In October 2013 a series of photographs which were found in a box belonging to Pan American pilot, Frederick Valentine Thompson was shared with Limerick’s Life in an attempt to discover the names of these young children in Limerick in the 1940s.
Three years passed with little new information on the names of these children, then in June 2016 a link to this post was noticed on the Limerick’s Life facebook page, the face of the little boy Brian was recognised by his now adult daughter while she was looking for information on the original photographer.
Brian along with his sisters Eileen, Terry and their mother left Limerick for America in 1945. Their parents had been friends with several airline pilots including Frederick Valentine Thompson. Brian remembers:
‘The American airline crews used to party at my parents house in Limerick during the war – they would bring fresh fruit from the states and return with scotch whiskey that was unavailable in the states.’
He also remembers ‘my aunt Madge showing me a large revolver that she said was left with her by de Valera when he was running from some government agents.’
Eileen (also known as Aileen) and Edward O’Toole both passed away in Limerick and were buried in Mount Saint Lawrence Cemetery.
Brian’s parents John Daly O’Toole and Angela Hennelly were married in University Church, Stephen’s Green, Dublin on the 5 December 1934 with Angela’s brother the Rev. M. F. Hennelly officiating and Jphn’s brother Eamon acting as bestman. Their reception was held at the Gresham Hotel with fifty guests present. At the time John was the managing director of the Claremorris Bacon Factory.
