Contributed by Clare Costello
Angela Power’s family history is deeply intertwined with the rich green landscapes of County Waterford, Ireland, and the bustling streets of Birmingham, England. The Power family story can be traced back to John Power and Catherine Power, who lived in Ballygarran, County Waterford, in the early 1900s. Their farm was situated on the outskirts of the grounds of the craggy ruins of Dunhill Castle.
The la Poer (Power) family first came to Ireland with Strongbow in 1132 and were granted the City of Waterford and “the whole province thereabouts.” They built Dunhill Castle in the early 1200s. This impressive ruin, comprising half a fifteenth-century tower and sections of outer walls dating to the early 13th century, provided a picturesque backdrop for the Power family lives. Their farm, primarily a dairy operation with cows grazing under the shadow of this ancient castle, is no longer a working farm, but its history is a source of pride for the family.
John and Catherine Power had nine children, who spread across the globe. Nell, Peggy, and Bobby remained in Ireland, while Billy, Paddy, Tommy, and Pauline ventured to Australia. John and Bridie (known as Buddle) emigrated to England. John Power was born on May 4, 1926, and would go on to marry Catherine Sweeney, forming the branch of the family that led to Angela Power. Today, Nell, Paddy, and Pauline are still alive, holding the family’s memories and stories close.
On Angela’s maternal side, the Sweeney family hailed from Portlaw, County Waterford. John and Mary Sweeney had five children, three of whom—Maisie, Catherine (Kay), and Bridget (Bee)—emigrated to England, settling close to one another. Eddie and Eileen remained in Ireland. The Sweeney sisters forged a close-knit community in England, navigating the challenges of emigration together. All of them have since passed away, but their legacy lives on in their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
John Power, known affectionately as Donny, and Catherine Sweeney, known as Kay, married on July 26, 1955, in St Patrick’s Church in Portlaw. Kay had initially moved to England to work, returning to Ireland for the wedding before Donny joined her in England. Their first home was in Moseley, Birmingham, on Trafalgar Road. Donny and Kay later moved to Third Avenue in Selly Park and had four children together: Carmel, Joan, Angela, and Anthony. They lived there, next door to Kay’s sister, for 52 years, with their children and nieces and nephews growing up together in a close-knit family environment.
Donny worked at Cadbury’s Chocolate Factory briefly before becoming a bus conductor, then a driver, and eventually a bus inspector. Kay found work as a dinner lady at St Edward’s Primary School and also worked in catering at the Ideal Benefit Society. Kay was renowned for her baking and dressmaking, with Sundays dedicated to Mass followed by the baking of soda bread, scones, and cakes. Donny tended to his allotments with dedication, growing vegetables like potatoes and onions, which were family favourites.
The Power family’s experience of emigration was largely positive, though they faced challenges, particularly in the wake of the Birmingham pub bombings when Donny, working on the buses, encountered hostility. Despite this, Donny and Kay never complained, embodying resilience and grace in the face of adversity.
Their Irish identity remained strong, and they were founding members of the Waterford Association in Digbeth, Birmingham, which hosted dinners, dances, and events at the Irish Centre and The Four Provinces Social Club. Angela and her siblings were deeply involved in Irish culture, participating in Irish dancing and music. This tradition was passed down to Angela’s four daughters, who danced for the Murphy-Brennan Academy in Birmingham, where they were also taught to play the tin whistle. The Birmingham St Patrick’s Day Parade, which was revived in 1996 after being cancelled following the Birmingham pub bombings, became a central event for the family, with Angela’s daughters dancing down the streets of Birmingham for many years.
Today, Angela and her daughters identify as part of the Birmingham Irish Community, a unique blend of British and Irish culture. This identity is deeply rooted in their family’s history, their connection to Waterford, and their continued celebration of Irish traditions in their adopted home of Birmingham.