Person:Rosanna Hoey (1)

Rosanna Hoey was born on 5 Oct 1905 at 31 King St. in Dublin. Her parents were Frederick Michael Hoey and Elizabeth Catlin. She was the third of seven children. My father, James (Jimmy) was the youngest. Four of the children died in childhood. The oldest, Elizabeth (Lil) died in 1924, when she was 23. Rosie helped out at home, including helping her mother sew mattresses, and she also worked at a fish and chip shop. She played the accordian, and had a good singing voice. Lil had a beautiful singing voice and was frequently requested to sing at parties. My dad told me that Rosie could hear any song once and she would remember the words and be able to sing it. My father taught himself how to play piano by ear when he was seven and was a gifted musician. He said the whole family was musically talented. He would go to the variety shows and listen to the songs and he would be able to play them. Rosie would memorize the words and she would sing them. Rosie was nearly ten years older than my father and she helped her mother and Lil "spoil" him! When my father was nearly two years old, his father died. He was a jarvey and was only 37 years old. He died of cirrhosis of the liver. Dad said it was because he always used to drink a sip of whisky to keep warm while he was driving the cab. His mother married John O"Reilly on 6 Mar 1920 and had two other children, Josie and Sean. They also had at least three adopted children: Garry, Rosie and Joe. My dad told me that the parish priest would always bring around babies to his mother for her to foster them and she was a good mother to them. In 1927, Rosie went to England. I don't know why! But she sent her mother a postcard from Cheshire and I've sent you a copy. On 16 Sep 1928, she married Thomas Drumm. They had three children, but the youngest, a girl born on 8 Jun 1932, must have died. Rosie died on 12 Nov 1932 and is buried in Prospect Cemetary, Glasnevin (Grave # DJ 242 1/2 St. Patricks ) - Joan Drew - Mar 3 2007.

1. ↑ CIVIL REGISTRATION - BIRTHS - IRELAND.

   Fathers occupation listed as Cardriver, living at 31 King St.

2. ↑ CIVIL REGISTRATION - DEATHS - IRELAND.

   Aged 26 years. Occupation Milk Drivers wife. Lived at 26 Hardwicke St.

3. ↑ Glasnevin Cemetaries Group. Prospect Cemetary Records. (Cemetary records)
   Grave # DJ 242 1/2 St. Patricks.