'I am the oldest surviving male family member in the past two generations '

'I am the oldest surviving male family member in the past two generations '

Harry Browne remembers the death of his mother and reflects upon the live span of his family.

Harry Browne

Trinity College Dublin

1994

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Harry Browne

Reflections

Life Story

Dublin

1990's

My mother died in 1994 and in the sixteen year period from 1995 to 2011 I lost five siblings, George, Freda, Tony, Carmel and Gary, to cancer caused by excessive cigarette smoking. All five were heavy smokers from a young age and all died in their early 60s or late 50s. The remaining four of us either did not smoke or were only light smokers and gave the cigarettes up early. Brian smoked sixty a day, and it cost him ԣ7.00 per week, he stopped smoking in 1983. Given that my father was also a heavy smoker and died of cancer at a relatively young age it is very evident that the Brownes should not smoke if they wish to live to a ripe old age. I am struck by the family records which suggest that the Brownes in earlier times were long livers, Great Great Grandfather Henry 84 years, Great Grandfather William 77 years and Grandfather Maurice 82 years. In more recent times I am the oldest surviving male family member in the past two generations. This is a humbling and somewhat scary thought.

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

Dr Kathleen McTiernan (Trinity College Dublin)

Dr Deirdre O'Donnell (Trinity College Dublin)