Ellen "Nell" Scanlon

Community Woman

Emma Laffey

Ellen Anne “Nell” Scanlon

Born 1910 Barnaderg Died 2010 Menlough Galway

Nell was known and loved by everyone who knew her from Menlough/Skehana area. She was born in 1910 Barnaderg Co. Galway and married Martin Scanlon where she lived out the rest of her life in Ballaghnagrosheen Menlough Co. Galway. Nell unfortunately never had any children of her own and she lived into her 100th year. There wasn’t a mother or child she didn’t take care of in her local village. She would attend the pregnant mother in the weeks leading up to the birth, help the mother with household chores and any other children that were in the house.

Even after the mother gave birth she would still tend to the mother in the early weeks that followed and help her with household chores of baking bread, feeding and washing other children until the mother was on her feet.

Today unfortunately due to emigration, busy lives with work and family commitments, We are loosing this sense of real community especially with helping our local mothers. It can leave new mothers struggling not just with a new baby but perhaps isolation as a lot of people who maybe new to the area have no family members around for support.

Thankfully we have mother and toddler groups but some people might prefer one to one conversation. We as a community must look out for our new mums, mums to be, mums that maybe struggling or even just to have a simple conversation over a cup of tea can make such a difference!

Nell is to this day fondly remembered for everyone who knew her

“Every village even today needs a Nell”