Jan Hammersmith says

How great that Father Lynch was able to make a difference. I always say its not religion but FAITH that brings you closer to our Creator. Miss Pickletoes

Maureen Barker says

I left Kelty when I was 15 and still remember Father Lynch. He listened to what people said - which these days is very rare. He was a very fair man but I and most others my age were still terrified of him. Sometimes he'd call at my grans for a cuppa tea and I can remember very well being scared to death to move but I don't know why - perhaps it was the stick he carried with him. MCB

ROBERT MORRISON says

I remember Father Lynch with terror as a man who chased me and my pals off the football park at St Josephs and some of the swear words would put a lot of the miners to shame

Mariapola Macovaz says

I remember Father Lynch dearly. He would keep you in confession for so long consequently when you came out you were blinded by the bright lights in the church. He was very thrifty and never had lights on in the confessional.

I think he had a hard time as a Catholic Priest in a very protestant village. His Irish form of Catholicism was very much fire and brimstone.

I remember in one of his sermons he told us that the dead were going to hell like flies. As a young child that stuck in my mind for a long time.

I think he did not enjoy good health and I think he suffered from a few beatings from villagers who did not approve of what he was about.

He helped many people and I hope he now rests in peace.

John Redmond says

Och he wisnae that bad he changed me tae a Catholic , I dinna ken whit warld ye bid bit Father Lynch wasnt harmed by any Protestants in Kelty in fact canna remember yer name in Kelty, there wasnt many poles or italians in Kelty that werent known about in 1960s.

Mariapola Macovaz says

Hello John

I lived in Maple Terrace Kelty and my parents emmigrated to Australia in 1964. My parents were Andrew Stevenson and Ida Stevenson and my brother Alex Stevenson.

You certainly wouldn't know the Macovaz name as my husband is Australian. My mother was born in Italy and met my father during the second world war.

My father's family moved to Kelty in the mid to late 1800s and lived in Lower Oakfield in a house called Park View.

There was a fish 'n chip shop next to it .The buildings were all pulled down in the 1950s. I enjoy reading all the information and news on the this website especially the history related matters.

I recognize many names, however, your name does not ring a bell.

John Redmond says

Comesta Maria, Buon Giorno
Yes I arrived in Kelty in 1947 by taxi I was 2 year old War baby adopted by Emmy and Bob Redmond,my birth mother was a highland tinker woman,from near Peterhead who met my birth father at a wartime ceildhi at a farm in Inverurie, he was an American airman in bomber command and he left me as a souvenier,and then one late night on the  social worker raids on tinker camps they uplifted all children of single women,and placed in Orphanages all over Scotland,

I was in Salvation army one in Edinburgh till adopted,Old Bob Redmond was a hard working caring father,whom I loved very much, My adopted mother Emmy, sad to say was a possessive,greedy money grabbing and a secret drinking old "B",whom I didnt like even to this day.she always wanted a girl but werent any, so had to take me and made it clear every day she wanted a lassie.So I grew up with lots of anger within me.and became wellknown to police.so Im known in Kelty by many, thankfully those days are over for many a year, but a little anger is still there,

But Im proud to be son of the Tinker woman, Lizzie Stewart was her name and from Aberdeenshire , I was born John Stewart, but changed to John Redmond. cest la vive.  Ciao

John Redmond says

I answered that in another part for you.

Mariapola Macovaz says

John

Thank you for all your information - very interesting. Have you every looked into the American side of your family.

Thanks again

Mariapola (not Maria)