John Crumlish was my great grandfather.

He was born about 1846 in a "wee craw in The Glen" - possibly in the townland of Mossyglen - between Culdaff and Stroove, Co. Donegal. John was the son of John Crumlish and Mary MacIntyre. He had at least three brothers - James, Patrick and Daniel and two sisters Bridget and Mary.

John became a butcher in Moville, Co. Donegal, keeping his own animals, and buying more for slaughter from the local farmers. He married Anne Hernan in Moville on 15 February 1876.

They had four children, Maryanne (my grandmother), Denis, Margaret, Kathleen, before John emigrated to America by himself, leaving Anne in Donegal. After some time, he returned to Ireland, and the couple had a further five children, Frances, Theresa, Nora, Evelyn and Charlie. There may have been a further four children, called John, James, Thomas and Leo.

In the 1911 Census, the house in The Square, Moville, is described as a "first class dwelling" having 5 rooms, seven windows at the front, and, as outhouses (at the back), a stable, cow shed, piggery, fowl house, turf shed and a general shed.

John died in Moville in 1934, and is buried, with his wife, in St Mary's, Ballybrack, Moville.