THE COYNES OF CRIMLIN VALLEY

THERE IS A VALLEY NORTH OF LOUGH CORRIB IN COUNTY GALWAY IN THE REGION CALLED “JOYCE COUNTRY”. A SMALL VILLAGE NAMED CORNAMONA SITS AT THE MOUTH OF THE VALLEY AND A STREAM CALLED THE DOOGHTA RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT. TODAY THERE ARE NEW HOMES ALONG THE NARROW ROAD LEADING INTO CRIMLIN VALLEY, BUT IN THE EARLY YEARS OF 1900 IT WAS A LONELY PLACE AND THE OCCASIONAL TINY THATCH ROOFED COTTAGE CLUNG TO THE HILLSIDES OR NESTLED IN LITTLE RIDGES NEXT TO THE ROAD. SHEEP DOTTED ROCKY, GREEN HILLSIDES AND HEATHER AND WILD FLOWERS  UNDER A BLUE AND SUNNY SKY MADE A LOVELY PICTURE. IN ONE OF THOSE TINY COTTAGES BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD LIVED PATRICK AND MARY LYNCH COYNE. THE NAME WAS SPELLED K Y N E (Kyne) THEN AND OUR NAME IS STILL PRONOUNCED THAT WAY IN IRELAND. BEAUTIFUL THE VALLEY MAY HAVE BEEN BUT NOT BOUNTIFUL. AND THE FARM OF PATRICK AND MARY COYNE COULD NOT SUPPORT THEM AND THEIR NINE CHILDREN BORN OVER SEVENTEEN YEARS FROM 1891 TO 1909. TO HELP OUT, MARY COYNE’S PARENTS WOULD TAKE ONE OF MORE OF THE CHILDREN FOR VARYING LENGTHS OF TIME. PATRICK COYNE TRAVELED TO ENGLAND EVERY SUMMER AND ONCE TO AMERICA FOR THREE YEARS TO WORK AND PROVIDE FOR HIS FAMILY. IN HIS ABSENCE MARY COYNE, THEIR CHILDREN AND HER FATHER-IN-LAW, JOHN COYNE, WOULD WORK THE FARM. FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE PLEASURES WERE FEW AND SIMPLE.  THEY WERE NEEDED ON THE FARM SO THEIR SCHOOL TIME WAS LIMITED. BUT THERE WERE DANCES ON WARM SUMMER EVENINGS ON THE BRIDGE OVER THE DOOGHTA RIVER OR IN VALLEY BARNS DURING WINTER MONTHS.  THERE WERE OCCASIONS FOR THE COYNES TO MEET AND VISIT WITH THEIR COUSINS, THE MOLLOYS AND THE LYNCHES. WHEN THEY WEREN’T WORKING IN THE FIELDS THE BOYS FISHED FOR SALMON AND HUNTED RABBITS WHILE THE GIRLS LEARNED TO KNIT AND SEW.  THE ALL TOOK THEIR TURNS TENDING THE FLOCKS. THERE WAS BEAUTY IN THE CRIMLIN BUT NO FUTURE. IMMIGRATION WAS THE ONLY OPTION FOR SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE VALLEY AND WHEN PATRICK COYNE DIED IN 1925 IT BECAME ONE FOR MARY COYNE AS WELL. SHE LEFT THAT FAR AWAY VALLEY WITH HER TWO YOUNGEST TO JOIN THE REST OF HER CHILDREN IN AMERICA. ALTHOUGH SHE WOULD OFTEN PINE FOR IRELAND SHE, LIKE HER SONS AND DAUGHTERS, HAD COME TO A NEW HOME…AND TO US.       
(THOMAS EDWARD COYNE, KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN)