Big thank you from Lisburn.com

Strewth! Family reunion after letter reaches relatives 16 years late

by STACEY HEANEY

Margaret Woods (Skelly), Tony Woods' grandmother, died on October 31 1936. The three boys and their father emigrated to Australia in 1938.This family photograph was taken before Margaret passed away. Included is Margaret, Jim, Jackie, Joe and their father William Joseph.

Margaret Woods (Skelly), Tony Woods' grandmother, died on October 31 1936. The three boys and their father emigrated to Australia in 1938.This family photograph was taken before Margaret passed away. Included is Margaret, Jim, Jackie, Joe and their father William Joseph.

The Skelly family reunion with the Woods from Australia at CJ's in Lisburn. The Woods family originated from Grand Street in Lisburn, emigrating to Australia in 1938. US0212-401PM Pic by Paul Murphy

The Skelly family reunion with the Woods from Australia at CJ's in Lisburn. The Woods family originated from Grand Street in Lisburn, emigrating to Australia in 1938. US0212-401PM Pic by Paul Murphy

WHEN local woman Jean Andrews sent a letter to relations in Australia in December 1995 and heard nothing back it seemed contact had been finally lost.

After all, it was in 1938 that her uncle and three cousins left Lisburn to start a new life after the death of her aunt.

But in an extreme case of a late delivery, the letter had only recently arrived with the Woods family in Australia, having been sent to an old address and then passed on to the Dead Letter Office, who managed to finally track down the intended recipient, Joe Woods late last year - almost exactly 16 years since Jean had written.

Joe had emigrated to Australia with his father William Joseph and two brothers, Jackie and Jim in 1938, after their mother, Margaret nee Skelly, had passed away on October 31, 1936.

Margaret Skelly.

Margaret Skelly.

Jean was amazed to get a reply from Joe's son Tony who told her that having already started a search of his family tree, he had a world tour planned with his wife Kat, daughter Sarah and son Sam. He didn't even realise he had any relatives in Northern Ireland, but quickly changed plans to be re-united with Jean and other relatives last week. Tony explained his family live in Cheltenham, Victoria, close to his father Joe, whilst Joe's brother James lives in New South Wales. Sadly John died in a car accident in 1967.

Tony said he had been unaware he still had family in Co. Antrim. "It's a very pleasant surprise" he said.

He explained the letter had been sent to an old address of his father's but incredibly the Dead Letter office managed to track him to his current address after 16 years.

Ten members of the local branch of the family joined Tony and his family for the special visit to Lisburn, including a visit to Tony's father's old home in Grand Street, before enjoying a get together in CJ's restaurant last Thursday night.

Jean said it was a shock to receive the letter from Tony after so long.

"I had the address and had written many times," Jean explained. "I thought I would take a chance and try again because my mother was always at me to write, but I never heard another thing about it. So when I got the letter back after so long I was amazed.

"Tony didn't know he had any relatives in Northern Ireland, but it coincided with a tour the family were taking. They were in the US and then in Dublin, visiting Northern Ireland from Thursday until Saturday. We took them to 122 Grand Street, where the family lived before they left Lisburn.

"People keep saying to me what did you have in the letter, but after all these years I can't remember."

Speaking ahead of the reunion Jean's brother Richard said: "I used to play about with Joe before he left. They are from the Low Road area and we're going to take them down there. They'll get a shock when they see the old mill houses compared to the big swimming pools they have out in Australia!"

Following the reunion Jean said: "It went very well, we all enjoyed it and we all had a good bit of craic. It was lovely just to get to meet them and to know that they were all alright and that Joe and James are still living, because we didn't know. They are all in their 80's now."

Jean added: "It was a bit emotional, Tony himself was quite emotional because he didn't realise he had family here. I gave him a gold bracelet my mother had me look after. It belonged to Tony's grandmother, so I gave it back to him.

"He said he was going home with a pot of gold after meeting everyone. Through time I'm sure they'll come back again but they have been back and forward on Facebook with everyone and they gave us some souvenirs, so we got a bit of Oz.

"It was such a good night, CJ's did a fantastic buffet; we didn't come out till closing. It really was lovely to meet up with them and just to have them here."

The Skelly family reunion with the Woods from Australia at CJ's in Lisburn. The Woods family originated from Grand Street in Lisburn, emigrating to Australia in 1938. US0212-401PM Pic by Paul Murphy

Margaret Woods (Skelly), Tony Woods' grandmother, died on October 31 1936. The three boys and their father emigrated to Australia in 1938.This family photograph was taken before Margaret passed away. Included is Margaret, Jim, Jackie, Joe and their father William Joseph.

stacey.heaney@ulsterstar.co.uk

Ulster Star
13/01/2012