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My dad lived with his mother lived at his maternal grandmothers - 5 William Street (upper), New Ross. He left there in 1945 at the age of 6 and came to England. I took him back last year and we went to this house and other places that he remembered. While there he talked alot about a friend he used to play with in the street called Patsy Geelan (not sure of the spelling of the surname but thats how it sounds). Patsy possibly lived in the same street or the one behind, Cross Street. I know its a long shot and many years have passed but does any one know of Patsy or have any knowledge of Thomas & Mary Dunne and the children, Michael, John, Patrick & Bridget at this address. Thanks

Seán Lannon

Thursday 27th Feb 2020, 09:58AM

Message Board Replies

  • Hi Sean,

    My father was born and lived in No 15 William Street, New Ross. Charles Byrne he went to London, England in 1940, In my youth in the 50's my brother Danny and sister Maureen we were sent to New Ross,Wexford every school holidays. We used to stay in William Street, I remember Edno, met a lot of other children who played out in the street cannot remember names. There was a water pump that supplied drinking water to the street. There was also quarry that was our playground. We used to climb up the rocks to the top and thought we were so clever not realising the danger should we slip, we would not be here to tell the story. The quarry was where upper and lower William Street met, it may have been called Jones Hill.

    The only family name I remember is Monaghan as Jim was my fathers best friend. The lady who lived in No 1 was a Monaghan, Kitty I believe, Edno may have been her son she also had at least two daughters.
     

    We normally travelled with my fathers sister our Auntie Bridie Kelly. 

     

    Kind regards

     

    Pat

     

     

     

     

    Pat

    Friday 28th Feb 2020, 06:35AM
  • Pat

    Thank you for taking the time and for the information. I will be asking my dad if he remembers any of these names and places. I hope he does as I could see how much he enjoyed revisiting last year. 

    Thanks again

    Sean

     

     

     

     

    Seán Lannon

    Tuesday 3rd Mar 2020, 10:57AM
  • Hi Sean I just saw your post today.Patsy Geelan was my brother. He came to Ireland as a baby during the war with my mother to her parents who lived at 15 William St New RossThey returned to London after the war. Unfortunately he died in 1999, I now live in Tramore Co Waterford.He was a great brother and a fantastic personality and a very popular person .He married and had 3 children. If you want any more information contact me

    kathy o brien

    Saturday 1st Aug 2020, 03:41PM
  • My mothers parents were Joe and Kate Furlong, my grandfather was a baker in Burns Bakery South St. my Uncle John lived in the house too.

     

    kathy o brien

    Saturday 1st Aug 2020, 04:00PM
  • Hi Pat the Kitty you mentioned had two daughters June and Carmel and a soon Tommy,I knew June well she went to live in England but has retired back to New Ross

    kathy o brien

    Sunday 2nd Aug 2020, 08:37AM
  • Hi my maternal grandfather was born and raised at number 9 William Street...James Rochford born 1915. He was one of many children of James & Ellen Rochford (nee Ryan) my grandfather came to London in 1944 with his childhood sweetheart Mary Bridget Furlong whose large family were from Mary Street.  They married in London in 1944 and my mum was born in 1946. Maureen (Marie) Rochford. 
    James had sisters Polly, Bridget, Sheila (Julia) and brothers Patrick & Andrew. Unfortunately James passed as a young man in 1948 from TB...
    My mum has fabulous memories of coming over to New Ross in the summer holidays as a small child playing in William Street with her cousin Tony Rochford and visiting both her Rochford & Furlong Grandparents and aunts/uncles that were still living in Ross...although most had moved to London in the forties 

     

     

     

    YvonneByrne

    Sunday 2nd Aug 2020, 09:55PM
  • Kathy

     

    Thank you for taking the time to reply. Sorry to learn of the loss of your brother as was my dad. He often speaks about Patsy and the good times they had playing out in the street and he really enjoyed revisiting William Street last year.

     

    Sean

    Seán Lannon

    Thursday 13th Aug 2020, 11:05AM
  • Attached Files

    Hi Sean delighted that you got in touch again! I was so surprised and excited when I came across your post as it happened by accident,Very few people remember the name Geelan and I was always asked to spell it! I am thrilled your Dad remembered Patsy he was always a larger than life character I adored him,I was born in 1947 in London and grew up in Belsize Park Hampstead.I met my husband while on holiday in William St. in 1965 he is from Waterford.After a lot of ups and downs we married in 1970 and I moved to Ireland.My mother came to live with us soon after and I continued my teaching career .Patsy loved visiting especially going up to New Ross he had a special affinity for the place and in particular William St and like your father had fond memories. We have been living in Tramore for 48 years now so if you or your dad are ever over I would love to meet you.I am on Facebook as Kathy Geelan O Brien and there are plenty of photos of Patsy.Say hello to your dad for me and once again thank you for that wonderful Photograph,Take care Sean.P

    kathy o brien

    Saturday 15th Aug 2020, 04:50PM
  • I hope you can see those photos the first one is Patsy with Uncle John Furlong who lived at 15 William St. taken at The Three Bullet gate in New Ross . The second is his Wedding in 1965

    kathy o brien

    Saturday 15th Aug 2020, 04:53PM
  • kathy o brien

    Sunday 16th Aug 2020, 01:23PM
  • Kathy

    Thank you for the lovely photos. I passed them on to my dad who was delighted to see them. Once again thanks for getting in touch and if I do manage to get him back over we will be sure to look you up.

    Sean 

    Seán Lannon

    Thursday 20th Aug 2020, 10:54AM
  • Hi Sean I am glad your Dad enjoyed the Photos,in the Rugby one he is sitting bottom right. Please thank your Dad for remembering Patsy so fondly it means a lot to me, there was only the two of us. A big thank you for sharing that and for the Photo.I wish you both health and happiness God Bless you. Don't forget if you ever come this way again look me up.My email is obrienkathyj@gmail.com.They must have had great fun together!

    kathy o brien

    Thursday 20th Aug 2020, 02:58PM
  • Pat it must have been Lower William St your relatives lived at because my Mother lived at 15 William St her parents moved in sometime around 1906-1907 and the house was new .Their names were Furlong

     

    kathy o brien

    Tuesday 24th Aug 2021, 10:03AM
  • Hi there Yvonne,

     

    I think we may be related.

     

    My grandfather was Andrew Rochford born 1914 and would have been the brother of your grandfather.

     

    My grandfather who everyone called paddy (he told me he didn't mind being called this as it reminded him of his brother) lived in Wales till his death in 1998. He was married to my gran who passed away around 10 years ago.

    They had two girls called Ellen (after his mother) and Ann who is my mother.

    He had 6 grandchildren with me as the only boy.

     

    I have recently been looking at my family tree as I am in the process of obtaining my Irish passport. 

     

    It has been a great experience finding out about my Irish family and was wondering what more you could tell us about the Rochford family.

     

    Hope you are well

    Scott Thomas 

     

     

    Wednesday 7th Jun 2023, 11:49AM
  • Hi there Yvonne,

     

    I think we may be related.

     

    My grandfather was Andrew Rochford born 1914 and would have been the brother of your grandfather.

     

    My grandfather who everyone called paddy (he told me he didn't mind being called this as it reminded him of his brother) lived in Wales till his death in 1998. He was married to my gran who passed away around 10 years ago.

    They had two girls called Ellen (after his mother) and Ann who is my mother.

    He had 6 grandchildren with me as the only boy.

     

    I have recently been looking at my family tree as I am in the process of obtaining my Irish passport. 

     

    It has been a great experience finding out about my Irish family and was wondering what more you could tell us about the Rochford family.

     

    Hope you are well

    Scott Thomas 

     

     

    Wednesday 7th Jun 2023, 11:52AM

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