Dear Daddy,

IWAS the only girl in the middle of three boys. I knew you were my port in the storm, the person I could turn to if I needed. Of course I was a bit of a brat and didn’t appreciate it. I was slow to mature but you never said.

It was after the Christmas holiday returning to my first job. I had to get the Portloaise train to Portarlington to get the Galway train back to work. Every Christmas for years my brothers laughed at my stupidity. In Portarlington station I was on the wrong platform. Instead of getting on the Galway train, I got on the Cork train. There was no announcement. The Cork train headed back through Portlaoise. I never noticed as I was listening to my Walkman. This was the 1980s, long before mobile phones. It was only to my horror when the ticket inspector told me I would need to get off at the next station which was Ballybrophy.

Shaking and embarrassed, I rang from a payphone and heard my older brother home from London laughing, recounting this to my dad. Of course within 40 minutes my dad was there to bring me home.

I needed to be in Galway for 8.30am the next day. It was my first job. Not much was said but when we got home my dad said ‘we will get up at 6am and will have you in time for work, your manager will never even know’. I slept soundlessly that night knowing I was looked after.

Of course the years have passed and every Christmas I think of that time you looked after me. I only now understand the words of the Christmas carol ‘through the years we all will be together if the faiths allow’. I am sorry I never sent a letter to thank you but not a day goes by I don’t think and pray for you.

Your loving daughter

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