My parents had fourteen children. One son Michael died in May 1987. All the others survive and have children of their own. In many cases there are grandchildren.
Patricia:married Eddie Sherry of Rostrevor. They had four children. Karen is married to Frank O'Rawe of Belfast. They have one son, David Adam. Paul and Lynn, two university graduates, now live in England. Neither is married, - as yet! Jill is a nurse, like her mother.
Mary:married Patsy Mooney. They live at Crossan, near Mayobridge. They had five children. Donna is married to Ronnie Agius of Malta. They have one son Dean. Laura is married to Niall Keenan. She is now expecting their first child. Rachel, Gail and Victoria are single.
Rita:married Eamon McArdle. They have six children. Mark has a master's degree. Damien helps with the family's market retailing business. Clare is a student as are Eimer, Liam and Brian.
Bernadette:married Des Fox. Their children are Judith, now a solicitor, Lorna, a doctorate student at Queens and Claire. Des died in 1990.
John:John I married Flo Harrison of Belfast. We have five children. Jonathan (university graduate); Emma is a third year dentistry student; Sarah is an undergraduate at QUB; Simon and Steven are Abbey Grammar students.
Kathleen: married Kevin Lagan of Belfast. Their children are Peter (university student), Julie, Nicola, Suzanne and John.
Lucia:married Martin White. Their children are Gary (university graduate), David, Martin and Paul.
Micheal:married Philomena Mussen of Hilltown. They had one son, Kevin. Michael died in 1987.
Angela:married Martin Murphy of Dromalane. They have three girls, Jennifer, Emily and Janet.
Gerard:Gerard married Geraldine McMahon of Warrenpoint. They had three children Roisín, Séan and Naoimbh. After the failure of the marriage, Gerard lived with Noreen Gleston by whom he had a daughter Colleen. He is now married again to Bernie Cosgrave of Banbridge.
Pauline:married Kieran Devine. They have two daughters, Michelle and Fiona.
Eugene:married Ann Dooley. Their children- Sarah, David, Daniel and Michael.
Caroline:married Brendan O'Hare of Mayobridge. They have two daughters, Lindsay and Rebecca.
Brian:married Catriona McClorey of Whitecross. They have one daughter, Jane.
Perhaps most notable here is the variance in the name provided for mum.
Bridget Patricia McCullagh of Patrick and Mary Ellen (McKeown) 17 June 1942
Mary Patricia* McCullagh of Patrick and Mary Ellen (McKeown) 23 Aug 1943
Rita Rosaleen McCullagh of Patrick and Eileen (McKeown) 18 Oct 1944
Bernadette Dorothy McCullagh of Patrick and Mary Ellen (McKeown) 4 Nov 1945
John Patrick McCullagh of Patrick and Mary Ellen (McKeown) 8 Jun 1947
Kathleen Philomena McCullough (sic) Patrick + Eileen (McKeown) 9 Jan 1949
Lucia Frances Martina McCullagh Pk and Eileen (McKeown) 6 July 1950
Michael Oliver McCullough(sic) of Pk and Eileen (McKeown) 13 Dec 1951
More recent records are not available (for obvious security reasons) to the general public. My other siblings, with their dates of birth, are:
Angela McCullagh of Patrick and Eileen (McKeown) 19 Oct 1953
Gerard Francis McCullagh of Patrick and Eileen (McKeown) 2 April 1955
Pauline Ann McCullagh of Patrick and Eileen (McKeown) 30 June 1957
Eugene Brendan McCullagh of Patrick and Eileen (McKeown) 20 Nov 1958
Caroline Doreen McCullagh of Patrick and Eileen (McKeown) 21 Oct 1960
Brian Martin McCullagh of Patrick and Eileen (McKeown) 9 April 1962
* Note that Mary’s name is so recorded in the birth register. She was baptised Mary Teresa, which we all recognize to be her proper name. It is not known who was responsible for the error in the birth register. I wonder whether Jack McKeown was about that day?!?