Biddy Burke Galvin, born 1925 in Newmarket on Fergus. Although only less than 5 foot tall she worked with her mother and other family members milking 30 cows twice a day for the Kelly family at Clenagh Castle. Biddy always loved children and went to work as a live in housekeeper/nanny for several families in the Newmarket and Ennis areas. She met her husband Paschal (Dodo)later in life and they married but had no children. She fostered 120 babies over 20 years for Clare Social Services and was honoured with a plaque by St Catherine’s Adoption Society some years before she passed away in January 2005.
Paschal (Dodo) Galvin born 1936 at Barrack Street, Ennis. Was in Boy Scouts as a youngster. Worked for Tom Kelly’s butchers in Market Street and lived over the shop with his wife Biddy for several years after they married. Went to work for Clare County Council as a general operative where he was well known around the town as the lollipop man for the children at Ennis National School helping them across the road at Kilrush Cross. Died unexpectedly one month after his wife Biddy in February 2005, a few days before her months mind Mass.
This Eir box is located on the side of Kellys Butchers in the Market, Ennis opposite the Post Office in the Marketplace
This is one of a series of 12 portraits of County Clare based on interesting and inspiring community shapers, created by Negative Space Art Collective. Through doing local radio interviews and getting the project advertised through articles in the local paper, The Clare Champion, people came forward themselves to participate, or families nominated a late family member to be painted.
Date
2023
Dimensions
60cm ᳵ 119cm high ᳵ 23cm
