"If you live to be one hundred, you've got it made. Very few people die past that age." George Burns


This memorial website was created to remember our dearest Mother Anne Casey who was born in Derry Northern Ireland on August 9, 1932 and passed away on July 17, 2012. You will live forever in our memories and hearts.

From Derry to Leeds sometime in the early fifties. The MacFaul family emigrate to England, Mother, Father, brothers Robert,Ernest and David sitter Margaret. and went to set up a new home in Highfield street Beeston Hill Leeds Now this street was like walking up the face of Everest what would be referred to as steep. Like most streets today most of the residence were friendly, with a few odd balls.

She worked here for many years until going back to Ireland with her husband Michael Casey,At that time they had four of us kids, Lawrence 9 me,David 6, Marie 4, and Andrew 2. Mary and Daddy's Pet Martin arrived later. (Sorry Martin I had to get that in as it made Mother laugh )

Life in Ireland at that time April 1968 was very different from what we were used to in England,no electricity and running water, no in door toilets and no bathroom. So lighting was provided by oil lamps or candle (I honestly thought we had been transported to a novel by Charles Dickens) But the good Lord puts these time in-front of use to make sure we appreciate what we have. Bath room duties were done in the barn at the left gable of the house and if you had to go in the middle of the night you rolled up a piece of the then news paper the western people lit it and set of at a great rake of knots to get your business finished as soon as possible (It now reminds me of one of them Olympic torch runners) If number one, you had a tin bucket near the bed,the arguments we had as kids to see who emptied it was unreal.

Water was drawn form a well across the narrow road in John Moran's Field. Bath time was fun no arguments about washing only who got into the tin bath in front of the fire first. All cocking Mother did over the open fire, breakfast, dinner and super you really don't know how well of you are now a days And believe me the food was fantastic Bacon Cabbage ,turnip and potatoes every weekday Big fry on Saturday and a Roast on Sunday after mass what more could you ask for. Well that’s what we were often told mother always used the “there are starving people in Ethiopia who would love to be fed like us” and we often said well send it to them,always got the same reaction as the brush was lifted out of the corner, but I was normally half way out the door before she could get her hands on me.

Within a year or so of putting down new roots (a bloody wonder she didn’t dig them up for diner) we got electricity put in and one of the first things got was a radio so now we had music well sort of. Next came the cooker a two ring cooker with an oven this had to be attached to a bottle of gas just out side the back door but mother thought it was heaven. Washing cloths was done in a big tub so you can bet you didn't change cloths every day like now. Washing Machine followed a second hand dolly tub I think it was refereed to. And then we hit the big time a small black and white one channel TV we thought we were in heaven.

This was Anne Casey,s life in the early days of Ireland and more stories will be added at a later time so you’ll have to wait for the next instalment.