I’m in Manchester at a music industry conference thing called UnConvention, and I’ve been hanging out and going to some pretty amazing gigs with lots of really interesting people. Musicians, independent record label people, music managers and so on.
There are quite a few people here I have met before, and it’s been really good to catch up. My friend Nick from Penny Distribution has come over from Belfast with a couple of his friends, and I’ve been spending a bit of time with them.
One of them – Tracy – is a life coach (in Belfast – really) and she does a lot of work with musicians. We got chatting, and she happened to mention she had a New Zealand connection.
“Have you heard of a guy called Charlie Dempsey? He was head of FIFA Oceania. Died a little while back.”
“Yeah – he’s my uncle.”
“You’re shitting me. He’s my uncle. I’m Tracy Dempsey.”
We unpicked the threads, and it turns out that our grandparents are cousins. How bizarre.
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Such a small world…and it gets smaller…say hi to Nick at Penny…I used to work with him in Sausalito California…
That’s a one in a million chance. Did you get her grandparent’s name who is nana’s cousin? I’d like to tell her this story. She remembers lots of people from her childhood. Forgets who she was talking to 2 minutes ago.
Dad
In reply to Andrew’s dad – Charles, I believe? I got the shock of my life when Andrew said ‘he’s my great uncle’ in answer to my ‘do you know of Charlie Dempsey’ question! I normally get a yes from football fans, but never anyone who’s known him personally, never mind is related! Hugh Dempsey was my grandfather – he passed away in 1993, and my grandmother, Sheila, sadly passed away last year. Annie and Charlie have been coming to stay with them/my parents since before I was born (often with the other Hugh) – usually with world cup paraphernalia! (And on one occasion, stuffed kiwis for us kids.) As teenagers we particularly enjoyed the trips to get ice cream in the jaguar tho’. ;)
Charlie was over earlier this year – am very glad I got to see them; it was such a shock to hear about Charlie. I hope Annie’s doing well?
Some names to pass on to Nellie for reminisicing purposes: John Dempsey (my dad) and Eileen (his sister); Monica Dempsey (the Dempsey in Monica’s case is a coincidence of marriage to another branch of Dempseys; Monica is nee Dixon and her mother Mary was also a cousin of Hugh/Charlie/Nellie’s!) They all still live in Aghadowey, on Drumeil Road, where I believe they all went to school too.
http://tinyurl.com/525yh7
The house on the left’s my mum and dad’s – across the road and slightly north as you look at the map is Hugh and Sheila’s former house; there’s a long history there. If you want to send me your email address my Dad would love to get in touch! When I told him about meeting Andrew he was asking was his dad called Charles. They pass on their hellos!
Tracy