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Back Row Gerry, Phil, Jim, Teresa, John Joe, Sadie Front Row Mary, Granma Bridget Keane, Marguerite
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Bridget Teresa family consisted of seven brothers and four sisters whom all lived very long lives. Their names were, Eddie (Boston), Mary Courtney (Boston), Stephen (Boston), John (Boston), Tommy (Boston), Peg, Sarah, Winnie, Pa, (still with us and hale and hearty), Jim, Joe. As far as can be recalled Eddie and Stephen were in the US Navy.
When Bridget got married to James Joseph Keane the bestman was Jim Collins, her brother, and bridesmaid was Peg Collins, her sister. The date of the wedding was 8th February 1925 (26 years old). The wedding took place in Kilmurray Church, near Castlerea Co. Roscommon. The Priest who married them was a Father Nee. James Joseph Keane was born Fairymount, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon 23rd November 1901, died 57 years old on the 4th October 1958. His father was Johnny Keane of the same address and was Blacksmith by trade as were his fathers before him. James Joseph’s mother was Bridget Moffat. James Joseph’s grandfather was also called Johnny from Fairymount and he too was a blacksmith. It was noted the Grandfather Collins wore long tailcoat, hard hat and stiff shirt front when going to Mass on Sunday, and all travelled by horse and trap.
Honeymoon was spent in a house in Gortnasalla Kilmurray and all were invited and a very big party was held there. The church where the wedding took place has now been replaced by a modern chapel but the old church was full of character and history, and is now used as a parish hall. It should not be forgotten that Bridget Teresa when growing up spoke fluently in Irish and bhi an teanga go deas aici, maith thu Bridget Teresa! It was also noted that Bridget Teresa and James Joseph built their own home in 1934/35 on land that they bought from the Man Moran. Now to come in to the present time the family and extended family are getting together at the Abbey Hotel in Roscommon Town on the last Saturday of February 1999.
The family consists of her brother Pa, in his 90`s, children John Joe, Marguerite, Sadie, Jim, Teresa, Philomena, Gerry, and last but by no means least Mary. Grandchildren number 28. Great-grandchildren number 20. Total 56. So all you folk on the WWW network tune in and remember that you are all invited to our party which will number in many hundreds of people. Remember also that our President Mary McAleese whose father came from Co Roscommon will be represented at this glorious occasion.
It is all our hope and wish that Granma will be with us for many many years to come and will see through three millenniums.
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