US MAYOR’S STRONG WICKLOW LINKS CELEBRATED

THERE was a reception at Bray Town Hall last week for Larry Mulligan, the current Mayor of Middletown, Ohio in America.

Larry was in Bray and Ireland to visit where his ancestors came from.

Larry is the great-grandson of John Joseph Mulligan who was born on Bray Common, now the Greenpark Road, in 1860. He died in Ohio in 1930, having emigrated there with his brother Patrick Joseph in 1882. Their brother Peter remained in Bray until his death.

The Mulligan family were stonemasons and both John and Patrick were involved in the building of St Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church in Cleveland and the Mulligan name is etched on a cornerstone of the church.

John was an active member of the Middletown council when electricity was introduced in the town, which occurred at approximately the same time electricity came to Bray.

Larry and his wife Kristen enjoyed their first visit to Ireland and returned home on Saturday.

The Mulligan family linage goes back to the Paddocks, Kilmacanogue, as far back as 1630.

Cllr Christopher Fox, Cathaoirleach of Bray Municipal District and Larry Mulligan, Mayor of Middletown, Ohio with the extended Mulligan family at a Civic Reception in Bray Town Hall.