Memorabilia of Bridie Gallagher's life now on display in Creeslough

Memorabilia of Bridie Gallagher's life and pastimes are now on display on Main Street, Creeslough.

Locals have thanked Bridie's son Jim Livingstone and An Grianan Theatre for the use of Bridie's memorabilia. It will add to the sign in the town with her name.

"We are also very grateful to everyone who helped with the preparation of the space. 'Míle buíochas do', Charles and Martin Sweeney, Australia for the use of their premises," Patricia McCarry, who gathers the local announcements for the media, said on behalf of the community. 

Bridie Gallagher was born on September 7, 1924 in Creeslough. She began her singing career in the local Creeslough Hall with a Ceili Band started by Bill Gallagher. Her singing talents were soon recognised and she later moved to Belfast, where she would live for the majority of her life.

It was here that she met and married George Livingstone and the couple had two children, Jim and Peter. However in 1976, at just 21 years of age, Peter was killed in a tragic motorbike accident.

‘The Girl from Donegal’ shot to fame in 1956 with her recording of ‘A Mother’s Love’s a Blessing’, and achieved international acclaim with her legendary rendition of ‘The Boys from County Armagh’. During her glittering career, she performed at some of the world’s most prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, The Sydney Opera House and The Albert Hall, for which she holds the world record for the most number of people in attendance. She has also appeared on a number of television programmes such as UTV, RTE and BBC and also had her own radio show on RTE.

As such a well renowned and respected figure throughout Ireland, Bridie was honoured by the people of her beloved hometown Creeslough on July 10, 2000, with an event to celebrate her career. It is thought that an estimated crowd of 2,500 people attended the event, where a plaque paying tribute to the singer was unveiled.

Bridie Gallagher passed away in 2012 in Belfast after a short illness. She was 87 years-old.