Bill Gallagher was born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. When
he was six years of age his mother brought him, his brother James and
sister Grace back to her home in Creeslough. They were reared there
by their Gillespie grandparents and stayed there for many years. Bill
had a wind charger which he used to light the house in Terlin and changed
wet batteries for the people who had a radio. He also had a motor bike
- not many bikes around at that time. Bill worked in the Creeslough
Co-Op for a few years. He also started a local Dance Ceili Band called
the Cleveland Quintet - (Should have being called The Gallagher's Band!
) The band consisted of Bill Gallagher, Johnny Gallagher, Francis Gallagher,
Pat Boyle and John Mc Carry. Their lead singer was a young girl from
Ards, Creeslough. called Bridie Gallagher later to become world famous
and known as "The Girl from Donegal."
Bill
returned to the States at 21 years of age and was drafted into the
U. S. Army. He served two years in Germany and two years in Fort Knox
guarding the gold bullion!!! He married and settled in Boston where
we ran a Pub for 25 years. In 1979 he returned to Creeslough where
he bought Hannah O'Donnell's Old Hotel. He opened a little souvenir
shop making all the items himself. Having many visitors and people
interested in their Genealogy - Family Tree, he started in this field
and is a great source of knowledge for the Parish. He corresponds with
people all over the world trying to trace their Creeslough Roots.
He is a famous story teller and contributes to Highland
Radio. He has also contributed to RTE's programme "Mooney Goes Wild"
He also is invited to visit schools and give talks to the children on
Irish and American Coins. He tells the children that money can buy
them everything - except two things? - "Happiness and Heaven." He has
also contributed to several books on the Locality.
When the Mc Sweeney Clan were having their first Re-Union
- Bill did all the research and he is an Honored Guest at all their
Functions. He is a close friend of Millionaire Kent Sweeney, Nova Scotia
who attends all the functions.
He is famous as the Gartan Clay &Tory Clay . He makes
up key rings and little prayer cards containing the famous Gartan Clay.
He gets requests for these from all over the country.
Bill moved on to join his relatives 19/12/2003
