From West to East & Back Again
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Transcript of From West to East & Back Again
FROM WEST TO EAST & BACK AGAIN
DEIRDRE MCGING
Introduction
From West to East and Back Again is a deeply fragmented photographic archive, one with significant gaps. Unlike other conventional archives the photographs
in this collection were not sought out, rather they were slowly found over a period of approximately ten years. Many of the images, especially the older ones were
recovered in chance locations such as an old leather wallet, a suitcase, a wardrobe and a rusted biscuit tin. All had been removed from their original album. It
is largely unknown who made these photographs, it has been suggested however that the photographers range from local amateurs to professionals.
Although a certain amount of information within this book was obtained through official documents, a significant amount was also acquired through word of
mouth and through the memory of those who engaged with the subjects of the archive. Documents and objects of significance have also been included within
the pages of this book to add to the depth of the story.
The archive tells the tale of three siblings: Mary, John and Austin McGing, all of whom were born in the rugged mountainside of Glenmask, County Mayo.
They lived with their parents Patrick McGing and Mary McGing (senior), their uncle Philip, and their two sisters: Julia and Kathleen (who died from whooping
cough as a young child). The archive focuses exclusively on the three siblings who left Ireland for a new life abroad and examines in detail the one person who
came back home again and became a part of the Irish Land Commission. By telling you their story, maybe a part of history that has been long forgotten can
be recovered and brought back to life through the pages of this book.
Austin McGing Julia McGing
Philip McGing Patrick McGing John McGing
Mary McGing Julia McGing Austin McGing John McGing Kathleen McGing
Mary McGing Ann McGing Kathleen McGing Austin McGing
From top left: Mary McGing (junior), Julie McGing, Mary McGing (senior), Patrick McGing
From bottom left: Austin McGing, John McGing
c.1922
Philip McGing, brother of Patrick McGing: c.1922
Mary McGing Junior was born in 1910 in the rural area of Glenmask, County Mayo. She was the first child of Patrick McGing
and Mary McGing Senior and was also the first of three siblings to emigrate from Ireland. It has been suggested that Mary joined
an ‘Old Uncle’ who had taken up residence in the city of Chicago, Illinois several years previous. Mary returned to Ireland during
the Second World War but discovered that the route back to the United States was not so easy in times of conflict. It has been
noted that Mary swore that if she regained access to America that she would never leave it again, and she never did.
During her lifetime in Chicago she married (taking the name Lydon) but never had children. She also sent letters and items back
to Ireland, including her hair. Although they are now a rarity, some of Mary’s letters have been saved including her very last letter
to her brother Austin prior to his death in 1996. Neither Mary’s parents nor her siblings ever saw her again after she left Ireland
for the last time. She died in 1998 after a lifetime lived at West Addison Street, Chicago.
Mary McGing, Chicago. -
Faded text written on bottom left of the photograph: ‘Love to Mother’.
‘Dear Julie,
this was so good of Dad so had it printed. Should frame it so it [it’s] safe. Taken on Oct 17, the day I left from home’
Photograph of Patrick McGing sent by Mary to her sister Julie.
Date Unknown.
The last letter that Mary sent to her brother Austin before his death in 1996.
Mary’s hair was included among the items that were sent home to her family.
John McGing was born in 1917 in Glenmask, County Mayo. He lived an incredibly short life and therefore little is known about
him today. John immigrated to London in the 1930s and resided there until his death in 1954. He married but shortly separated
from his wife, they had no children. John’s body was brought back to Mayo to be buried. He was 37 at the time of his death.
Only two photographs are known to exist of John in Ireland today - both are featured in this book.
John McGing, London: c.1940
Austin McGing was born in 1912 in Glenmask, County Mayo. Similarly to his sister Mary and his brother John, Austin also
emigrated from Ireland. However, unlike his siblings, Austin was the only one to return to his home country to live again. Austin
immigrated to London in the 1930s and worked as a manual labourer while he resided there.
He returned to Ireland during the Emergency and became a member of the Westport Division of the Local Defence Forces
(commonly known as ‘Dad’s Army’) along with his father Patrick McGing. In 1947 Austin married his wife Mary Tuffy and the
couple lived in Austin’s native home land of Glenmask with their four children: Mary, Ann, Kathleen and Austin Junior.
In 1960 Austin and his family then relocated to Meath under the Irish Land Commission, Land Purchase Acts of 1939 and 1953
to the estate of Cooney in Moynalvey, close to Dunboyne. There he worked as a farmer and started his new life. Austin died in
1996 at the age of 84.
Austin McGing, London. c.1934
Austin McGing in London (left). The name of the man to his right is unknown: c.1934 From left to right: Johnny Murphy, Austin McGing in London c.1936
Image on left: Austin in the Local Defence Forces.
Image on Right: Austin’s medal for the Local defence forces.
Austin’s Certificate of Service for the Local Defence Forces.
Austin married his wife Mary Tuffy in 1947.
Moynalvey, County Meath.
Austin McGing in Meath, c. 1961
Austin’s son: Austin Junior, c.1958
Austin Junior at Moynalvey school in County Meath, c.1964
Austin McGing Junior on the family farm in County Meath, c.1965
From left: Kathleen McGing (daughter of Austin McGing Senior, Austin McGing Junior (date unknown).
Austin McGing Junior working on the family farm, 1970. Austin McGing Senior working on his farm in Co. Meath, 1970.
Not only does this archive attempt to reconstruct a family photo album that has been lost, it is also recovering the traces of those individuals that have long
been forgotten in history: those who have come and gone leaving little for those who are left behind. Only two photographs of both Mary and John are known
to exist in Ireland today – it is a possibility that others exist, hiding away in other banal locations, just waiting to be found.
Out of the three siblings that left Ireland, Austin is the only one who returned and the only one to leave behind a bloodline. His life story can be read though
the photographs of him that have survived through time and space and that are that still in existence today. Austin’s segment of this archive ranges in time
from approximately 1922 to 1970 with gaps that may never be filled. The photographs, documents and other artefacts that do exist are now the only way to
tell his story: his move from the West to East and right back again.
Conclusion