brother and sister in Moyveela. The Mullins family had family connections through marriage to the Freaneys on the team, through the family that live in Mountain West. In fact it is thought that one and possibly two of the Freaneys in Mountain West may have been subs on the team in 1911. Tom Mullins, therefore, would have been cousins of them. The Mullin family died out in the area. Thomas Mullins died on 22/11/1965 aged 89 according to the death register in Athenry Church Records. However if we look back on the date of his birth, he was actually 90 when he died. The Higgins Brothers: William and Richard Higgins lived in Lisheenkyle West in 1911. The Higgins family only resided there a few years only at this stage, as they lived in Cregcarragh, Lackagh Parish for over half a century before they moved to Lisheenkyle West in 1906. Their father Martin Higgins, (better known as Máirtín Bhilie to his family and friends), was aged 60 years in 1911. He was a Farmer. He was married and his wife’s name was Mary Commins. They were married in 12 Feb 1874 in Claregalway Church so they were married 36 years in 1911. Mary was aged 63. Martin and Mary had five children – Honor, Mike, William, Pat and Richard. The eldest, Honor (Nora) had left the household as she was married before 1911, but the four brothers still lived in Lisheenkyle West. Although William and Richard were the two members on the winning team in 1911 there was an indication that the other brothers were also involved in the club. M. Higgins was listed as playing in a match in June 1911 and P. Higgins was a delegate to the County Board and part of a committee that selected the Galway team that year. It is possible that they to were involved in the Club. Their grandmother died the year they moved to Lisheenkyle – she was aged 102! Their mother died ten years after the 1911 game in 1921. In 1911 the neighbours of the Higgins family included Gilmours, Quirks, Rooneys and Kellys as documented in the Census of that year. William was born on 17 Jul 1881 in Lackagh Parish. He was aged 30 in 1911. William then moved to Coshla in 1914 along with his brother Pat where they both set up their respective homes after buying land there. William married Bridget Casserly in 1922 in Castlegar Church. They had 6 children: Mary, Bridie, Philomena, Lena, Mattie and Micheál. Two of these still live within the parish of Athenry today – Mattie (known as Mattie William) now living in the town of Athenry and Micheál in Coshla. William Higgins died in 1965 aged 84 and is buried in Athenry. Richard was born on 05 Aug 1889 in Lackagh Parish. He was aged 22 in 1911. He moved to Castlelambert when the Lambert Estate was divided in 1925. Richard 30
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