NORA LENEGHAN

My very sweet cousin Nora meant so much to me. I travelled from California to visit her a few times and I cherish the memories I have made with her. The first time I arrived at her house I somewhat nervously approached having never met her in person yet. She opened the door before I knocked and embraced me reminding me immediately that we are family, I could feel it. She had made her guest room for me and had stew already warm. She refused to accept I had my fill of food and near forced another bowl into me as any maternal Irish woman should. We went to the pub for pints and walked home. I foolishly assumed the evening was dwindling when in fact we stayed up hours later testing what you would call the evening because it was much nearer to dawn. We had whiskey and cigarettes and I promised to not share how she had been bad. (Sorry Nora :)) I shared with her my fascination with my Irish roots and my grandfather’s (her uncle Dan’s) history and my passion for learning what Irish culture was and is. With great interest, I pursue knowledge in History, Politics and even Gaeilge. Nora returned my interest with deep conversations of encouragement expressing how impressed she was with all I had already come to know. She shared endless stories filling me with a wide range of undeniably forceful emotions, Pride, Sorrow, Astonishment. The next morning my adventure of Ireland was to continue. She dutifully yet relentlessly questioned me to make sure I was well planned. I assured hr I was grand and had enough money etc…she without telling me hid money in my bag, just to make sure I was properly set. I said go raibh milé and was set of with a hug and kiss on the cheek.
This is not the story of my tour of Ireland and so the thing I will say in connection with Nora is she was the person most interested in everywhere I went.
My love for family, her and Ireland brought me back a few years later and nearly the same story ensued again but with fresh stories of family and politics and culture. I would come back every year to do the same thing again and again if I could. It deeply pains me to think my late late evenings of being “bad” with Nora have come to an end but life would mean much less to me without the stories I did make that I can hold dearly on to. My hope would be to find more connections with my family in Ireland and to meet other people that meant the most to her. I believe in my heart Nora would be overjoyed if her passing had no effect lessening how often I return to Ireland and the connections I make. So please, any and all that wish to share please do my email at [email protected]
Gregory Smith/LenahanCalifornia Tuesday 11 March 2025

Nora, You were always someone special, someone kind and true,
you will never be forgotten, for we thought the world of you. Rest in Peace
Your Cousin Evelyn (McAlister) & Husband Brendan. Evelyn & Brendan Burns Sunday 02 March 2025