Contributed by Ann Smart
The McArdle family live in Courtbane, in the parish of Upper Creggan, which spans the border of South Armagh and North West Louth. Their family history dates back to the late 17th century. The earliest known ancestor, Fergus McArdle (1740-1785), is buried in Creggan graveyard. The family lineage can be traced back to the 1600s when they became sub-chiefs under the O’Neills.
The McArdle family farm is listed in Griffith’s Valuation, published between 1847 and 1864. Over the years, Ann’s father, John Harry McArdle, expanded the family holdings by purchasing neighbouring farms as their occupants emigrated to the USA or passed away. He was one of eleven children: four siblings emigrated to the USA in the 1930s. John Harry moved to Birkenhead, Liverpool, for a short period, where he was conscripted into the Fire Brigade during World War II. After being granted two weeks’ leave, he returned home to Courtbane, but never returned to the UK until the 1980s.
John Harry married his neighbour, Cissy “Mary Ellen” Agnew, also from Courtbane. Cissy’s parents, James Agnew and Susan Thornton, have roots in Courtbane dating back to the 1800s. John Harry and Cissy set up home in the Agnew family home. They were both very successful, working hard in many aspects of farm life, including agricultural, livestock and dairy. Cissy worked with the dairy herd, whilst John was concerned with beef, cattle and pigs. Together, they had 10 children and 28 grandchildren living locally, apart from their daughter Ann, who emigrated to England in the 1960s.
The McArdle family experienced the complexities of living near the border, with smuggling stories woven into their history. The family farm was only 500 metres from the border on the road leading to the republican stronghold of Crossmaglen. The onset of the Troubles in the 1960s saw the arrival of the British Army and the militarisation of this rural area. This saw the introduction of Army checkpoints and eventually watchtowers erected on private land along the border and in Crossmaglen.
Cissy was a staunch Republican. Ann recalls people coming and going at strange hours and clandestine activity. Ann left Ireland in October 1968 after her dreams of agricultural studies were thwarted by family expectations and financial constraints. She travelled to England via train and boat accompanied by her brother Harry. They arrived in Bromley, Kent, at 7 am to attend an interview in Bromley Hospital in the hope of gaining a place to train as a radiographer with little more than £20 and a one-way ticket. Ann was told she would be notified of the outcome in a week at the interview, but Ann needed to know immediately, as there was no alternative plan in place. So she sat in the hospital all day while the interview panel made decisions. Luckily, Ann passed the interview and began her training in a career in the NHS as a radiographer, a role she embraced.
Unlike other cities, no other Irish women worked alongside her, and in the early 1970s, she often encountered the challenges of being an Irish immigrant during the Troubles. Her accent marked her as an outsider, and she faced discrimination. This could be seen, for example, in how patients sometimes refused her care, citing anti-Irish sentiment. On visits home, Ann was aware of the Republican coming and going activity around the family farm.
Ann married Dennis, an Englishman; together, they built a life in Rochester and had two boys, Neil and Nigel. There wasn’t an Irish community in Strood, Rochester, so Ann’s friends were primarily English. They lived a very English life with no Irish community in the area. Dennis was very sporty and involved in cricket, so family life revolved around the local clubs. At times, Ann was a cricket and golf widow. Her neighbour Fred was a lovely old gentleman. He had fought in the Second World War and was very knowledgeable with excellent recollections on historical events. He was very fond of the two boys and would often care for them. He was like a grandfather to them and greatly supported Ann when the children were young.
Ann persevered with her commitment to education, driven by a deep love of learning and a strong commitment to patient care. Like many women at this time, she encountered sexism as she strove to balance her career ambitions with the challenges of motherhood. Women constantly had to prove themselves in the workplace, but Ann’s expertise silenced doubters.
Whilst bringing up her children, Ann gave up her job to care for them until they reached school age. To help her understand child upbringing in an urban environment, she studied for a preschool teaching qualification and established a childcare facility, enabling her to have a career while caring for her sons. Deeply committed to continuing her education, Ann subsequently trained in ultrasound, a then-emerging field, and later became a Clinical Consultant in Radiology at Guy’s Hospital, London. This was a rare achievement for a woman in that era. One pivotal moment came when she identified a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy missed by others, saving a patient’s life which earned her a newfound respect amongst her work colleagues.
She continued her studies in radiology, improving her skills and expertise through studying at South Bank University, King’s College Hospital, and City University in London, where she gained a Master’s degree in Medical Science. Undeterred, Ann earned further credentials in psychiatry, psychology, and counselling, continually expanding her skills. As her knowledge grew, colleagues sought her expertise and consultants trusted her diagnoses. Ann also volunteered to work abroad, training military Tamil medics in war-torn Sri Lanka, where she set up ultrasound programmes in makeshift field hospitals after the tsunami. She also mentored students and volunteered, teaching English to immigrants and supporting young mothers through preschool initiatives.
Ann continued volunteering after retiring, proving her dedication to care never wavered. Her career stands as a testament to the unsung heroes of the NHS—immigrants, many of whom were Irish women, and those who turned adversity into purpose.
Ann visited home regularly and eventually bought a house near the family home. However, due to illness and the arrival of grandchildren in England, she never realised her dream of moving back home permanently, though she still visits regularly. Her sons are proud of their Irish heritage.