Patrick4 also went to the US, leaving Queenstown (Cobh) on the Oceanic on January 30, 1913 and arriving in New York February 7. 

He is said to have worked as a taxi driver in New York. Perhaps this is true, but in this photo, the car is clearly a studio prop, and this may have given rise to the taxi driver story.  Having a photo taken with a car to show the folks back home that one is doing well has always been a favourite theme among immigrants! However, he doesn't seem to have stayed long before returning to Ireland.  Perhaps he accompanied his injured brother John home? 

​

In 1921 he married Katie Higgins, daughter of Patrick Higgins and Mary Sheridan of Aughamore Lower.  They had seven children, John (1922-1995) Bridget Mary (1923-1993) Kathleen (b.1925) Patrick (1926-2020) Terence (1928-1991) Peter (1929- 1996) and James (b.1934).  On Bridget Brady's death in 1935 the farm passed to Patrick4.  Over the years Patrick acquired additional land in the surrounding area.

In the early 1930's the de Valera government refused to pay to the British Government the annuities due in repayment of the loans advanced to farmers in 1903 to buy their land.  Britain retaliated by refusing to accept Irish agricultural produce.  The resulting 'Economic War' caused considerable hardship to larger farmers, and Patrick4 expressed his concerns by joining the 'Blueshirt' organisation.  Though it adopted the outward signs of the fascist movements then popular in Europe, and some of its leaders were admirers of Mussolini, it was essentially a rural conservative movement opposed to de Valera's policies and the perceived 'communistic' tendencies of the extreme Republicans.  As such, Patrick's involvement was consistent with the conservative views of the family in political matters.  He is also listed attending a meeting of the Dromard Farmers’ and Ratepayers’ Union in 1933 (McNerney, p.192)

​

Katie died on 26th February 1938, aged 47.  Her death certificate eluded me for many years, as her name is incorrectly recorded as ‘Mary Anne’. The cause of death is given as ‘Bright’s disease’ (a generic term for a variety of serious kidney conditions) from which she suffered for 12 months.  ​

Patrick was left to bring up his family of seven, with the eldest, John, barely 16 and the youngest, James, only four. It can not have been easy for him, or for the children.