March 1st is the anniversary of the birth of Honore Corbett, born in Carrigaholt, Townland of Rehy Cross, County Clare, Eire, in 1839. She was the wife of William Sheehan, who emigrated to America, didn't like it and went back! She was Boom Boom's grandmother.
She was called "Norie Fathie," meaning "Tall Nora." She and William had a brood of children, one of whom was Big John Sheehan--a raw-boned, strong kid, who left to come to America and never saw his mother, Honore, again. But, oh, did he talk about her, and her name lives in the family. Jim offers a story about him and his Kate, below.
Love, Patty
More from Jim:
At the end of John's life, the cops would bring him home each night to Boom and Boomp's, and deposit him, have a cup of tea, and go on. He would walk up to the corner of 50th and Halsted, Back of the Yards in Chicago, and wait at the bus stop for the boat, because his mother, who had been dead for thirty years or so, was coming on the next one.
He was so terribly confused, and full of sorrow and longing for the mother he never saw after he took ship, and for the rest of his tribe. But he had his Kate, and his three children, and his only daughter was Boom Boom. His dementia made him quiet and melancholy.
When my mother, Mary Claire, and my sister, Margaret, and Margaret's daughter Elizabeth had a horrible roll-over accident on Mount Baldy, there was an older, pretty woman with an Irish brogue who tapped Margaret on the shoulder, as Margy was in a bit of shock, and told her to "check on the baby." Lizzie was in the back, not breathing. Margaret roused her and she began again to breathe. Then Margaret turned back to thank the Irish woman, and she was gone. I think midwife's know how to "check the baby." In my heart of hearts, I'm thanking my great-great-grandmother for that one.
Seamus the Older
Honore was a midwife and delivered most of the babies in the Corca Baiscinn Peninsula, from Loop Head to Kilkee, until she died in Ireland in about 1910. She was reputed to be the most beautiful woman in Clare.
Boom Boom talked about Honore Corbett a lot, and her name now echoes in the family in Katherine Honore Merwin, Mary Fran's first-born daughter.
Happy birthday, Honore Corbett Sheehan, and please watch over us. God bless us and save us and keep us from harm.
Love, Patty
More from Jim:
At the end of John's life, the cops would bring him home each night to Boom and Boomp's, and deposit him, have a cup of tea, and go on. He would walk up to the corner of 50th and Halsted, Back of the Yards in Chicago, and wait at the bus stop for the boat, because his mother, who had been dead for thirty years or so, was coming on the next one.
He was so terribly confused, and full of sorrow and longing for the mother he never saw after he took ship, and for the rest of his tribe. But he had his Kate, and his three children, and his only daughter was Boom Boom. His dementia made him quiet and melancholy.
When my mother, Mary Claire, and my sister, Margaret, and Margaret's daughter Elizabeth had a horrible roll-over accident on Mount Baldy, there was an older, pretty woman with an Irish brogue who tapped Margaret on the shoulder, as Margy was in a bit of shock, and told her to "check on the baby." Lizzie was in the back, not breathing. Margaret roused her and she began again to breathe. Then Margaret turned back to thank the Irish woman, and she was gone. I think midwife's know how to "check the baby." In my heart of hearts, I'm thanking my great-great-grandmother for that one.
Seamus the Older
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