Reflecting on the fountain of youth

TWO ladies, originally of the village of Chapeltown(Caol) in Valentia, who emigrated to England many years ago, recently returned to their native village and stayed at the newly opened Bed and Breakfast dwelling named Danu House, operated by Derarca Goldie and her daughter Karen.

Danu House is situated in the Chapel Road, opposite the church and is but a stone’s throw away from the original home of the visiting ladies. They have been domiciled in Birmingham for many years and were delighted to observe the statue erected by the Chapeltown Tidy Towns Committee in commemoration of the village women who drew water from the nearby well and river in bygone days. They also drew water in their youth.

They are Nancy Murphy (Sister Brendan) and her sister Kit. Their parents, long deceased, were Michael(Mikey) and Ellen Murphy. The former Ellen Walsh, always locally referred to as ‘’Mrs Murphy,’’originally came from Kinard in Ballinskelligs and is the grand aunt of the successful Ballinskelligs O’Sullivan New York based construction company family, otherwise known as Navillus.

Nancy Murphy, who will be sixty nine years as a Sister of Mercy nun this July, entered the order in 1947. She moved directly to Sheffield and well remembers the day on which she left Valentia Island as a seventeen year old. She refers to the sadness she felt on leaving Valentia and being taken to the ferry boat in Knightstown by her father, who was of immense consolation to her.

Having been in Sheffield until 1987, she moved to Wanstead in London, to take the position as Headmistress of St Joseph’s school, which had an attendance of two hundred girls. She was subsequently appointed in 1990 by the Bishop of Hallam, Sheffield, as the Director of a Diocesan Pastoral Centre and held such a post for ten years. On completion of this, she undertook charity work with the St. Vincent De Paul Society for nine years. She has since resided in Birmingham, now being based at St. Mary’s convent of Handsworth there.

Nancy, who is 86, is a very keen soccer and sports fan and she and her sister Kit, aged 91, very much enjoyed the comfort of their Danu House accommodation as they watched Ireland defeat Italy in the recent European championship knockout encounter. She once supported Sheffield Wednesday, but these days has a preference for the Birmingham based Aston Villa soccer team. She was also the chauffeur as both ladies drove through Kerry on visits to various relatives.

The following family members were born to Michael and Ellen Murphy, with their current places of residence also referred to:

Kit-Birmingham (was married to James Sugrue(RIP) of Ohermong in Renard. Nell (RIP) - Valentia Joan (RIP) - Listowel. Married to Tim Finucane of Listowel.

Denis - London. His late wife Ivy was English born. Nancy (Sister Brendan) - Birmingham. Bridie (RIP)- Birmingham.Married Owen Byrne from Wexford. Pat Joe and wife Zena -Birmingham. Michael(RIP)-Birmingham.Married Teresa Rooney from Dublin.

John and wife Susan-The West Country, England.

Nancy Murphy (Sister Brendan) on left and her sister Kit at the statue commemorating the women of Chapeltown (Caol), who drew water from the nearby river and well in bygone days. The two ladies also drew water in their youth.