Page 7 - With Mungie MacNeil of Iona Rear

ISSUE : Issue 59

Published by Ronald Caplan on 1992/1/1

The MacNeil family home at lona Rear years, something like that, I think. That's long enough. (Was Fr. Chisholm the priest that you wor? ried about, anyhow, because he had been hurt as a boxer?) Yes. He was the one. And he used to--he never liked to travel alone. He could fall asleep at the wheel. That's what he was afraid of, you know, if there wasn't somebody talking to him. And I don't know, now--perhaps that's what happened.... But it was a rainy, windy, miserable night, anyway, when he met this truck. And was killed instantly. (And the loss to you was very real, clearly.) Oh, yeah. (Were you home alone when the call came?) Oh, yeah, I was home alone. His niece called me-- his sister's daughter. And just a few minutes after there were a couple of priests from the next parish came in to tell me, you know. And I had heard it before that. (So what did you do, dear?) Well, there was nothing much I could do. I just stayed there, till after the funeral and everything. (Were you responsible for putting his things all together?) No, no. No, no. The priests came, you know. And his sisters were home, and his brother came home, and all those, you know, they looked after his stuff. But I stayed there until everything was cleared up, until another priest came. And he wanted me to stay, but I said, "No, I couldn't." You know, I'd be al? ways thinking of him, and I didn't want to stay. I was getting older then and I thought it was time for me to retire. So I came home. I was born here (at lona Rear). Not just here, but in this house. It was over on the other side, you know, (of the) marsh. And it was taken over (here) by horse and sleigh in November of the year, when there was a little frost. And I was two months old. Sadie: You don't remember that. Mun? gie: No, I don't remember, but that was the beginning. So. I don't remember much H 90&r; fici'W' ?? r,OlflP*' See Cape Breton '-' ' from The Centre EDISCOVER YOUR ROOTS Visit the N.S. Highland Village and experience pioneer life in Nova Scotia from 1800 to the 1920s. Visit displays of early architecture, in? cluding the only known replica of a "Taigh Dubh" (Black House) in North America. Our costumed staff are friendly and trained in conver? sational Gaelic and local history. Facilities include an outdoor stage and amphitheatre for concerts, the largest being our annual Highland Village Day on the first Saturday in August. Our Reception Building contains interesting displays as well as a small gift shop. It also houses "Highland Roots" • a computerized program offering genealogical information to those people interested in their family history. The village is open daily from June 15 to September 15. For more information write or phone: N.S. Highland Village Box 58, lona, N. S. BOA ILO (902) 725-2272 Official Home of "Your Pace or Mine?* W' Ahhass Studior Ltd- OVER Passport Photographs While You Wait ( ONE HOUR FILM PROCESSING) ot's'EmUcE 5" X 7" Enlargements or Reprints In Only 20 Minutes! TO CAPE BRETON Weddings • Commercial & Industrial • Family Groups • Graduation ABBASS STUDIO LTD. 170 Townsend St., Sydney * 564-8234 or 564-6491

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