My Father's Hat

My father was born in Convoy in Co Donegal, Ireland in 1926. His father (my grandfather) was employed with the RIC. My father was reared in Ballinrobe, Co Mayo and his mother was from Co. Westmeath and his father was from Co. Cavan.

When my father was born, his mother died and his father left Ireland. My father's aunt reared him - she was a single woman. My father's aunts and uncles all but one (…