My Story: Joan McGoldrick

Ninety-six years of faith in St Mary's Parish

My name is Joan McGoldrick (nee Keogh)

I was born in 1929, in Ireland. I came to stay at my aunties who lived in Crewe for a holiday in 1932. My dad passed away when I was just seven years old, so it was decided that I should live with my auntie in Crewe with my auntie leaving my younger siblings in Ireland with my mother.

My days in St. Mary’s school, were happy ones.

My teachers in the early years were Miss Diner, Miss Clunes and Miss Griffiths (later to be Mrs Fitzgerald)

I made my first holy communion in 1932. Father Robert’s, Father Quinn and Father Osborne were the priests when I made my first communion. Father Osborne instructed me for first communion and heard my first

confession.

After our instruction, Father Osborne took us on bike rides in the Queen’s Park.

On the day of my first communion Miss Diner led us from the school to the church which was next door to the school.

After making my first communion we all went back into the school for our first holy communion breakfast.

The May procession was held on the first Sunday in May, the children who had made their first communion would process behind Our Ladies statute, the statue would be placed on the altar and then crowned by one of the girls.

In later years I joined the Mary Callan, Tess Callan (who became Tess Sloan) and Beryl Jones as members of Legion of Mary carried the canopy that covered the statue of Our Lady, we did it for many years.

We all became members of St. Agnes group, we met every Sunday afternoon, in the school.

I was confirmed in 1937.

We went to Benediction every Wednesday afternoon whilst we were at school.

At the age of 15 I can remember running down Delamere Street after Benediction in a Sunday afternoon in order to get into the queue at the Odeon Cinema!

My Sundays in those days consisted of 7.45 am mass, benediction in the afternoon, followed by the rosary.

Of course, there was confession on a Saturday morning!

One day whilst making my way to Benediction, I witnessed the bombing of Rolls Royce factory. I thought perhaps Benediction would be cancelled, but it wasn’t!

In the early 1950’s I met a handsome young man living in Crewe, his name was Noel

McGoldrick.

We were married in Ireland in 1954, we were blessed with three children, Michael, who was

born in Ireland and Maureen, Catherine and Sarah who were born in Crewe.

Sadly, Maureen passed away in 2005, Catherine passed away in 2022. My Noel passed

away in 2017, after being married for 63 years.

Myself and Noel were very active within the parish. Both of us being involved in raising

money to build the schools in Danebank Avenue. Also, Noel being an offertory collector at

9 am mass and myself being responsible for the repository after 9 am mass.

Noel decorated the presbytery and the three priests private rooms.

Myself and Hilda Eckersley counted the offertory every Monday morning. When

finished,Father Kelly used to take us home in his sports car!

In later years, still both of us counting the offertory collection, Father Joe Daly OMI used to

call us both Hinge and Bracket!

In 1985, Noel and myself with other members of the parish updated and painted the parish

community centre under the supervision of Father Liam Duffy OMI.

Myself and Noel were on the committee for the social centre until it closed in the mid

1990’s.

Noel, Vincent Brockie and Father Joe Daly OMI organised the construction of the disabled

toilets and the dusabled ramp. It was completed for the new millennium.

I continued to help Helena, the Oblates housekeeper until the order left the parish in 2008.

I have many happy memories, including the priests over the years we have been blessed

with, lifelong friends and many social events over the years.

I hold these memories close to my heart, and now approaching my 96th birthday, receive

the blessed sacrament every week at home and enjoy reading the weekly parish newsletter