Coming from IrelandComing from Ireland

My Great Grandfather:Thomas Gillan He gave up his ticket on the titanic because he fell madly in love with my great grandmother Dorathy Costello.

My great grandmother Dorathy Costello She was a school teacher who taught grades 1-8 in a one room school house. Dorathy is cousins with costello from abbot and costello the very famous comidien act.

Their two sons Together Dorathy and Thomas had two boys, Seamus and John. In this photograph the boys are 9 and 7 years old. My grandfather is the one on the right.

My Grandparents : Seamus and Brigid The first time they met each other was when Seamus delivered milk to her door. He was the milk delivery guy an when they saw one another it was love at first sight.

The top left photo is of my grandparents marriage certificate, from 1950. Underneath, is a painting of the street they lived on. Their house has the blue thatched roof.

My grandfather came to Canada in 1956 to make a better life for his family. His brother John was already in Canada. It took 2 years to save up enough money to bring my grandmother and their 6 children over. This is a picture of my 3 uncles getting on the boat to Canada.

The journey to Canada

The kids in Canada Seamus and Brigid had 6 children in Ireland. When moving to Canada , Thomas was 9, John was 8, Seamus was 7, Mary was 6, Dympna was 5, and Gerry was 3.

My uncles and Aunts in Canada

My Mom My mom, Brigid was born in 1964, 6 years after the Gillan’s immigrated to Canada. Sadly my grandmother lost 3 children before my mom arrived. My mom is the only 1 of 7 who was born in Canada

The Gillan’sHere are my grandparents and my uncles and aunts many years later at my parents wedding. They all have been successful as Canadians all thanks to my grandparents courageous decision to immigrate to this beautiful country.