A short history from her family. Mum was born on 26th April 1921 in Glenullin. She left there to work as a nurse in London during WW2, returning home after the war.
She met Sean Mitchel, from Aghadowey, and married on 14th September 1949. They emigrated to Australia but Ireland was calling them home and they returned. They settled in Limavady and went on to have 5 daughters, Felicity, Assumpta, Deirdre, Aileen and Joan. They also unfortunately lost 2 children Christine Anne and Patrick.
They bought the Control Tower and airfield in 1962, together with her brother Jamseie and Sean’s brother Jim. They set about converting the Control Tower into their home and they all moved in, in February 1965.
Mum started work in Diamond’s Sawmill office to help out for a few weeks and it turned into 30 years and she retired when she was 80 as she had a fall at work and broke her knee.
Dad farmed the land for many years and branched out into growing fruit and vegetables under polytunnels. Their strawberries and tomatoes were second to none in taste. Dad once said that when mum retired from the sawmill she just widened her scope on the airfield to keep it ship shape and tidy, and if her wellingtons were outside the back door she was in residence!! We sadly lost dad on 14th September 2009, their 60th wedding anniversary.
She has 16 grandchildren and to date 30 great grandchildren and a great great grandchild on the way. Her mind is as sharp as ever and she has helped her eldest son John Bernard to compile an extensive family tree. She is very keen on watching snooker and rugby on TV. And quite a whizz at Countdown!
She is keen to hear how all the family are getting on in their lives and they are always in her prayers. She is, to our knowledge, the oldest resident in the parish of St. John’s, Dunboe and Aghadowey and the longest surviving member of both sides of our family.
