Family and art keep Veronica in the frame

Veronica Joyce may have been reared in Galway City during the Second World War when certain foods were in short supply, but her childhood memories are still good ones.

She remembers the children of Henry Street and the surrounding area always playing together outside – and yes, she remembers long, hot, sunny summers.

Veronica, at 82 years, remembers it all like it was yesterday, recalling how everyone left their door open and everyone in the street knew each other and looked out for one another’s children. As the eldest of seven children, she usually had the job of ensuring none of her siblings got into too much trouble when they were outside.

One of those siblings was Albert O’Toole, a sculptor, whose bronze portrait bust of John F Kennedy still adorns the limestone memorial stone on Eyre Square to mark the late US President’s visit to Galway in 1963.

Albert died at the age of 64 in 2001 and would have been thrilled, says Veronica, at the idea of JFK’s blood relations laying a wreath at that same podium 50 years later, which happened in June. However, due to the short notice leading up to the Galway visit, Albert’s widow and son were unaware of the event and no doubt would have loved to be present.

Veronica was delighted that the Kennedys visited Galway recently and that the ceremony took place at the JFK bust but says it would have been nice for Albert’s family to be represented on the day. But she doesn’t say this with any rancour, rather regret.

Veronica was worried when Albert’s sculpture was taken out of the Square during the renovation of Eyre Square but the whole family was pleased to see it returned afterwards.

The wreath laid there recently by JFK’s nephew, Douglas, the late Robert’s son, was later placed on Albert’s grave in Bohermore, a gesture which was very much appreciated by his family.

Albert, a cabinet maker by trade, was a quiet, modest man who created portraits through wood sculpture mostly.

She remembers one of his pieces, the head of Pope Pius XII hung up on the restaurant wall of McDonagh’s Fish Shop in Quay Street. Much of his work was of a religious nature and included Stations of the Cross for churches.

Veronica is a member of the Galway Art Club, as was her sister, Noreena O’Connor who sadly passed away a few years ago. Another sister, Detta Gallagher, also younger than Veronica has passed away too. “They were my two best friends,” she says. They either spoke or saw each other every day and Veronica sometimes finds it hard to believe that they have predeceased her.

“I think of them every day. There are four of us dead now. The other was a baby girl, Anne.”

Her father was Tom O’Toole, whose people were originally from Connemara and lived in the Long Walk. Her grandfather was a master tailor who got married at 19 to his 17-year-old bride. At the time, that was the norm.

Veronica’s dad ran The Hanger, a dance venue on what is now known as Salthill Park, and The Saloon, a big marquee that was erected at Eyre Square occasionally.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.