Cabra History.Com

The boy on the left wearing the cap is my father. The boy in front of him is his cousin Paddy Fagan, the little girl is also his cousin Bridie Fagan, the boy with the bread is Paddy Foran a neighbours child, the girl at the back is my father’s sister Bridget Coffey. The lady in the photogaph is my father’s aunt Katie Fagan. The photograph was taken in Purdon Street which was off Corporation Street.

Katie Fagan was first married to William Barter, he was shot in the back by a British Soldier in 1916 and died aged 23 years. During the Black and Tan period of Irish history Katie Barter hid  one of the Tans under her bed to save him from being killed by the IRA. He ran into her tenement house during a gun battle and she called him into her room and told him to hide under the bed until things calmed down. Many years later that man returned to Dublin to thank Katie for saving his life. One of Katie’s sons went on to join the British Army in WWII and spent most of his time as a Japanese POW on the Rive Kwai. Now isn’t that a strange tale or what!!!