Contributed by James Pilgrim
Mary, affectionately known as May, was born on 3 May 1937
in County Carlow, Ireland, into a family of four children,
consisting of three boys and one girl. Tragedy struck early
in her life when her mother passed away in her 30s. Her
father remarried, but his second wife did not want the
children. As a result, May and her brothers Michael, Martin,
and George were sent to separate children’s homes. May
was placed in St Joseph’s Children’s Home in County
Kilkenny, while her brothers were sent to St Patrick’s
industrial school Kilkenny. Despite the hardship, May grew
up with a love for children and a strong sense of resilience.
At 17, May trained as a nurse at Saint Vincent’s hospital
in Dublin. Unfortunately, an accident at work cut short
her nursing training and career. She later worked as
a childminder for Maisie and William (Bill) Hennigan.
It was during this time that she met Bill’s brother, Jim
Hennigan, an older man from Killasser, near Swinford in
County Mayo. Jim came from a family of four boys and
one girl. While some of his siblings emigrated to America
or moved to Dublin, Jim eventually settled in London.
May and Jim’s paths crossed during one of Jim’s visits
back to Dublin. May was in her early 20s, and Jim was in
his late 30s. Their connection grew, and they eventually
married in November 1960, moving to London to start
a new life together the following year. They settled in
Tollington Park/Stroud Green Road and became part of
the tight-knit Irish community. May worked in hotels as
a cook and housekeeper and Jim worked on the roads,
always taking pride in his appearance. Despite facing
housing struggles and occasional discrimination, the
couple leaned on the support of their Irish network.
It was partly thanks to this tight-knit network that
May was eventually reunited with her brothers.
May and Jim faced heartbreak as they struggled to
conceive. However, they were blessed in 1962 with one
daughter, Patricia, who became the centre of their world.
Tragically, Jim passed away when Patricia was just 13,
leaving May to raise their daughter alone. May worked
tirelessly as a hotel housekeeper, running a tight ship at
home. She was meticulous and devoted to her family.
Patricia Hennigan grew up deeply connected to her Irish
roots. She was a daddy’s girl, and Jim’s passing left a
lasting impact on her. Patricia worked at Sainsbury’s and
later as a patient navigator at the Royal Free Hospital.
She met her husband at The Murray Arms in Camden, a
popular spot for the Irish community. Together, they had
two sons, one of whom is contributor James Pilgrim.
James, the grandson of May and Jim, grew up immersed
in Irish culture. He became an accomplished Irish
dancer, specialising in set and céilí dancing. However,
osteoarthritis has since limited his mobility, and
he is now affectionately known as ‘The Wheel Elvis’
due to his charismatic presence in his wheelchair
while performing as an Elvis tribute act. James
remains deeply connected to his heritage and is an
active member of the London-Irish community.
The Hennigan-Pilgrim family maintained strong ties to
Ireland, returning to Mayo and Dublin every summer.
James has fond memories of these trips and his close
relationship with his granny, May. The family also enjoyed
Irish music and dancing, often visiting Irish pubs and
clubs such as The Buffalo and Galtymore. May was a
regular at the London Irish Centre in the 70s and 80s,
where she was involved with The Mayo Assoc. and The
Mothers Union. She later continued to celebrate her love
for Irish culture and music as a member of the Harringey
Irish Cultural and Community Centre in the 1990s.
May’s life was marked by resilience, from her early years
in a children’s home to her struggles with housing and
loss. She passed away in 2001 at the age of 63 from a brain
tumour. Her legacy lives on through her daughter Patricia
and grandson James. The family’s story is a testament to
the strength of the Irish diaspora, their ability to support
one another, and their enduring love for their heritage.