So Nana tells me this story the other day. They decided to leave in October to go to America mainly because Dad couldn't find work. Mom told him that she would go to England if he wanted, and his response was "We're not going there, it's a Godless country!" Boy that didn't sound like him at all.
Three days before they got married Dad gets a job with Ford in Cork. Mom and Dad had a decision to make, and seriously considered staying in Ireland. Apparently Uncle Jim and Auntie Madge had already paid for the boat over to the states, and rented an apartment for them for four months. Dad said he couldn't break his word to Uncle Jim, so they went ahead with the trip. Can you imagine what what our lives would have been like in Ireland? I think Donal might have been a professional golfer, or at least talked his way into playing with professionals. I of course, would have been a star hurling player (for the Barrs and Cork of course)! Well, maybe not, but it certainly would have been different.
Uncle Jim Courtney used to love telling the story of when he arrived in this country he was taken off the boat and put in a big hall. All that were seated were given a big meal of turkey, potatoes and veggies. He was quite amazed and thrilled at the greeting he got in this new country. He wondered if they did this for everyone.
