John Patrick and Bernard Mc Grane

Both John Patrick and Bernard Mc Grane, Ballinacarrick, Co Donegal, (sons of Charlie + Mary Anne Mc Grane) died quite young. John was 22 years old and Bernard was 20 years old.

Hugh Behan tells me that the family always said that both died from complications of Appendicitis while in actual fact they had died as a result of contracting Tuberculosis or TB. This was a common but lethal disease in those days. It carried a lot of stigma. TB was closely associated with poverty: although all ranks of society got the disease, the poor were at greatest risk, both because they were in greater contact with other sufferers (because of overcrowding at home, at work, travelling and socialising), and because their immune system was weakened due to poor nutrition.

This then is the reason for the family lie, the shame of TB must have been very hard for this proud family.

(c) Noeleen Leahy