Contributed by Anthony Haughey
The Haughey family farm is located in Ballymacnab, near
Keady in County Armagh. The holding was modest, just
30 acres; barely enough to sustain a growing family.
Grandfather Mick Haughey married twice; his first wife,
Patricia died young. Mick was an IRA Volunteer in the
War of Independence, was shot and wounded in 1921.
Nursed back to health by Sarah; he later married her, a
fateful event that ensured the family’s continuation. He
later married Sarah, a highly intelligent and determined
woman, and together they had five children. Sarah
was committed to education and worked hard to
ensure her children escaped the limited opportunities
available in the North of Ireland before the Troubles.
Tony, the eldest, trained as a psychiatric nurse at
St. Luke’s Hospital in Armagh. At the time, many
Catholics faced systemic discrimination, making
career advancement difficult, if not impossible. Tony
married Anne Greene, a chef from nearby Keady.
They had eight children: Colm, Cathy, Fiona, Anthony,
Paschal, Sharon, Deirdre, and Orlaith. The Greenes
also faced economic challenges. Anne’s brothers
were encouraged to leave for London as soon as
they had completed their education. Like many Irish
migrants, they settled in London and Liverpool, where
established Irish communities provided support. They
were joined by Anne’s sister Kathleen and brother Brian
who both settled in Liverpool with their families.
Following the birth of their fourth child, Anthony, the
Haugheys moved to Liverpool in 1963. They made
regular trips home and witnessed the outbreak of the
Troubles firsthand. On 1th August 1969, Anthony, aged
six, recalls being on a ferry from Liverpool as British
troops disembarked to quell the Battle of the Bogside
– an event that marked the start of the conflict. That
same night, John Gallagher was shot dead outside
his grandmother’s house on Cathedral Road, Armagh.
Tony Haughey, working as a nurse, attended to the
dying Gallagher, one of the first victims of the Troubles,
a traumatic moment that left a lasting impression.
In Liverpool, Tony and Anne purchased a
large house on Kinross Road, which they
sub-let to help make ends meet.
Alongside his full-time NHS role, Tony worked in property
development, often renting to Irish immigrants. Eventually,
extended family members joined them in Liverpool.
Life in England during the vibrant Swinging Sixties was
exciting and colourful. Hard working and ambitious,
Tony’s career as an administrator in the NHS saw him
progress to senior management roles and eventually
led the family to relocate to West Wales in 1979.
Despite establishing a life in England and Wales, Tony
and Anne returned to Ireland in 1987, a difficult decision,
particularly for Anne, who had grown fond of their life
in Wales. Tony was appointed Chief Nursing Officer for
Northern Ireland, based at Stormont, an appointment
made during a highly sensitive political period. Tony
and Anne’s children are dispersed across England,
Wales, the North of Ireland, Republic of Ireland and
Southeast Asia where they raised their families.
Today, the Haughey family legacy lives on through
photographs, oral histories, and the artistic work of
Anthony Haughey, which explores themes of borders,
displacement, identity, and belonging. Their family’s
journey from a small farm in Armagh to Liverpool,
Wales, and back to Ireland mirrors the complex and
often turbulent story of 20th century Ireland.