Aisling Woods McCormack

A Visit to Nana Hilda Woods

I arrive home to Carlingford from Clane with my 3 year old son Mark in toe and have an urge to pay someone special a visit. Time is of the essence and we need exactly that, time, to catch up. "Leave Mark here" Mum and Dad insist, and "off you go"!
"Are you sure?" I reply, one foot already half way out the door! "I wont be long" I cry, but leave a dinner to reheat for Mark just in case!

A cool breeze sweeps over my face as I stride past the lough. Ghan House prompts stories already told in my minds eye. Up the hill, I glance through the gate of Trinity and reflect on those who have long since past and journey on happily to reach Abbey Court!

Front door wide open, welcoming anyone who might call, I breeze in but she's not there. Investigating further I find her out the back, head in the freezer contemplating her menu for that evening. "Hi Nana" I say. Her eyes upon me "Oh Aisling"! I can see her yet, her voice singing with delight.

Before we know it , we are both crouched comfortably on the floor of her bijou sitting room, our backs resting against the cushioned armchairs which sit in front of the fireplace. Coffees in hand (hers black, lots of sugar) we are toasting and ready for chat. I glance at the her clock on the mantlepiece - 1:45pm.

There were many stories that day! I was utterly consumed by her elegance and eloquence, how she intertwined stories within stories, "never losing sight of the rat"! Dancing with Papa in the kitchen of Binnion, Giblet soup at their annual Christmas Eve parties, Meeting Papa for the first time, "Auntie" and her ever sniffling nose, Comic book pages being thrown into the Aga in an effort to discipline naughty children always reminding me what an unabounding love she had for each and every one of them, all different and all very special in their own right.

I am mesmerized and almost don't hear the phone ring. I pickup. Its Dad. Mark is distressed and looking for his Mum. I look at the clock, 5:45pm! Time, never enough time! 97 years and still not enough time!

"I have to go Nana" I whisper, and squeeze her tightly telling her I love her. "Love you too Ais", she says warmly, giving me a wink. " I'll visit you again when next I'm home!"

And I will, only this time you will be with Papa when I come.

Love you always and forever!

Ais
IP Address:
109.76.6.75
Tuesday, July 06 2010 - 11:38 PM

mc manus

bavan omeath

Murphy - Carne -Peter O'Brienn

Murphy/ Carne
Anoka, Minnesota
1855
A brief story

John J. Murphy, son of John Murphy and Rose Fagan was born and baptized 9th of February 1829 in Whitestown, Carlingsford, Co. Louth
in Ireland. Mary Carne, daughter of James Carne and Biddy Boyle was born and baptized 5th August 1829 in Rathnew, Carlingsford, Co
Louth, Ireland.
John emigrated to America in 1851 and lived in New York where he met his childhood sweetheart again and wed in 1855 – shortly after the began there journey to homestead their farm in Anoka, Minnesota.
The trip was a ship down the Atlantic Ocean to New Orleans; then a ship to up the Mississippi to Dubuque, Iowa where the river was froze over. From there, John walked to Anoka to establish his farm and later his family of seven children –
The Office of Arms, Genealogical Office At Dublin Castle in 1979 was able to find the details of both of these people their parents and their baptismal sponsors names. In 1978 we had Leslie Randels Gillund, a professional genealogist do a search and she was able to develop a great deal of information on the family. Some points of interest:
Mary died with my grandmother Margaret “Maggie” birth 7 March 1872; John remarried and his second wife died 9 April 1906 -
She was buried At Calvary Cemetery 12, April 1906 and some of the costs were; services $ 55.00, Dress $4.50, Hearse & Horse $10.00
Total $ 69.00 – John died soon after 21 July 1906 at the age of 77.
He too is buried in Calvary. Costs Special-candles & Casket $75.00
Embalm $10.00 Suit $ 7.50 & $5.00 not designated – “Didn’t cost much to die in those days” –
John’s obituary is in the library scrapbook on page 961- It reads:
OLD RESIDENT DIES – MAN PROMINENT IN THE HISTORY OF THIS SECTION FOR FIFTY YEARS PAST – The Union is called upon to chronicle the death of one of the pioneers of this section,
Jon Murphy, a resident of Hennepin county nearly fifty-one years. He died while visiting his daughter Mrs. Talbot, being sicken suddenly with a paralytic stroke, death ensuing Saturday night.
John Murphy was born in county Louth, Ireland seventy-six years ago. He came to America in 1851,
Settling in New York state. He remained there until 1855, when he came west. Just before leaving for the west he married Miss Mary Carne, a playmate of his childhood in Ireland. The party came as far as Dubuque and found navigation stopped by the ice Nothing daunted he left his folks at
Dubuque and walked to St. Paul, and from there to his farm in Hennepin county, taking it as a homestead. This was in “55 and he has been actively engaged in looking after his farm interests for nearly 51 years. Thirty-four years ago his wife died and later he married Margaret Dunn, who passed away last April. Mr. Murphy left six children, all by his first wife as follows; Mrs. Mary Faherty,Nary, Minn; William Murphy, Minneapolis; Mrs. Kate Hennesy, Minneapolis; Mrs. Annie Thayer, Minneapolis; Mrs. Frank Talbot, Anoka ; Mrs. Margaret O’Brien, Minneapolis. His oldest daughter, Mrs. Fererty, was one of the first white children to be born in this vicinity –

Page two

John Murphy volunteered in the United States Army at St. Paul, Minn. on 19 August 1864 and reported in at Fort Snelling 26 August to serve in Co. G, 11 Reg’t Minnesota Infantry in the Civil War. His unit fought
in the Gallatine, Tennessee area – He was honorably discharged on the 26th of June 1865

Jane Murphy (1868-1936) wed Frank Talbot (1860-1930) – A son was Ralph Talbot the very famous County Sheriff –
William Murphy (1862-1938) wed Jose O’Brien (1859-1943) She was a sister of my grandfather William J. O’Brien (1861-1914) and he wed the youngest Murphy, Margaret (1872-1958) -
My grandfather, William O’Brien was a grocer in south Mpls. and this Wm Murphy was a teamster as they delivered groceries with horse and wagon; thus the name teamster –

John J. Murphy farm was in Dayton Township & they attended
St. Stevens Church -

The attached Genealogy chart will give you more detail about others –

The most famous of Murphy’s was Dermot Mac Murrough , King of Leinster and foreigners in the 12th century – He wanted reign over all of Ireland as High King and he is the one that invited the Norman’s in to help him to accomplish his dream – Well, they came and took over Ireland and his dream was never accomplished and Ireland has never been the same, nor has any one person ever reigned over Ireland since The Great High King Brian Boru and he was killed at the battle of Clontarf in 1014- No one since Brian has been able to be over all of that little place in one thousand years –

Story about Mary Carne: When they settled into their log cabin built by John, three Indians came in as this was Indian territory, Mary got the shot gun, the Indians left and never came back -Also, she ran off a big black bear that got into the cabin (Tough Irish girl) Mary died with the birth of my grandmother Margaret “Maggie” Murphy 7 March 1872 in their little log cabin – Later, John built a big home on the farm for his family -