Patrick Joseph Eustace, was born in Carrigallen, Co. Leitrim, Dec. 31,1891. The baptism at the local Catholic church was performed by Father John Fitzpatrick. Patrick’s sponsors were Michael Connolly and Joan Connolly, relatives through the Curran family. Patrick spent much of his childhood in the Drumsna/Annaduff area of County Leitrim. The house where the family lived still stands in Drumsna and Patrick often pointed out the home to his children.

Patrick succeeded in getting a scholarship to De La Salle College, a teacher training school in Waterford City. Upon graduation in 1912, he applied for and was offered a teaching post in the village of Newtowncashel, County Longford. The School Principal was Joseph McNally. Patrick taught and later served as School Principal for 45 years until retirement in 1959.

In July 1926, Patrick married Brigid, daughter of Joseph McNally, the school principal. Brigid and Patrick honeymooned in the Isle of Man and moved into the Teacher’s Residence, Newtowncashel, where they raised a family of seven children. In 1954, Patrick and Bridget left their home in Newtowncashel and moved to Longford Town where they lived at 50 Teffia Park. Patrick died May 3, 1974. Bridget died September 30, 1980. Both are buried in Ballymacormack Cemetery near Longford town.

• The Family of Patrick & Brigid (McNally) Eustace of Newtowncashel, County Longford:

· Joseph Andrew Eustace, born in 1928, now deceased, never married.

· Philomena Eustace, born in 1929, died in infancy.

· Patrick Desmond "Des" Eustace, was born October 20, 1930, and is now living at Shannon, County Clare. He married Evelyn Brady of South Africa. They have three children: Natalie, in the UK, Sheila, in Spain and Simon in Camden, Maine. During his career, Des worked for the De Beers Diamond Company and rose to the rank of Executive Director of the industrial diamond division. Des first made his mark with Johnson Matthey and then returned to his native Ireland to apply his expertise to the De Beers project at Shannon. Desmond admits to almost religious devotion to football and sport especially where Irish interests are involved.

· Brigid Eithne Eustace, was born in 1934, married Derek Kane, of Kingscourt, County Cavan in 1958. They have five children and eleven grandchildren:

· David Kane; is married to Annette and living at Orland Park, Illinois. They have four children, Hannah (9), Charlie (7), Derek (4), and Grace (3). David also has a daughter Louise (24) living in London.

· Brendan Kane has two children, Conor (12) and Fiona (9) and lives in Kingscourt, County Cavan. · Eithne is married to Donal Cullen, has one child, Cathy (21) and lives in Kingscourt, Co. Cavan

· Deirdre Damien has one child, Tessa (7) and lives in Oaklawn, IL.

· Susan married to Stephen Kozak, has two children, Lily (7) and Andrew (2) and lives in Plainfield, Ill.

· Louis Gerard Eustace was born 5 November 1935, is a Catholic Priest of the Redemptorist Order.

· Kieran Dominic Eustace, was born 28 November 1936 and lives in Newtowncashel, County Longford.

· Gerald Albert Francis Eustace, born in 1939, married Patricia Feeney, of Castlebar, Co Mayo. They are now living in Solihull, England. They had two children: Declan (Dublin) and Sinead (Dunedin, New Zealand) both married.

 

Patrick and Brigid Eustace also adopted their niece, Bernadette Eustace, daughter of Andrew and Anne (Kearney) Eustace. Bernadette was adopted following the death of her mother, Ann in childbirth. Bernadette now lives in Spain.

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