off a 17 handicap. Best Lady - Brona Galvin with a respectable 29 points off a handicap of 21 Second - Seán Delaney with 31 points Third - Ian Moran with a very fine score of 30 points Fourth -
P J Moran (Ballyhaunis) with 28 points
Best Lady Brona Galvin hands the trophy to 2011 Champ Mark Meehan
Fifth - Mary Berney, 27 points Sixth - Michael (Mickey) Moran, Julie Donnellan and Fergal Moran all with 26 points.
At the Tee Off - Moran Clanners from Ireland, Scotland and the US Dan, Ian, Ann and Joan
Junior Cup Winner - David Donovan with a fabulous score of 28 points.
The Junior Cup is sponsored by Séamus Healy and was inaugurated in 2005. It was introduced because it was felt that the Moran Cup itself could only be won by golfers aged 16 years or older. But we still had some excellent golfers under 16 so the Junior Cup was an opportunity for them to claim a well deserved prize for their efforts on the day.
Fergal and Katie looking cool in 2010 while Jack and Finn dream of raising the Moran Cup in 2030
2011 Golfers Jason Love, David Donovan and Séamus Moran
Past Junior Cup winners include Oisín Anderson, Fergal Moran, Stephen Moran and Gerard Fagan.
Three Men and a Little Lady! Seán Delaney, P J Moran, Ger Fagan and Patsy Moran
Memories of Ireland Across the Generations by Joan (Peterson) Lussenhop
Joan, Catherine and Patte in Ballintubber, Summer 2011
W
hen I first “came home” in 1979, I was just out of college. I came to Ireland after living in France for about five months. I gained many wonderful memories during that visit. So I was excited to bring my daughter, Catherine (also just out of college) to Ireland in 2011 in the hope that she would have similar experiences. I was also thrilled to share the experience with my mother, Patte. My mother had been to Ireland a number of times, but we had never been home together. Coming Together The first experience I wanted to share with Catherine was the warmth and coming together of the people. From my first visit, I remember sitting in Breda’s living room where many family members had gathered to meet the visitor from the U.S. After a few hours of pleasant conversation, someone threw back his head and suddenly began singing. Within a few seconds, everyone else in the room had joined in and created a beautiful song. There
were many more before the night was over. What was most amazing to me at that time is that I recognized some of the songs and realized that my grandmother, Norah, must have sung them to me when she lived with us when I was young. Those feelings must have been even stronger for my mother, bringing back memories of her mother. My earlier experience was recreated when we retired from the formal Do and went to the Holiday Homes. There, everyone joined in singing many songs and had a grand time. I was thrilled to be there with three generations of women directly descended from Norah Moran. Homestead The second experience I wanted to share was the beauty of the countryside, particularly in Mayo. As we drove along the new highways and modernized roads, I wasn’t sure whether Catherine would see the same countryside I saw on my trip and my mother saw on her previous visits. Fortunately, I was able to share the magical feeling of rural Ireland with Catherine when the family went to the homestead in Mayo and traveled up to the old church where our ancestors were buried. The narrow roads and rural countryside matched my prior memory of the country. Of course, we can’t deny the progress in Ireland, nor wish it hadn’t happened, but the magic of rural Ireland was on full display that day. As we walked up the hill to the church, there was a “fine Irish mist” and there was a deep quiet all around. We found the gravestone of my great, great grandparents. Standing there among our relatives, I felt the connection across the generations and was able to share that connection with my own daughter. >>>
Church near Ballyhaunis - Moran Grave Lost and Found My final, and most favorite, memory is when my mother Patte and I drove from where we were staying a few kilometers outside of Ballinrobe to Betty’s house. When I came to Ireland in 1979, Paddy took me all over the countryside in his electricity supply truck. Everywhere we went, everyone knew Paddy. Since I came during the school year, I also had time alone during the day and walked from Paddy and Betty’s house in to Ballinrobe many times. Given the time I spent there previously and the size of Ballinrobe, one wouldn’t think we could get lost on our short drive. As much as I would like to deny it, things change over 30 years. Those changes made me less confident that I could find my way to Betty’s home. I decided to follow the directions of the Tom-Tom loaned to us. Neither my mother nor I knew how to work the device, and we somehow managed to program it to take us back to where we started, when we thought it was directing us to Betty’s. Thus, every time we arrived at a turning point, my instinct told me to go in one direction and the Tom-Tom told us to go in
another. Foolishly, I obeyed the TomTom. Eventually, my mother and I found ourselves on a dirt path (that the Tom-Tom assured us was a road!) on the outskirts of Ballinrobe. This “road” was two tire tracks in the dirt between two stone walls. The road was so narrow, that when we passed two women out walking their dogs, they had to plaster themselves up against one wall to allow us to pass. My mother, intelligent woman that she is, suggested that we ask the two women for directions. I unwisely did not take her suggestion. At this point, we were laughing so hard that there were tears in our eyes. I wasn’t sure what the two women would think of us! I was afraid they might flee in terror of the crazy Yanks.
I was afraid they might flee in terror of the crazy Yanks.
When we finally found ourselves at a dead end, I found a place to turn the car around. This time, as we went back past the two women, I listened to my mother and asked them directions. I said “we are trying to find the house of Paddy and Betty Moran.” Immediately, one of them said “Sure and it’s Paddy from the Electricity Supply Board” and gave us directions to the house. I managed to get into the town and around the square. I was very grateful that everyone still knew Paddy! I then saw a pub that I recognized. We decided not to take any more chances of choosing the wrong turn after the pub, so I parked the car and went in to ask. I was
standing there trying to get the attention of one of the staff. One of the patrons at the bar asked me what I needed. I said I was looking for Betty Moran’s house. As if in a chorus, four people at the bar immediately gave me directions. Of course, they all knew Betty. We finally made it to Betty’s house after our 45 minute adventure! I can now say that I know most of the >>>
roads in the environs of Ballinrobe, having gone down all the wrong ones. The best part was that my mother and I saw the Irish humor in the situation and laughed uproariously the whole time. As you can see, my favorite memories of Ireland are family, both immediate and further distant, and the magical place we all call home.
American: Is it true that Irish people always answer a question with another question? Paddy:
Who told you that?!!
MORANSTORIES A Kindness for Katie Katie Finnegan married her sweetheart Jim Jim & Katie Moran Moran, son of Pat, on 16 June 1930. Her mother Bid (Bridget) was not well and she could not attend the wedding. The doctor reckoned that before long she would need to go to the hospital in Tuam or Galway, but he advised Katie nevertheless there was no imminent danger and she should go ahead with the wedding that morning. Sadly and unexpectedly, later that same day, Bid died. As she was now married, Katie moved into the Moran household. Her father-in-law also lived in the house. It wasn't until almost three months later, working in her kitchen, that Katie suddenly stopped and broke down and cried. Grandfather quietly got to his feet and pulled down a bottle of Red Breast whiskey. He poured a cup for young Katie and said gently, 'I've been waiting for this day for three months'.
Pat Moran
(recounted to Breda Maguire, by her mother Katie)
“Why I'm Great” by Linda Meehan
R
eally I don't need to say one thing as I'm fairly confident the entire 1 million members of the Moran family are aware of my footballing exploits courtesy of my mother Ann Meehan. In fact if you would like to glance up from this magazine and look around I will guarantee you that right now she is deeply engrossed in (one sided) conversation with a family member and the word 'Peamount' will have been mentioned repeatedly. But for those of you unaware of the goings on in women's football (and I don't mean bog ball...peh) in Ireland, I will tell you, and attempt to steal some of the glory away from our cousin Seán, who is hoovering up accolades in the Galway U-21 team, and our prodigal son Peter, who is taking over the world, one orchestra at a time. I will admit, this idea appeals to me.
gets to go every year, and because of our victory in the FAI Cup Final in 2010, this was to be our turn. So firstly we googled where the feck Slovenia was, then packed our factor 50, and headed off for 10 days. Considering how brutal previous Irish teams performed at this stage, we had absolutely zero expectations. A bit of background on Peamount (particularly for the Yanks!), we are a completely amateur club and are run by a committee of volunteers. The FAI contributed about €10,000 to the trip but with the total cost being more like €20,000, that left A LOT of bag packing fundraising days in Tesco. We got there in the end (even if it was on a single engined plane...jaysus) and we were drawn in a group with professional and semi professional teams. These women are paid to play football for the love of god!
Linda heroically saves a Paris SaintGermain goal threat, CL 2011.
Linda in action for Peamount Utd. So about this time last year, my team and I (Peamount United...keep up!), headed off to Slovenia to compete in the group stages of the UEFA Womens Champions League. One Irish club
Anyway, following one loss, two victories, two stone lost in sweat and multiple near heart attacks for my mother, we managed to qualify as best runners up and so went through to the last 32 knockout stage. This was the first time an Irish club, male or female, has ever gotten this far in the competition. >>>
So the draw was made and we were going to be up against Paris SaintGermain (PSG). Oh shite. They just got bought out by a Saudi lad and had one million euro pumped into their women's team. No matter. We had the might of the Irish fans AND Ann Moran and her broken Vuvuzela. So on a late September evening in 2011, nearly 2,000 supporters showed up to the home leg in Tallaght Stadium, of which at least 1,000 of them were Morans. Finn and Jack O'Neill acted as mascots with me, while Kevin Sheehan hurled abuse at the defenceless match officials. We lost 2 nil on the night (a last minute goal really knocked us), but we took pride in how we performed.
Young Peamount mascots Jack and Finn O'Neill with Alannah Maxwell at Tallaght Stadium, CL 2011 A week later we were off to Paris for the away leg. This time it was broadcast live on Eurosport TV. Feckin mental wha?? So we made sure the eyebrows were done and off we marched onto the pitch in Stade Charléty. Perceived coolness completely destroyed as we couldn't help but smile when the camera came near us. We lost 3 nil that day, which
made it 5 nil on aggregate but to be honest we never dropped the heads. So we went straight back to our hotel and were in bed by 9PM. Not a word of a lie....
Peamount Utd in Paris, CL 2011 Our season wasn't over yet though. We were shocked to discover that the FAI actually took the finger out and launched a new Women's National League (WNL), and the winner would be the country's representatives in this years Champions League. This is huge progress for women's football in this country as we finally have a national league with quality teams all staying in on a saturday night watching Brendan O'Connor, preparing for their match the next morning. We managed to win the first ever WNL title and so that means in about 5 days after you are reading this we will hopefully be on a plane to Bosnia to compete in the Champions League again. Yes I did say Bosnia. It's lovely I'm sure. So if anyone has a spare €10,000 left over from the boom, that they would like to donate to Peamount United, then please meet me at the bar. To be honest, it's the only reason I wrote this.
MORANSTORIES Ellie Rose Moran ... 10 ... PUSH ... 9 ... 8 ... PUSH ... 7 ... 6 ... BREEEEATHE ... 5 ... 4 ... AAAARGH ... 3 ... 2 ... BIG PUSH ... 1 ... 0 ... HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!!!
Ellie Rose Moran
As fireworks zoom and crash and crack over Sydney Harbour Bridge, lighting up the famous Opera House in a myriad of dazzling colours, Australians celebrate the new year of Two Thousand and Twelve. Not far away in a humble delivery room in Sydney's RPA Hospital, the hospital's first baby of the year is born. Proud parents Laura and Aengus Moran cherish their new-born daughter Ellie. Her Dad makes a solemn promise, “Every year, my dear, we will celebrate your birthday just like this, with an almighty fireworks display across the whole city!!” (Note: Baby Ellie actually born at 7.29am, but still the first!!)
Katie Moran’s Stuffing Finally Revealed ! ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
✔
1 large onion 150-200g butter 3/4 or 1 full loaf in breadcrumbs.... not too fine. a good handful or two of sultanas Chef brown sauce... a full of the smaller squidgy bottle, or more, or less, to taste..(and as far back as I can remember, Daddy always did the tasting!!!... but I wouldn’t skimp on it anyway!) Salt and pepper. 1. Chop the onion to your desired size. 2. Melt the butter in a saucepan and add the onion 3. Cook over a medium heat for approx 10 mins... it doesn’t matter if it browns slightly as the stuffing will be dark due to the brown sauce. 4. Season the breadcrumbs with salt and pepper. 5. Add in the onion mix and mix thoroughly. 6. Add the sultanas and brown sauce and mix thoroughly (probably best to do this with your hands) 7. Add as much brown sauce as to your taste. (sourced from Katie’s granddaughter Nicola in 2009)
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MAYO MORANS... WAY BACK WHEN
Jim versus haystack
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Sisters and brother - Kit, Maggie, Delia and Jim Moran at Lavallyroe Babe Moran
and her three sons – P J (left), Jack (right) & tony (sitting) <<<
<<< Johnny and Tom trimming the corn
Kit and Martin Healy >>> Katie, Aut Mack, Bernard Berney, Jim Moran, Mary Berney, Michele and Gemma Maguire. 1970
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b. Albert Moran, Imelda Fahy, Patsy Moran, Joan O’Sullivan, Jimmy Moran f: Mary Kilraine, Katie Moran and youngest daughter Ann.
>>> John A, Tony, Jack and P J Moran
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STATESIDE MORANS... WAY BACK WHEN
Jack and Delia Fahy with their three daughters Rose, Helen and Catherine.
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Sept 1956: (L-R) Marianne Wynne, Delia Moran, niece Helen McCormick, Ray Wynne, Séamus Healy (recently arrived from Ireland), John McCormick
Daughters and nieces of Delia Moran following her funeral in 1979: Jeanne Pratt, Maura Joyce, Catherine and Helen Fahy with sister Rose Calton and Marianne Wynne.
1959 New York: Peg McLaughlin, Delia Finnegan (Katie’s sister), Peter Joyce, Delia Moran (Pat’s sister), Maura Healy
AND FINALLY... Johnny and Daisy in the swinging Sixties.
A young Ann Meehan in training for a life to come in Ballymun !!
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Moran Cup '88 1987 and 1988 champs Paddy and Tony in arm folding play-off. <<<
Who Do You Think You Are?
T
by Mary Berney
wo things led me to write this article, firstly the RTE programme “Who Do You Think You Are”, where well-known people trace their ancestry. Mostly it leads to new and exciting discoveries about their forebears. Secondly, meeting up with and becoming great friends with a second cousin- Sheila Gallagher née Kelly. I had known her through playing Bridge for a number of years but it was only last year we discovered that we were cousins; our grandmothers Margaret and Ellen Murphy were sisters. Their other sister Anne married Michael Glynn. All this got me thinking of The Morans of Lavallyroe, or Levallyroe as it sometimes appears in the old records, so I decided to try and find how far back I can trace The Morans. I learned from the 1901 Census that the residents of the house in Lavallyroe at
that time were:- Patrick Moran aged 40, his wife Ellen aged 37, their children M Ellen aged 13, Norahh aged 12, Margaret aged 10, Delia aged 7, Patrick aged 5, Austin aged 4, James aged 2, Catherine the baby and Patrick's sister Anne (Nan Anne). In the 1911 Census there were only Patrick Moran aged 53, Delia aged 18, John aged 15, James aged 12, Kate aged 11, Anne aged 56. Notice the discrepancies in the ages and names. Austin in 1901 became John in 1911 of course that’s Jonn A - and Catherine became Kate, who we knew as Kit. To look up the Morans in the Census you have to know that the DED is COURSE, Mayo. I know the names of the generation before that - Pat Moran's brothers and sisters - from Ronan Maguires research for the book The Morans of Lavallyroe, which was published in 1970. They were – Tom, John, James, Michael, Mary, Bridget and Anne (the aforementioned Nan Anne) and I know
Census of Ireland 1901. Household Return Form for Patrick Moran. http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Mayo/Course/Lavallyroe/1589257/
from her baptismal certificate, which my brother John showed me, that their mother's name was Norahh Gallagher. The Parish records from that time are to be found in ANNAGH not Killtullagh - as I had previously thought. I have signed up to a website ‘rootsireland.ie’ where I hope to be able to access the records of Births, Deaths and Marriages of the Morans in
the 1800’s. Imagine all the cousins there must be out there! That is my project for 2013. Hopefully I will share my discoveries in the Moran magazine next year. In the meantime if anyone has any relevant information they would like to share with me, my EMAIL address is kinlochbrae@gmail.com
MORANSTORIES Keeping it in the Family 'New' Lavallyroe Homestead Pat and Ellen Moran's family were born and reared at Lavallyroe. The original homestead was a traditional thatched cottage dwelling, with two bedrooms off a main open plan room, the hearth at its centre and a fireside chair, a cot, and a table. When Katie moved in with her husband Jim, she cooked at the open fire, fuelled by turf from their bog. By 1939, Grandad Pat, Jim, Katie, Paddy, Breda, Tom, Jimmy, Albert and baby Mickey all lived together there. A bigger house was needed. Luckily Jim's brother-in-law Martin Healy (married to his sister Kit) was a skilled builder. Séamus Healy and Breda remember the house being built. Martin made the ten-mile round trip daily from Ballinlough to Lavallyroe on his bicycle for months, his young son Séamus on the crossbar, off to build the 'new house'. Séamus recalls others on site: Sonny McDermott (plastering), John Lynch (roofing) one or two of the McManus boys (mixing cement). He and Paddy ‘played around the workers on the days Daddy brought me with him’. The youngest of Jim and Katie’s family were born here: Johnny, Tony, Mary, Helen and Ann. Johnny farmed the land as his father had done before him and it was here that Johnny and his wife Daisy's family were reared. Johnny and Daisy reside there today in the 'shadow' of the old house.
Remembering the Fahy Family
Aunt Delia and the Chevy
D
elia Moran, daughter of Pat and Ellen Moran, left Ireland c.1915 for America, following her older siblings Mary Ellen and Norah. She returned to visit in 1922. As Black and Tan activity in the area delayed trains, she had to change her travel plans and return to New York via Liverpool. On the boat she met Jack Fahy who was also heading to the US. In 1924, they married and had four children: Rose, Helen, Catherine and Anne Theresa. Sadly, Anne died aged 6 weeks old. Rose married Bob Calton in 1955. Helen was a teacher; Catherine studied Maths and worked in Aeronautics. In 1925, Delia’s brother John A wed Jack’s sister Babe and settled in Lavallyroe. On visits to Ireland, Delia stayed at the Moran family homestead; the girls often at their ‘double cousins’ house with Jack, P J, Tony and Patsy or in Ballinlough with the Healys. The Fahys were held in high esteem by the Moran Clan in Ireland. A loving
welcome awaited Irish nephews, nieces and in-laws from ‘Aunt Delia’. Whether they were visiting or embarking on a new life in America, her Long Island home was often the first stop in NY. When Séamus Healy arrived in 1956, and Maura Healy in ’57 with fiancée Peter Joyce, there was always a ’welcome on the mat’. Catherine and Helen loved to travel and included Ireland on their ‘European Tours in ’61 and ’74. Making great use out of ‘base camp’ (luggage lockers in London), they blazed through Europe to Rome and back ‘home’, regaling Irish cousins with stories of their travels. Breda recalls a visit to Long Island in 1970, and aunt Delia’s ‘tour of the neighbourhood’ in her classy Chevy. She also spent time with Helen, Catherine and visited Rose, Bob and family in Hazlett, NJ. When Ann Moran (Meehan) visited in 1976, aunt Delia was in poor health but her daughters’ joie-de-vivre made Ann feel at home. Good fun was had. The Moran Family reciprocated the hospitality on Catherine and Helen’s visits here. Tragedy struck the Fahy family in 2005. Rose and Bob perished in a fire which destroyed the home of their daughter Peggy Dickerson. Catherine and Helen’s health deteriorated and Catherine died in 2007. On a visit to her son in Philly in 2009, Breda visited first cousin Maura and Peter Joyce in Virginia. With help from Paul, both made it to Wytheville to visit Helen Fahy. It was like they had never been apart! Though Helen’s sight had failed, she had not lost sight of the important things in life, a
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MORANSTORIES Why Did the Chicken...? Jack and Delia Fahy’s home in Long Island, New York was a welcoming place, a home from home for relations who visited. While Jack never returned to his homeland, he missed it very much. Once when Delia, Catherine and Helen were making the journey to Mayo on holiday, they asked him what they should bring him as a present. They were surprised when he replied “Ask Katie to kill a chicken for me!” Delia duly passed the request on to her sister-in-law Katie, who was thrilled. A day before they left, Katie went out, killed a chicken and hung it up. Then she put it in butter paper and it was put in one of the suitcases as the Fahys headed to Shannon for the flight to America. All was going well with the chicken until the flight was delayed. Delia, not wanting to disappoint her husband, or Katie, by spoiling the bird, told the airline staff she had a chicken with her. The officials were dismayed. “We will be feeding you on the plane, you know!” Delia explained the full situation, and so the staff retrieved the case, removed the chicken, and put it in cold storage until the plane was ready to depart. And that is the story of how Delia, Catherine and Helen arrived back in New York with Katie’s buttery chicken in tow... much to the delight of brother-in-law Jack. Recalled by Catherine Fahy in the Eighties.
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cheerful countenance and the value of friendship. Like Delia, she continued to support nieces and nephews and was a companion for her cousins. She and Catherine were the best of pals and eventually moved to live close to each other in Wytheville in ‘beautiful Virginia’. By many accounts, Helen was a cousin for all seasons. She was a world traveller, a fantastic hostess (‘tis in the blood!), and introduced Breda to her first Whiskey Sour! She enjoyed city
night-life and was ahead of her time in being mega techno-friendly. Cousins here got regular emails from her as they did from Marianne Wynne. Helen’s updated news subsequently inspired her Irish cousins (at 60y+) to email! As news and wishes and blessings crossed the ocean, Helen Fahy remained part of the fabric of the Moran family here. While her sight failed before skyping family members became possible, ‘techhie Helen’ continued to email using voice activated software! >>>
We await the visits of the third and fourth generation of the Fahy family to visit Ireland. Helen Fahy, last surviving daughter of Delia and Jack Fahy died in 2009. She, her sisters and her parents Delia and Jack are missed and remembered fondly. (collated by Claire Maguire, following conversations with her mother Breda)
The late Helen Fahy with her cousins Maura Joyce and Breda Maguire
American: What is the origin of the Irish jig? Paddy:
Too much whiskey, not enough toilets!
The Clan is a-Growin'... To the Family of Patrick and Mae Moran Ruairí Kilbane, on 30 July 2011 to Kelly and P J Kilbane. (born on Moran Cup Day 2011 !!) Cathal Moroney on 19 December 2011 to Orla and Tim Moroney. Ellie Rose Moran on 01 January 2012 to Laura and Aengus Moran To the Family of Kit and Martin Healy Daire Scally on Sept 29, 2011 to Paddy and Áine Scally. To the Family of Jim and Katie Moran Aoife Grace Sheehan on 01 May 2011 to Linda and Kevin Sheehan Eloise Sheehan on 28 May 2011 to Cassie and Brendan Sheehan Holly Berney on 02 August 2011 to Michelle and John Berney. Archie Donald Moran on 26 August 2011 to Rhona and Jonathan Moran. Katie McGauran on 17 February 2012 to Ann and Terry McGauran. 5th Generation New Addition: To the Family of Norah and Albert Hart Connor Wallace Love on 28 May 2012 to Jason and Ellen Love
Connor Wallace and big sis Ellen Siobhan
One Year Later
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by Catherine Lussenhop
n July 22nd, 2011, I finished cleaning my disgusting college apartment, said goodbye to my friends, and boarded an evening flight to Ireland. The trip was symbolic for me: it marked the end of my college years and the final realization of my number one “wouldn’t it be nice if we did that sometime” dream. I’d grown up listening to my mother Joan’s stories about Ireland, stories about people singing “On The One Road” together or her walking right up the edge of the Cliffs of Moher with Paddy Moran. I sat alone in coach class and got no sleep while my mom and Nonie (Patte) were being pampered with pain au chocolat and their choice of newspaper in first class. But I was excited nonetheless (and my mom gave me the pain au chocolat anyway, so all was well). When I arrived, I felt at home right away. I saw horses and sheep in backyards, felt cool rain most days, and drank my share of whiskey and Guinness. As a friend from Minnesota observed, “It’s like they made a country just for you.” One of my favorite stories to tell was the one about stopping our cars for a herd of cows to cross the road. They bumped into our rearview mirrors and smeared cow poo on the doors. I have about 200 more "favorite memories," but another that I still daydream about is the night of the Moran Do, during the afterparty at the Holiday Homes. I remember losing track of time and what day it was and whose song we were singing. One moment it was ‘Fields of Athenry’ and then it was ‘This Land Is Our Land,’ and then it was Fleet Foxes. I left around 4am,
and the party was still going hard. I was far from the last to leave. Leaving Ireland was sobering. I faced the real world and my lack of a fullCatherine and Joan, time job. After Ireland 2011 floundering in Minnesota for a bit, I managed to get a couple of freelance science writing gigs. I wrote a piece about tsunami detection, one about a new way to observe viruses attacking cells, and even a story about research from a business school about medical malpractice lawsuits in the U.S. In December, I managed to secure a fulltime job in the Research and Evaluation Department of the Museum of Science in Boston (www.mos.org). Now, one year later, I am back home in Minnesota for a vacation. My mom and I are happily recalling stories from Ireland as we relax by Lake Superior in Duluth. In a week, I’ll return to my new home in Boston, a city with so many Irish pubs I forget which side of the Atlantic I’m on. I skipped the debaucherous St. Patrick’s Day parade this year; it just wouldn’t have felt right. Every so often, I’ll order a pint from one of the many Irish pubs in my neighborhood, but no matter how well they pour it, the Guiness never tastes as good to me as it did a year ago. Catherine, daughter of Joan Lussenhop, granddaughter of Patte Peterson, great granddaughter of Norah Hart, great, great granddaughter of Ellen and Pat Moran.
Ac ross the M iles to M em phis by Claire Maguire
S
ummer 2012 in Dublin... Paul Simon arrives for the 25th anniversary concert of his classic album Graceland. The strains of 'Graceland, Graceland, Memphis Tennessee, I’m going to Graceland..’ resound from music stations all over Ireland. Memphis Tennessee is the seat of the modern day Civil Rights Movement in the US. It was there that Dr Martin Luther King was assassinated near room 306 in the Lorraine Motel in 1963. On a happier note, it is where one of Pat Moran’s grandchildren has made his home, for Memphis Tennessee is home to Brother Terence McLaughlin (De La Salle). Brother Terence has visited Ireland on many occasions and has also extended a ‘Céad Míle Fáilte’ to his Irish cousins on their visits to Tennessee. He is the son of Pat Moran’s eldest daughter Mary Ellen (1888-1938) who emigrated to America in 1910 where she met and married John McLaughlin in 1915.
Three of Pat Moran's grandchildren - Bro Terence, Breda Maguire and Bert Hart
Bro Terence with his two sisters Helen McCormick and Marianne Wynne In Memphis Tennessee there is both a Christian Brothers’ High School and a Christian Brothers’ University. Brother Terence taught in the High School and was the 14th President of the University (1962–1964). He is known far and wide in the Midwest for his deep sense of social justice, for it was he who played a major role in admitting the first black student to the Christian Brothers’ High School there in 1963. An African-American student’s mother approached him and requested that her son be enrolled at CBHS. Despite resistance from the church and state at the time, Brother Terence persevered and allowed him into the school. Recently a group of teenagers who visited CBU heard this story from him and commented that ‘his story and humble attitude about it were beyond inspiring’. He has also co-edited a book on ‘The Catholic Contemporary School’ and contributed to education policies and teaching in the High School. Brother Terence, a grandchild of Pat Moran, will celebrate his 90th birthday on the 14th of December 2012, making him the Grand Elder of the Moran Clan. We send our warmest wishes to him and the McLaughlin family.
Jeanne Pratt Remem bered
At the Do last year, Jeanne had with her, cherished photo albums full of photos of her many grandchildren. On Sunday morning in O’Connor’s in ‘downtown Ballinrobe’, she opened album after album showing us the little ones; the joy they brought to the Pratt family ever evident.
On visits Stateside, John and Jeanne welcomed visitors to their homes when Stephanie Hart, sisters Jeanne Pratt & Patte busy schedules allowed it. Travel and Peterson, Joan and Catherine Lussenhop, time with friends and their growing families combined to keep them busy! and John Pratt at the Moran Do, 2011 In recent years, Jeanne recovered from a mini-stroke and knee eanne and John Pratt first visited replacement surgery while living with Ireland in May 1998. Consulting diabetes. Unexpectedly, she took ill at The Moran Book (as one does), the end of October at home and they dialled a number and visited lapsed into a coma from which she did cousins. Breda and Ronan welcomed not recover. Surrounded by her family Jeanne, John and their friends. A night and her husband John, her friend for out in Lucan with Helen, Mary and Ann 58 years, she died on the 6th of followed. Since then, they returned November. annually with various family members, proudly giving them a tour of Jeanne’s Jeanne was a beacon of love with a mother’s homeland and introducing wide welcoming smile. The warmth of them to more of the Moran Clan! her hug and her evident love of people as she greeted you by name are Jeanne loved Mayo and meeting memories to treasure. With her love of people. Welcomed to Ballinrobe by story and her love of Ireland, she was cousin Paddy and Betty, they swapped at home here. stories and caught up on family news. They enjoyed the Irish beef prepared We hope that in the years to come, by Paddy at The Demesne, comparable when the time is right, members of only to subsequent fine dinners at the Pratt family will return to visit us Burke’s in Clonbur. At the annual in Ireland again. The door is open, the Moran Do, they enjoyed ‘having the kettle is on the boil; beidh fáilte mhór craic with the cousins’. They visited romhaibh! Ballinrobe, Cong, Cross, Kinsale, Killarney and Dublin making friends as they went and inviting relations to join them on occasions. As the years rolled by, and John expertly negotiated driving the side and national routes in Ireland, before motorways and GPS equipment, he and Jeanne were Jeanne and John Pratt’s first trip to regular attendees at the Moran Do. Ireland in May 1998 - John, Bud and Nell They became as Irish as we ourselves. Wynne, Breda, Jeanne, Mary, Helen, Ann
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and Ronan
morans Under the Microscope Name: Tom Moran Lineage: Son of Jim & Katie Moran, Grandson of Pat Moran Best Moran Cup Finish: Winner 1984 & 1990 What is your earliest memory of the Moran Cup? Before there was a Moran Cup, there was already a tradition of Jim Moran’s clan returning home to Lavallyroe, from Dublin or England, wherever they were, for the August Bank Holiday and the Galway Races. Of course, the hay had to be brought in first. Dad would insist, “there’ll be no races till the last wisp of hay is saved!!” Can you share a memory of those early Galway Races gatherings? One year, it must have been in the late Fifties, I remember driving to the races with Jimmy, Al and Dad. Al wasn’t drinking so he drove. We were there with my cousin Tony Moran and Tom Fitz, who owned the Three Counties Pub in Cloonfad. After a day of racing and drinking, we came back around four in the morning to Tony Moran’s house in Dunmore, for beef sandwiches and more bottles of porter. Then on to Cloonfad by six, but Tom Fitz wouldn't let us go home without having a drink in his pub. I remember putting my hand out to lean on the wall and landing on my backside instead. I think it was the only time I was ever drunk. (Yeah, sure…!!)
Jim & Katie Moran's clan, 1957 I have to clear something up, did you really do such a thing as the Secondary Top in school, or is it just a made-up story to add colour to country life back in the day? Yes, Secondary Top was the real thing. It was the official secondary school curriculum, but taught in a primary school, so long as the teacher was qualified to teach secondary. The numbers were small in Cloonfad. Four of us started in my year and I was the only one left by year three. They taught us the full secondary curriculum though – Algebra, Geometry, Julius Caesar, Macbeth, Latin and so on. Was there anything like Science on the curriculum? I didn't do Science but there was a 'Science cupboard' in the classroom alright. It had a big jar of quicksilver in it. We came in one morning and it was all over the floor. We had some fun trying to catch it with our fingers. Was that to teach you about the symptoms of Mercury poisoning?! No, back in those days, playing with Mercury, smoking cigarettes, and eating fat were all considered good for your health!
So where did the Secondary Top get you in the end? The teacher Mr. Fahey coached us specifically for wherever we were going next. I was going for the Post Office exam, so he coached me through past papers in Irish, English, Maths, History and Geography. Then I did the exam, and I was off to work in the Post Office in Claremorris. It's a strange idea for today's generation, where a university degree is a basic requirement, that in those days most people didn't even have a secondary education. Yes, most students left school after primary to go to work. Most rural schools didn't even have a teacher who was qualified to teach secondary. So it was a big deal to have any secondary education in those days. They used to call us “the professors”! Is that why Charlie McCormack used to ask you lots of hard questions… to see if you were properly educated? We used to come home by Charlie's Hill. Charlie loved a bit of craic and at the same time he liked to show you that he knew a few big words of his own.
always remember the welcome Mam had for Micky Mongan the tinker, when he came selling modified sweet cans and fixing leaky buckets. “Here comes Micky Mongan, shling the kittle Tomeen!”. She'd be visibly excited with the visit, and the chat about all the Mongans and the Morans. So the Moran value I remember was a kind of humanity, an empathy, where “people” were given the highest place of all. Finally Tom, what words of wisdom would you like to pass on to future generations of Moran Cuppers … keep your eye on the ball and follow through, that kind of thing? It took me a long time to learn this. You can't really teach anybody anything, only encourage them to figure it out for themselves. It's up to people to be their own teachers. I would advise future generations this. Value your own judgements and capacities to solve whatever problems come up. Consider advice from the wise, but you decide. Don't go with the crowd. Think independently.
Charlie: What time is it, Tom? Tom: Eh, about three o’clock, Charlie. Charlie: Dammy, Tom! I would have thought an edu-macated fellow like yourself would have said … “approximately”!! I love the family motto, Lucent in Tenebris (They Shine in Darkness). It points to a kind of moral core to the Morans. What do you consider to be the main Moran values that you were brought up with? Our values were lived by Mam and Dad. I
Tom and granddaughter Katie, 2012 Interviewed by Shay Moran (son of Tom, grandson of Jim etc.)
A few special words…… A life well-lived is measured not by a person’s material things, nor length of time here, but through the lives they touched... We extend sympathies to Maureen Dillon, Bernard Berney, John Pratt, Maureen Tyrell, Peter Joyce, Catherine Hart, Maggie Sheehan, Colm Massey, and their families, on the death of a family member. May their memories comfort them in their grief.
Check your mailbox... Work by Angela Anderson, (3rd gen) and Séamus Healy, (2nd gen) to update The Moran Book is at an advanced stage. Angela will contact descendants of Pat Moran soon to verify data. It must be returned to her at asaanderson@ntlworld.com no later than 31 December 2012, for inclusion in the revised 2013 edition.
‘People who come into our lives and go, leave footprints on our hearts. When they leave, our lives are never, ever the same’.
Thank you.
MORANSTORIES I Will Arise and Go Now
A World of Morans
Pat and Ellen Moran's daughters Mary Ellen, Norah and Delia emigrated to the USA, leaving Ireland at the start of the last century - young people leaving for new and distant lives, to a far away world as it was in those days. Pat's three daughters settled and married and raised families in America. Thus it was that descendants of Pat and Ellen Moran made it to New York, Minnesota, Chicago and beyond. Today, Moran clanners live all over the world. Some left Ireland in search of employment, others to experience life in another country. Travel broadens the mind they say, and as of today Moran minds are being broadened, not just in Ireland, but throughout the UK, the USA and as far afield as Asia and Australia. Due to improvements in transport and communications, the world can seem a much smaller place. Yet those away are missed, and international phone calls, e-mails and 'Skype time' are precious ways for family at home to connect with those away. For some it is a means of seeing their grandchildren grow, and now part of their daily schedules! While the digital communication comes close, there is no substitute for 'real time' and it makes the time we can spend together all the more precious when that opportunity arises. So see y'all at the Moran Do next year ... 3 August 2013, if ye can make it!