'I happened to notice an invitation in the Belfast Telegraph inviting readers to visit an old school in Annsborough Co. Down'

'I happened to notice an invitation in the Belfast Telegraph inviting readers to visit an old school in Annsborough Co. Down'

Avril Patterson describes her search for her birth mother.

Avril Patterson

Trinity College Dublin

1995

This item is protected by original copyright

This content may be downloaded and used (with attribution) for research,teaching or private study. It may not be used for commercial purposes without permission.

Avril Patterson

Marriage and Family

Life Story

Annsborough,Co. Down

1990's

In 1990 the opportunity arose for me to buy a small semi-detached house in Priory Park Finaghy. My daughter and her husband and the family lived in Priory Park,therefore I sold the house in Edinburgh Street and moved to Finaghy.I continued my work in the hospital until I retired in 1996. Now I enjoy the garden.During my time in Priory Park I happened to notice an invitation in the Belfast Telegraph inviting readers to visit an old school in Annsborough Co. Down which was 160 years old.This school was celebrating with an open night. I recognised the village addresss as the same as was on my birth certificate. Therefore a chance that my birth mother attended this school.My daughter Pamela,my friend Ann McMaster and myself went to this 'open night'. The old roll books were on display for anyone to read. I knew my birth mother's name was Hannah Hamilton. All the Hamilton family from Ballyshannon attended the school. It was quite scary,as I did not know if I could be talking to any one of them. I myself was now about 60 years old. I spoke with a few of the visitors,some older people remembered the old farm and a gentleman was helpful,he told me the Hamilton family were all deceased. He owned the local post office and he directed me to an old neighbour who may help. This neighbour informed me Maggie Hamilton (my mother's sister) had inherited the old farm ' now all closed up,but she in turn bequeathed the farm to her nephew David Hamilton who now lives in Kent. This nephew visited the farm every 6 months to collect rent etc. I asked the neighbour,whom I introduced myself to,if he would pass my telephone number to David Hamilton.David Hamilton telephoned me a few weeks later. When I told him my story he was greatly shocked,as I would be his full cousin. He was very helpful to me telling me about the Hamilton family. My mother Hannah was deceased but in her young life she had gone to England and married an Italian gentleman called Remo Forini. They had 4 children,John,Fiona,twins Michael and Paul. My brothers John and Michael are both deceased. I became good friends with my sister Fiona who lived in Rome. Pamela and I visited Rome in 1997. Fiona met us at the airport with her husband Buno we spent the day with them.This was a very emotional time. Fiona in faith,told Paul (my remaining brother) who lives in Kent the situation. I have been over to visit Paul and his wife Thea and their family and they have come over to visit us in Ireland. Paul and Fiona always remember my birthday,Christmas and Easter. I looked forward to hearing from them.Sadly two months ago Fiona passed away,it was a terrible shock. I was unable to attend the funeral as the service was in Rome and the burial in Sardinia (There was only one flight a week from Belfast).I miss Fiona's telephone calls and letters. I always looked forward to the Italian,Birthday,Christmas and Easter Cards ' just this Easter I spent many days trying to work out the greeting which was written in Italian.Fiona and Bruno have three daughters Suzi,Vanessa and Jayne. I correspond with two of the girls,Suzi and Jayne who live in Rome. Vanessa works as a vet and lives near Milan. I hope the girls and Bruno will keep in touch. Bruno speaks no English so I am relying on the girls to write.

Irish Research Council for Arts,Humanities & Social Sciences (IRCHSS)

Dr Kathleen McTiernan (Trinity College Dublin)

Dr Deirdre O'Donnell (Trinity College Dublin)