Midwife Bridget Agnes Deffley

Midwife Bridget Agnes Deffley (nee McGowan) was born in Knockbawn, Castlebar, Co. Mayo, in 1883 to parents James McGowan and Anne McHugh. Bridget trained to be a midwife and received her Midwifery Certificate from Central Midwives Board of Ireland in 1920. Bridget served her community of Castlebar,  Co. Mayo, as a midwife for over fifty years. She married an RIC officer Peter Deffley, who was stationed in Aughrim, Co. Galway at St. Catherine’s Church in Aughrim in 1907. They had three children, two girls and a boy. Her husband Peter passed away at just thirty five years of age from pneumonia and Bridget had to move back home for support with her three young children.

Bridget was very lucky as she had great family support especially by her brother John Joe and was able to continue her work as a midwife in the Castlebar area to support her young family. I interviewed her grandchildren Jim McHugh, Claire Larkin and David McHugh who have brilliant memories and stories of their grandmother who also delivered her own grandchildren. There are some lovely stories of Bridget during her time as a midwife and as a grandmother.

Below are photographs of Bridget and her family. You can click the link below to hear the interview by Emma Laffey in the home of Bridget’s grandson Jim McHugh, Castlebar, with his two siblings.