Letters 2003 – 2004
Mullaghgloss, Renvyle
County Galway
Feb. 5th, 2003
Dear Jürgen –
After I sent you the cassette I wished I hadn’t done so, but when I heard the end result I couldn’t believe it. You made a wonderful job and CD of it, you are sure a master of the art of restoring old battered, delipated and beyond hope old tapes, and I must sincerely thank you.
I hope you and Hildegard are well and in good health. Margaret and myself are fairly good now, only Margaret has bad arthritis in her knees. To-day is bitterly cold. The wind is blowing from the north and snow is promised to-night. Even so the sun is shining and warm through the window.
Delighted to hear you have already booked your cottage, and I hope you will visit us in Mullaghgloss again, not once, but every time you feel a chat or a whiskey would be good for you.
I probably won’t ever play in pubs again, Jürgen, because Barry’s Hotel in Clifden is changing to something else. I miss my old friends there and the craic, but especially the Euros that I always felt independent with in my pocket. But that’s life, Jürgen, and the youth are now taking over, and that is good too.
God bless. Slán agus beannacht an t-am seo. — From Johnnie, Margaret and Gerard.
Mullaghgloss, Renvyle
County Galway
April 10th, 2003
Hello Jürgen and Hildegard –
We hope you both are well. Margaret is still bad with pain in her knees, and I have to go into hospital on April 5th for a scan on the kidneys. It’s scary.
The weather is wonderful, no rain for almost a month, blue skies and warm sunshine. I see the weather in Germany is good too. In spite of the war I see some Yanks in here. But I don’t go to the pubs now or play music. What date in June are you coming? Call on me when you arrive. My son Seán is coming on the 8th of June and also my three nieces. So I hope I will feel better then to be able to go out and have a drink with you all.
Did you hear that Margaret of the Angler’s Rest got a cancerous tumour on the brain and had it removed? She is in Dublin now having a chemo and radio therapy. It’s very sad indeed. Margaret is young like Noreen, but I hope she will beat it. Cancer is awful, especially when it hits the young.
Excuse my writing. My hand shakes very much now, but I’m happy to be alive and enjoying this grand weather. And the birds are taking full advantage of it too.
God bless and take care, and be sure to call. — Best wishes from Johnnie and Margaret
Mullaghgloss, Renvyle
County Galway
May 13th, 2003
Dear Jürgen and Hildegard –
Three times I made an attempt to write to you and failed. It’s very hard for me to find words to convey to you how sorry Margaret and I are to hear the news of your sister’s illness. We are just trying to come to terms with Margaret Sammon’s case which it seems won’t be any better. It’s all so sad, especially when those who are ill are still young. I hope you both are well, this leaves us here fairly good.
I’m still waiting for my final call to the hospital, but they are very slow here. I am still off the cigarettes and doing well without them so far, but I haven’t been to a pub in three months – so I’m not tempted to light up. Our wonderful weather has gone and it’s rain again and gales. It was such a great spell of dry weather, I took advantage of every moment. I think of your sister so often, Jürgen. I do pray she is not in pain, they have some wonderful pain-killing drugs now.
I hope you have better news next time. Margaret Sammon is now moved back from Dublin to Galway Hospital, they can do no more for her in Dublin. I haven’t met any of her family yet, and her husband is by her side always. It’s all so sad. She worked very hard there to make a success of the business, and it was doing well too.
I’ll finish. God bless, take care and all the best. — From Johnnie and Margaret.
Mullaghgloss, Renvyle
County Galway
Aug. 26th, 2003
Dear Hildegard and Jürgen –
I hope you are very well as we are here fairly good. The weather is wonderful and a nice cooling breeze coming from the sea. I sea on the T.V. that you have very warm weather.
My sister died just after you left for Germany. She was not well for a long time, and smoking too much helped to shorten her life. How is your sister, Jürgen? I hope she is in no pain. Jack Lydon’s mother died this morning, and his dad is just two months dead. I am sure you may have seen Jack, he has the new hotel in Tullycross. Cancer is awful.
There is nothing more to write about from here, but there seem to be a good many tourists in, especially from Germany and the rest of the continent.
Best wishes and take care. — From Johnnie, Margaret + Gerard.
Mullaghgloss, Renvyle
County Galway
November 2003
Dear Jürgen and Hildegard –
I hope you and all yours are well. We are ok here after a very fine summer, but winter has really come now. I suppose you know that Margaret Sammon died. Very sad indeed, she is a big loss to Tullycross and her family who miss her very much. Every day since she died Patrick has gone to visit her grave, you could see he is very lonely. And did I tell you that my sister Maggy died? She was like me and smoked too much in her time.
There will be a function in Renvyle House Hotel for Maggy Fallon, a benefit function to raise some money for the poor girl. She has cancer. Tickets are €10 each. The hotel is given free, all the musicians are coming free and the pubs and restaurants are donating whiskeys and cakes for raffles. So in all, there will be a good response. There is a wonderful community spirit here when trouble comes, and nothing can be worse than cancer.
I was just in the act of writing when your birthday gift arrived. It’s funny to think back to them days. Times were bad then. Tony Knowland and his family were really nice people and we had a lot of fun. I am very grateful to you for the CD* and I appreciate it very much.
My son Kieran and all the family are very well, he is going out with Michael Casey and another musician to the Canary Islands in January for three months. I don’t know who will take his place here. I don’t play now, but I did play in the church for Margaret Sammon’s funeral. There was the biggest crowd ever seen in Tullycross, and thank God the day was fine.
I hope you will be able to read this, because I see after looking closer I have gone off the lines. At 83 you leave the rails very easy.
How is your sister, Jürgen? I hope she is better. And I hope too you enjoyed your holiday and you will be back in June.
Thanks again, God bless, slán and take care. — From Johnnie and Margaret.
* Music from the Renvyle Peninsula by the O’Malley and Coyne families 1957–1988, recorded by Prof. Tony Knowland and restored from private tapes by the editor of these letters.
Mullaghgloss, Renvyle
County Galway
Jan. 20th 2004
Dear Jürgen and Hildegard –
I hope you both are well and that you enjoyed a good Xmas. I wish you a very happy and healthy New Year.
I was discharged from hospital on Xmas Eve. I was two weeks in there. I was very ill when I was admitted and got the Last Rites when I arrived. A virus along with the chest was the cause.
I am still very weak and getting very hard to recover, but I guess in time I will get better. Margaret is the same, keeping the old heart ticking. I’m beginning to learn to write again very slowly. I have a lot of letters to reply to after the Xmas.
Our weather is miserable now, but we couldn’t complain because we had a wonderful summer. Margaret and myself had Xmas with my daughter Jeannie, and this house was in darkness. I was sorry afterwards that I didn’t stay home. I was to weak for it and should never have gone.
It’s very quiet here, now that Xmas is over. The weather was good for Xmas, but it is bad now. A heavy thunderstorm last light left us in darkness until 3 p.m., but there was no damage anywhere.
I hope you will be able to read this. I am still very shaky. God bless. Take good care. I hope to be around when you come again. — Best wishes from Johnnie, Margaret and Gerard.
Mullaghgloss, Renvyle
County Galway
Feb. 20th 2004
Dear Jürgen and Hildegard –
I hope you both are well. We here in the West are ok. Myself, well, I’m slowly coming back on the rails again. I don’t go out at all now, not since Margaret Sammon died. How is your sister, Jürgen? I hope she is getting better. A lot of people have died lately, and all from cancer.
I miss my friends and the craic. Anyway, the nights are very cold here, but the days are lovely. For the past week it was like summer. Kieran is still away making music on the Canary Islands. He said he has seen no rain there since January, only warm and sunny weather. Good for him! Frank is well too and playing away all the time. He was in England last weekend. It won’t be long until June when you come again. I hope everything goes well for you both.
Excuse this writing, Jürgen, my hand shakes a bit now and I’m slow to write. There is no other news from here. Best wishes to you and Hildegard and all your folk in Germany. It’s 3 o’clock now and a beautiful day, but a frosty bite is in the air and so the night will be very cold.
God bless and take care. — From Johnnie, Margaret and Gerard.
Mullaghgloss, Renvyle
County Galway
March 11th 2004
Dear Jürgen and Hildegard –
Thank you for your letter with the sad news of your sister’s death. Margaret and myself send our sincerest sympathy to you and to all your family. It is sad enough dying so young, but leaving three young children and a husband makes it all so much harder, God rest her soul.
Thank you, Jürgen, for sending the CD* to Phil. He is working away through the country. He is a stone mason and very much in demand as he is very good and does very honest work.
About the film that was shot in Tully. The title is ‘The Seventh Stream’, I think. Well, it turned out to be rubbish. But there is a video of it, and as soon as I will lay my hands on it, which hopefully I will, I will send it on to you. But I hear it is not much to look at.
So you have been in touch with Tony Knowland. Yes, Tony is a nice guy. He was a professor at Oxford College in England for many years. His wife Barbara and children are wonderful people too. I must tell you all about them when you are back in June. Our weather here is great, clear blue skies and warm sunny days. I’m feeling good, Jürgen, and I hope you and Hildegard are too.
Thank you again and God bless. — From Johnnie + Margaret.
* Music from the Renvyle Peninsula by the O’Malley and Coyne families 1957–1988, recorded by Prof. Tony Knowland and restored from private tapes by the editor of these letters.
Mullaghgloss, Renvyle
County Galway
April 20th 2004
Dear Jürgen and Hildegard –
I hope you both are well. We are ok. The postal strike is over now, but there is a big backlog of letters to be sorted, and I don’t know when you may receive this.
We had a death in the family recently. My nephew Mark died suddenly in America from a massive heart attack, he was 48. My sister Teresa went over to the US and brought his ashes back to be buried in our local cemetery. She is in a bad way over it all, especially because he was her only child and he loved Ireland. But we are all rallying around to soften the hard blow she has got.
Kieran is back home now from the Canary Islands where he was playing since January. He is very tanned from the sun, but he is fine.
There is nothing happening here that would remotely interest you. The cigarette ban is being observed very well and all seem to be happy with it. I smoke, but I’m all for the ban.
So this is all, Jürgen, this time. June is fast approaching and the weather here is good, but I don’t go out because the nights are very cold. The postal strike is over, thank God, so you will get this hopefully.
Best wishes to you both as usual. God bless, take care. — As ever, Johnnie, Margaret and Gerard.
Mullaghgloss, Renvyle
County Galway
July 6th 2004
Dear Jürgen and Hildegard –
You left Tully Cross in the right time, the weather has been very bad since – cold and very wintery. To-day it’s bright and sunny but still very cold. There is a bug going around, and a great many are very sick. I got it too, but I’m ok again.
I hope you both are well and back on track again. I enjoyed your trip, and I was glad to be able to go out and especially play for you. I’m sorry I didn’t know in time, Hildegard, that you like crab claws. Otherwise I would have got you some, but next time I will have claws enough for you – and that’s a promise! Pray that I still will be here when you come back.
There won’t be anything exciting here until Kieran’s girls double wedding. I hope I will be able to write you all about it afterwards, that is, if I’m able to go to the wedding.
To-day is Sunday, and the most of the family were here to visit. I was looking at hurling and football matches, and I saw Greece beating Portugal to win the world cup. It was exciting. All the men were watching television, and all the girls and Margaret in the kitchen drinking tea and talking.
I will enclose two photographs. No. 1 (left): Margaret holding the pony. I’m sitting in the cart, and the other two became priests. One of them is dead now.
No 2 (right): We had this picture taken on sea going fishing. The lad with me became a priest, and he died in Dublin two weeks after Noreen died. The photo was taken in 1948.
Would you have the photos enlarged for me, Jürgen? And please do tell me the cost! Best wishes and God bless. — From Johnnie, Margaret and Gerard.
Mullaghgloss, Renvyle
County Galway
July 21st 2004
Dear Hildegard and Jürgen –
Good morning from a very wet and dreary day in the West. Frank’s Caroline had her baby this morning in Galway Hospital. It’s a boy and weighed in at 9 pounds and 13 ozs. There is great excitement all around. They took her in at 3 am, and the baby was born at 11 am. They are both doing fine.
I hope you both are doing well and are in good health. I could see by the weather chart that your weather is pretty good. I have never seen the pubs so empty, and it’s not the smoking ban but the price of the drink. I think Ireland has priced herself out of the tourist trade. All we see passing now are hoards of bikers and motor-bikers. No cars, and the weather is no help. Unless things change it will be a dead loss.
Sorry, this letter is so dreary. Thank God you were lucky to have some nicer days here in June. It’s the best time to come to Ireland.
I cannot think of anything more to tell to tell you from Mullaghgloss. So until next time we send our best wishes to you both. God bless, be good and take care. — From Johnnie, Margaret + Gerard.
Mullaghgloss, Renvyle
County Galway
August 12th 2004
Dear Hildegard and Jürgen –
I don’t know how to start this letter, Margaret and myself are so sorry to hear about your job loss. I know what it is like to be laid off work and in bad times.
Well, thank you so much for doing the pictures [see: July 6th 2004]. All the family were so happy with them. They begged me for one. The one with Margaret and the pony they were delighted with. When we got married there were no photographs or cameras around, and it was long after the war before they came on the scene. So those pictures are treasures.
My writing to-day is not so good because my hand shakes, but I hope you will be able to read it. We had some very warm weather. All I could do was to sit outside in the sun. But there is a change coming, and we will have rain on Sunday.
* * *
Well, Jürgen, to-day is Tuesday, and Margaret is going to the wedding of her niece in Carlow on Thursday. She has a sore leg, but she is very brave. I couldn’t go, Jürgen, I don’t feel well enough for the journey and the weather is so hot. So I’m staying with Jeannie until Margaret comes home again. They wouldn’t leave me alone here.
It’s so warm at the moment that I could hardly write. Hildegard: I’m not forgetting the crab claws I promised you for the next time you come home.
I hear from Margaret Ann that Letterfrack is full of visitors to-day and the National Park is crowded. There is big traffic on our road too in the last two days, so it may turn out to be a good year for tourists yet if the weather holds good.
Marion Coyne, Brian’s wife, is still struggling with the cancer. Poor girl, it’s very sad. I couldn’t think of anything else to tell you from here. Oh yes, Jürgen, could you ever send about ½ dozen copies of the picture with Margaret and the pony? The girls here would love to have one of her being so young. I hate to bother you again, and I wish you would charge something because it takes time and money.
So I will finish up now. I hope you have good news next time regarding your work and that you will find something you would like to do. Best wishes always to you and Hildegard. — From Johnnie, Margaret and Gerard.
Mullaghgloss, Renvyle
County Galway
August 30th 2004
Hello Jürgen and Hildegard –
I hope you both are well. We are fairly good. I didn’t go to the wedding in Carlow, but Margaret did. She said it was a great wedding, but she didn’t enjoy it all that much because her leg was very painful. It is still swollen and weeping, but to-day it’s showing signs of healing.
The weather is mild, but we had some heavy downpours of rain. To-day it’s nice and sunny. Our daughter Teresa is here with us to help Margaret a bit and take the pressure of her leg. Kieran and all the family are well. The double wedding isn’t far away now, and that will be something to write about. Gerard took me to Castlebar to get a suit for the big day. I do hope to be able to get there. I was at a funeral yesterday in Mayo. He was a very good friend of the past, and the journey left me very tired.
Paddy Coyne’s pub is closed for a month or so to have some indoor improvements done. I think the authorities got after Gerard [the late Paddy Coyne’s son] to improve things.
We are lucky with the weather. Even though the forecasts are bad, we come out better in the West.
That is all from here, Jürgen. Ireland did no good in the Olympics, sad to say. Well, slán agus beannacht for now until next time. — From Johnnie, Margaret and Gerard.
Mullaghgloss, Renvyle
County Galway
September 16th 2004
Hello Hildegard and Jürgen –
Thank you for your letter and photos [see: July 6th 2004] yesterday. Now I will be able to give them one each + they cannot say I have a favourite member of the family. They really liked the photos, so thank you both so much again.
We had some lovely weather, Jürgen, there were some really warm days. But now a change has come and there is lashing rain and gales with some thunder. Kieran, with Michael Casey and some others, went to Clare Island (it’s off the Mayo coast) to play at a festival there. They went in on Saturday evening, and they are marooned there since. The ferry may be able to make it to-day. Frank and Gerard are on Boffin Island working with the E.S.B. putting up new poles and wiring. They are ok so far. I see there is high pressure coming our way, so they don’t have to worry. Anyway, they should be due out to-morrow.
I hope this finds you both in good spirits. We are fairly good. Margaret is in at the hospital to-day having her heart checked out. Her leg wound is now almost healed.
Well, Hildegard, the double wedding is getting near now. I only wish it was all over. I played at so many weddings down the years and they are nearly all the same in the end. But times have changed and now it’s all big money. I will be telling you all about it when it’s all over. I hope it will be a happy day for them, but it will be one of sadness too. Visions of Noreen, their mother, are bound to be painful [see: July 5th 2002]. I guess she will be there in spirit.
 |
| In June 2004 Hildegard’s mother (middle) and brother (right) and his family were visiting Tully Cross, and Johnnie was playing for them in Paddy Coyne’s |
I hope too that you will enjoy your trip to the sea and the weather will be in your favour. This is all, Jürgen. And Hildegard: tell your Mum we send her our best wishes, and the little girl [Hildegard’s niece] too.
It was nice they enjoyed that little session in Paddy Coyne’s. They are working on the inside now, and I heard it’s nice what they have done. Customers in all pubs have dropped a lot. People cannot afford going there often now, it’s to costly.
Anyways, Jürgen and Hildegard, this is all this time. Until next time take care and thank you both sincerely for everything. God bless. — From Johnnie, Margaret and Gerard.
Mullaghgloss, Renvyle
County Galway
October 15th 2004
Dear Jürgen and Hildegard –
We hope you both are well, we here are ok now. Margaret’s leg has complete healed up. I was called to the hospital, but they did nothing to remedy the bladder trouble. I must try again.
Well, the big wedding is over, Jürgen, and it all went very well. There were more than 500 guests. They looked lovely in their white wedding dresses; they are now home from their South American honeymoon. The day had its sad moments when Noreen was mentioned in the speeches. Kieran gave a very emotional speech about her, and the priest said his own nice things. She was his great friend.
The night before the wedding I felt so ill that I thought I wouldn’t be able to make it, but in the morning I felt better. After the meal Gerard took in the nebulizer, and Jeannie had a room in the hotel three flights up and she took me there. It was an en suite with television, toilet, and a means to make tea or coffee at any time. There I waited until home-
I was invited to another wedding a week later. Mary across the road here was getting married, but it was the day of my appointment with the hospital. So I couldn’t go. Margaret went, and she enjoyed it. The next big event was at Renvyle House Hotel, where the Renvyle branch of Comhaltas* was celebrating 30 years of music, song and dance. Being one of the founder members I had complimentary tickets for Margaret and myself with reserved seats and all thrown in. It was a wonderful night, attended by musicians, singers and dancers from many parts of Ireland. The very best in the land!
The Director of Comhaltas from Dublin was there, an old friend of mine. There were many glowing tributes paid to myself by the director and the young musicians, and some reels were played especially for me. I had no fiddle with me, but I was happy to be there to listen to it all. It was a night I will never forget. I got home about four in the morning.
So, that’s all the stories from here, Hildegard and Jürgen. Only to thank you again for the pictures, which were really appreciated by all the family. Paul took his copies into Galway, where he had them enlarged again and beautiful framed. Now they are hanging in his sitting room, where he proudly admires them. The people in Galway told him they were the best black and white pictures they came across.
Frank and Rose are flying out to California this evening. Rose has a niece out there and they are going to visit her.
This is all for now until next time. God bless and take good care. Excuse the mistakes, shaky writing and all. — From Johnnie, Margaret and Gerard.
* Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann is the largest group involved in the preservation and promotion of Irish traditional music, a non-
Mullaghgloss, Renvyle
County Galway
November 23rd 2004
Dear Jürgen + Hildegard –
Thank you for the letter and the photographs. I appreciate the ones taken when I was in the army. Restored they look better than when they were first taken in 1942.
I haven’t been well, Jürgen, I spent eight days in Merlin Park Hospital, and I have been in again since for X-rays. Last Thursday I had an ultra-sound done, and I am waiting for the results of that now. I feel fairly good, and I am eating better. I haven’t smoked for a month, so if they could do something about the bladder trouble now, I’d be happy. Anyways, I’ll let you know when they do – if they do.
The weather is mild, but it turns cold at night. Life here is really quiet now. The smoking ban and the price of drink have left the pubs very empty.
Margaret and all the family are well. There was no birthday party*, but Margaret Anne phoned and asked if they could come. I didn’t feel too well, but I said why not. Well, they came and it was 4 am next morning when they finished. They brought drink and food, and they enjoyed themselves. We had no music for the first time ever, but songs and stories and plenty of laughs. So they were happy.
Thank you for your birthday greetings. In case anything happens to me I would like to take this opportunity to wish you both and all your families a very happy Xmas. If all goes well, I will be writing you a line before then.
So once again, Jürgen and Hildegard, it’s home away from home. God bless you and keep you in good health. God bless, take care. — From Johnnie, Margaret and Gerard.
* Johnnie’s 84th birthday.
