Olive Gallagher was so special to so many
WE the family of the late Olive Gallagher (nee McCormack) wish to remember her on the 1st Anniversary of her death on the 5th March 2020. Despite our great sadness at the loss of her in our lives, we remember her life and the wonderful person she was to each one of us.
Olive was born and grew up in Mount St. Oliver, Drogheda on 11/11/1931 to John and Margaret McCormack. One of nine children she attended St. Mary’s Convent School on the Dublin Road. On leaving school she worked in the old Spark Plug Factory on Narrow West Street along with her good friend Dorrie Gregory and then worked in the Old Abbey Cinema in the town as an Usherette where she fell in love with the big screen and all the old films.
She met a Slane man, John{Sonny}Gallagher, a carpenter, and they married in 1952 where she came to live in Slane and found it very different from the town life in Drogheda. She raised 10 children in a little house in the village. Despite the lack of facilities, common in those days, she looked after her family wonderfully well and we still marvel at the beautiful meals she provided from her little kitchen.
She had a great love of knitting, and she knitted the most amazing clothes for all of us throughout our childhood. As well as all the old films she also loved her music, particularly John McCormack, Joseph Locke and of more recent artists such as Andre Rieu and Tommy Fleming, she had a lovely voice and we have very fond memories of her renditions of The Old Refrain.
She had a deep faith and prayer life which sustained her throughout her life and was a great comfort to her as her health began to fail.
One of her great joys was her fortnightly trip with her friends to the Loretto Day Care Centre in Navan.
A wonderful, loving family woman she is greatly missed by her 10 children, 22 grandchildren, 19 great- grandchildren and 1 greatgreat-grandson.
“Those we love remain with us for love itself lives on, and cherished memories never fade even though a loved one is gone.”