More Family History
Patrick Culleton
Patrick Culleton was an ordinary man who loved and enjoyed life. He was born in a place called O'Moore's Forest, Mountmellick Co.Laois or as it was called then "Queen's County" in 1901.
He was the eldest of 6 children born to Mary and Thomas, who although poor were very loving parents.
When peace came to Ireland, Patrick, and two of his brothers Jerry and Thomas joined the armed forces, he opted for the artillery, Jerry and Thomas joined the infantry.
When their mother discovered this, she demanded that Thomas be released from service as he was only 14 years of age, and the army agreed with this. After when this came up in conversation she would say,"The army got two of my son's they were not getting a third one".
Patrick Jerry Patrick 2nd.left middle row
When Patrick joined up his name was spelt incorrectly, but rather than make a fuss about it he let it go and his surname gained an extra "R" (Cullerton).
He served in the artillery as a trumpeter from March 1922 until September 1939. Paddy (as he was known) married Mary Ellen Canavan in 1931 and they had six children, Tom,John,Pat,Jerry,Mattie,and Brendan. He became a salesman for a company called Henry Jacksons and worked for this firm until his death from cancer in 1966, his brother Jerry died three years later and Thomas passed away in 1978.
1st. Reserve Field Battery Artillery. Kildare 1931 Patrick
Patrick never really spoke about his early years in the troubles or the civil war. There was a unwritten law in our house, "that politics or religion were never discussed", but now and then you would overhear him talking to his old friends and then some information would slip out, things like so and so fighting for the otherside, near escapes ambushes and close calls.
Patrick
1st. Reserve Field Artillery Corps, Kildare 1931
Every year he would wear his medals with pride and march with his old comrades through
O'Connell Street
Patrick in very light coloured overcoat