I was born Mary Agnes Magee, in Irvinestown, Co. Fermanagh,
on 17th March 1924. My father's family were Coachbuilders;
my Mother's were farmers in the Newtownbutler area. My Mother,
Alice McGilly, was a milliner. She came to work in Irvinestown.
She met my father John Magee. They were married in 1922. They
had five children - two daughters and three sons. I went to
school in Irvinestown and to Fermanagh Technical School, in
Enniskillen.
In the 1940's, I worked for the local firm of contractors
- John J. Scallon & Sons Ltd. There were several military
camps, in the area, at the time - British Army, Royal Airforce
and American Army. Scallons had contracts to make and maintain
the roads at these camps. I did general office work, as well
as 'doing' the wages. On Fridays, I went to give the men their
pay packets. I also delivered explosives to the quarries.
John Elliott came from Tuam, Co. Galway to work as a G.N.R.
clerk at Irvinestown station. It was very busy at the time.
Part of his work was arranging Transport Documentation for
soldiers going off to the War zones; especially the Americans.
We were married in 1945. John was then, transferred to the
County Donegal Railway as Chief Clerk at Letterkenny station.
We lived in Letterkenny for nearly ten years, we had four
children - two girls and twin boys.
Then in 1955, John was again transferred - to Castlefin as
Station Master. Castlefin was very busy then, being a Custom's
Clearing station. Life was pleasant, until rumours of 'closure'
began to circulate. They turned out to be too true! The Railway
closed on 31st December 1959, to everyone's dismay! We bought
the Station then. John worked in the C.I.E. office in Stranorlar,
until his retirement. He died ten years ago. I still live
at Castlefin station.
Mary Agnes Elliott, July 2002.
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