Guileen by Michael (Oliver) Hanley 

I was born in Guileen in July 1934, the third son of Michael and Anastasia
Hanley (nee Condon). My sister Rose followed in 1936. Father joined the
Royal Navy in 1900 and served until 1924, retiring as a Chief Petty Officer.
He died in November 1939 after being rejected for service in the second
world war. His main claim to fame was that he was a shipmate of Tom Crean
and one of the few things I can remember of him was him talking about
visiting Crean at The South Pole, his pub in Kerry, (or was it Clare?). This
bit may be apocryphal although it was repeated to me four years ago when I
attended a funeral in Aghada, he was a Master at Arms - i.e. the ship's
policeman on the RMS CELTIC when she ran aground off Roche's Point in
December 1928. Because he lived so near to the grounding he was supposedly
allowed home to see his family.

When he died his navy pension ceased forthwith and Mother was left
destitute. She had no alternative but to arrange for us to be sent to
Greenmount Orphanage in Cork. When she was old enough Rose was sent to
Rushbroke in Cobh. Because of the strong family connection with the Navy on
both sides of the family the next step was automatic. On reaching  the age
of eleven and a half each of the male members of the family was despatched
to the Royal Hospital School - the successor to Greenwich College, located
near Ipswich, Suffolk, the  primary function of which was to train
youngsters for service in the Navy. Frank, the eldest, was the first to
travel which he did in 1942. Paul followed in 1944 and I brought up the rear
in January 1946. The method of getting us to the other side of England in
wartime, or in my case shortly after it had ended was simple. The good
Brothers tied a label on our lapels with the destination written on, took us
down to the cattle boat - the Kenmare,  handed us over to a Steward who
promptly locked us in a cabin from which we were released the following
morning in Fishguard, taken to the train to London and from there we were on
our own. Suffice it to say we three joined the Navy, Rose became a nurse and
Mother went to live initially in Farsid and later in Upper Aghada where she
died in 1982. Yes we came home on leave but then we got married and the
visits became infrequent.

Frank died in 1988 - his widow Betty lives on that steep hill leading down
to Lower Aghada. Paul took over the family home in Upper Aghada and myself
and Rose  have remained in England. The only time we visit now is for
funerals. I am very fortunate to have been married to Margaret for nearly 48
years. We are blessed with two daughters and two sons who between them have
provided us with six grandsons and two granddaughters. I often think of
Guileen and the carefree days I enjoyed there. Maybe I can fill you in with
some reminiscences some time in the future. In the meantime if you want more
information about Guileen I suggest you contact the following: Paul Hanley,
who lives at number 3  Marian Place, Aghada, Maurice Cashman, who has the
shop opposite the church, Tom Duhig who has a bungalow to die for near
Hadwen Hall overlooking the harbour and any of the O'Brien's who live near
Whitegate. A gentleman called WAFER ( I'm not sure about his Christian
name )  is about the oldest surviving resident in Guileen.