The hostess

Eileen made her home a community

People and Places
Michael Commins

FOR many of the visiting Irish bands to Birmingham over the years, Eileen Fanning’s Cherrywood guesthouse was like a second home. After their shows in the Irish clubs in the city, they headed back to a warm welcome from Eileen (pictured) and the family. In 1996, advancing age saw Eileen close her popular premises. Her recent death brought the curtains down on a special era.
Eileen was formerly Prendergast from Rosewood, Ballyglass and was born in 1923. Like so many more of her generation, she emigrated to England and settled in the Birmingham area. In 1952, she married Tommy Fanning, a native of Leitrim.
Eileen opened the Cherrywood guesthouse in the 1960s and it was to become a focal point for many of the Irish showbands visiting the city. I recall two journeys I made with the Brose Walsh Band to Birmingham in the 1990s and the warmth of the welcome extended by Eileen to all of us. She loved to meet the Mayo people and, of course, Brose himself was just a neighbour from Belcarra, down the road from Ballyglass.
Brendan Shine and his band were regulars at Cherrywood and others she knew well over the years included Dermot O’Brien, Joe Dolan, Daniel O’Donnell, Eileen King, the Brose Walsh Band and many more. All of them had a special affection for Eileen and the kind and generous manner in which she looked after them all so well.
It was also a popular venue with Irish GAA teams who were over playing some challenge games and spending a few days in Birmingham. Brickens native Johnny Morley (now living in Ballinrobe) worked at the guesthouse for many years. The welcome was always warm and hospitable and people always left Cherrywood with the best of good memories.
Eileen and Tommy were members of the well-known St Chad’s Club and she was a life-long member of the PTAA. One of their members, Sr Angela O’Donnell, who joined the enclosed order of the Poor Clares in Clinton, Warwickshire in the 1950s, was present for the funeral in Erdington Abbey. Eileen had organised a fund-raiser for the Poor Clares on an annual basis for 50 years.
She was a great supporter of the Irish Centre in Birmingham and was a close friend of the late Fr Joe Taaffe from Knock, and also of Fr Paddy Sheridan from Cavan (now serving in Robeen), and Fr Brendan O’Malley from Carrnalurgan, Westport. She was always supportive of the various initiatives undertaken by the committee of the Irish Centre.
In the 1970s, Eileen was among a group of people who helped re-launch the Mayo Association in Birmingham. She was also actively involved with the popular Castlebar and District Association, which often attracted over 300 members to its annual dinner dance in the city.
Among those closely associated with those ventures back over the years were her sisters Johanna Roche and Ita Muldoon, Peter and Elizabeth Connaughton (Ballinrobe), Fr Gerry French (Claremorris), Kevin Bourke (Ballyvary), Johnny Morley (Mayo), John McNally (Westport), Gerry and Noreen Cunnane (Ballyvary and Knock), Noel Mongey (Castlebar) and Jim Burke (Ballyheane).
Throughout all her years in Birmingham, Eileen cultivated strong ties with the local clergy and was a weekly worshipper at Mass and services in the beautiful and historic Erdington Abbey which is run by the Redemptorists. She loved the Abbey and was on first name terms with all the priests who served in the parish.
Fr Gerry French was the chief celebrant at the Mass and was joined by Fr Maguire and Fr Devanney. Fr Gerry French, who hails from Mossbrook, Claremorris, told the congregation at the funeral Mass that Eileen had a wonderful ability to turn a crowd of individuals in her guesthouse into a community. Her generosity and hospitality were legendary and she made life-long friends through her ‘Cherrywood’ home.
He referred to Eileen’s ‘patriotism rather than her nationalism’ and said that while she loved Mayo and Ballyglass, she also loved Erdington and Birmingham. “She integrated perfectly into Erdington and was happy and content there. She was a noble woman who made people feel good about themselves,” he said.
Eileen, who was predeceased by her husband Tommy and by her sisters Johanna (Roche), Ita (Muldoon) and Agnes (Keenan), and brothers Jimmy and Ray, is survived by her family of five, Marion Flanigan (Castlewellan, Co Down), Geraldine Mongey (Ballymote), Eileen Patterson (Lichfield, Staffordshire), Dominick (Surrey) and Tom (Wales), in-laws, grandchildren, sister Madeleine Tuffy (Frenchhill, Belcarra), nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and many friends.

Greetings to our friends from Ibiza

ANOTHER Fleadh Ibiza has come and gone. And for the regulars and the first-timers, the annual gathering in the peaceful surrounds of the Seaview and Aura hotels, it was once again an enjoyable and relaxing venture.
Willie Cunnane was playing the accordion when I met up with him. Willie is from Adrigoole, Knock and his wife Mary was formerly Sweeney from Laragan, Kiltimagh. They reside in Mullingar. Mary and Willie say hello to all back home around Knock and Kiltimagh with a special hello to the Costello family in Dalton and the Sweeney family in Cloonlavish, Knock.
I also had a good chat with Michael and Phil Byron who were over from Leeds. Michael is a Ballina man while Phil (nee Langan) is from the Ballycastle area and is a sister of PJ Langan in Tallagh, Belmullet. They convey their regards to all their relations in Mayo and a special mention for PJ and Doreen Langan in Belmullet.
Jim Munroe from Kilmaine and John Lavin from Cross were enjoying their first Fleadh Ibiza with the promise that they’d be heading back that way again next April. No better men for the craic and laughter!
Peter Martin conveys his regards to all his friends around Attymass and to the staff at the Sports Centre in Ballina.
Regulars at the Ibiza celebrations are Ann O’Brien from Tuam and Kathleen Joyce, England and formerly from Tourmakeady.
The Swallow’s Tail céilí band, featuring Michael Hurley (Ballymote), Dermot Hurley, Tommy Doherty (Knockmore), Jim Corry and Des Hurley, were among those providing the music for the set dancers.
I certainly enjoyed the company of Mary and Martin Quinn from Abbeyknockmoy and we had many good laughs throughout the week. Mary is a sister of well-known Claremorris hairdresser, Jimmy Dolan. Martin would tell yarns for Galway …one better than the other. Here’s to the Abbey ‘wave’!
Enjoying their week in the Mediterranean sunshine were the Hughes sisters, Mary Ann, Noreen, Bridie and Theresa, formerly from Kilmaine. Mary Stenson was also over from Castlebar as was Lena McAndrew from Ardagh.
John Mannion, formerly from the Foxhall area on the Mayo-Galway border, sends good wishes to all his relatives back home. Teresa Duignan (nee Henry from Tooreen) and her good friend Mary Kenny from Castlerea are also regulars at the Ibiza party.
Peggy Higgins from Corofin and Linda Welby from Moycullen, the Cois Tine group, were enjoying their stay in Ibiza while also entertaining the gathering with their shows at the poolside. A mention also for Teresa Muldowney from Crossmolina, Ann Mongan from Athenry and Mary Flaherty from Galway.
Breda Holmes was out from Doohoma and she always looks forward to the trip to Ibiza. Always nice to have a chat with Breda.
Best wishes to Mary and Mick Kelly in Taughnara, Castlerea from Dominic and Marie who were over in Ibiza from Leeds.
Tom Forde and Irene were among the many entertainers who provided the music and songs for dancing on this occasion. Tom is from Newbrook, Claremorris and is a brother of Martin who resides in the homeplace with his wife Bridie. Tom says hello to his many friends around Mayo and also conveys good wishes to Michael O’Dea in Ahena, Taugheen.
And finally, a special thanks to Johnny and Ann Carroll from Galway for the lift back from Shannon!