Sir, – We are members of the family of Albert Farrell mentioned in your article (“Names of boys burned out of care home released”, Home News, Michael Parsons, February 20th).
Like the other “Irish boys”, Albert lived happily in the Reid Home at Burnside, Parramatta (Sydney, New South Wales) when he arrived from Ireland in 1922. He subsequently worked in various capacities for the Reid family – at their residence and in their factory – until his retirement. He enlisted in the merchant navy during the second World War, returning to the employment of the Reid family after the war.
It is true that these “Irish boys” in Australia, formed a close bond. Two of the Morgan “boys” lived next door to the Farrells and many other “boys” visited our house regularly.
After lots of searching and a stroke of good luck, Albert was reunited with his sister when they were aged in their late 70s. Unfortunately we have not been able to find any other living relatives.
After several years of research, we have established that our father’s parents were Charles Farrell and Mary (Hanlon) and grandparents Edward Farrell and Cecilia (Keogh – who was the niece of Judge WN Keogh who was Attorney General of Ireland in 1855). Albert had an older brother Richard James Farrell whom we were never able to locate.
We hope someone reading this may have a connection to us and make contact.
Our father was born in Dublin city and baptised as a baby in the Church of Ireland. He died in 1999 aged 86. – Yours, etc,