Greta McBride

Plumbridge School

Auntie Greta attended this school on the bridge over the Plum.

Pinkerton's and The Glenelly Bar

We had arranged to meet Rose Mary Murphy at 2pm on Sunday 20th May at Pinkerton's in Plumbridge but Peter at the Glenelly Bar saw us taking photographs and called us in.

Outside the Glenelly Bar.

Nearby is Leo's Bar. Across the road used to be McCulloch's Bar.

Rose Mary Murphy (a MacCullagh whose family live across the road from O'Kane's farm) of the Glenelly Historical Society. Rose Mary took so much time and trouble to set up meetings with warm and welcoming locals including Joe (above). Joe has a photographic memory and recalled Francie Hurley the postman who 'took a drink' and a Mr Hollis who had inturned feet and wasn't quite sure how to install the false teeth delivered to him by post. He also calculated that Auntie Greta's birthday fell on a Friday.

Initial meeting in the car moved inside to the Glenelly Bar where Peter prepared a peat turf fire and his wife put on a lovely tea with biscuits.

Rose Mary took us to meet Tommy McBride (Neddy) at the site where Greta lived with Granny Maggie and Dennis' father Patrick McBride.

The surrounding Sperrin 'Mountains'.

Belix School Crockrour Road

Off to meet Mary and her daughter Siobhan. Mary is in her eighties and was a pupil at Belix School but the teacher - a Mrs O'Kane - was no relation.

Belix School (beside the conifer tree)

Views of beautiful countryside in upper Belix near Belix School in the Sperrins.

Irish Craic

A few G and Ts at the Fir Trees Hotel after dinner. No luck with the 'Take Your Pick' raffle tickets though! Maybe Sylvia will be luckier with her Plumbridge lottery ticket. Auntie Greta was quite the party animal, burning the midnight oil!

Near Site of Killeanagh/Killeaney Church

A wonderful welcome from Father Eamon McDevitt at his 1960s built St Patrick's Church, near the site of the now demolished Killeanagh/Killeaney church. The parish record shows that Father John McGlinchey performed the ceremony of Dennis McBride and Maggie B O'Kane's marriage on August 3rd 1919, witnessed by Mick and Brigid O'Kane.