Patrick McNamara arrived in Galston around 1851, bringing his family from Ireland
during the potato famine. They worked predominantly in the coal mines and stayed
in the miners’ cottages in Ironworks Square later named Howie’s Square. To this
day there are over 50 decedents of Patrick McNamara still staying in Galston and 2
businesses are run by the family in the town.
Family legend has it that the McNamaras arrived on the night of the “Big Wind”
presumably they meant they arrived on a stormy night and the winds blew the ship
over the water in record time.
A guide track for ‘The McNamaras of Galston’ is available below for listening: -
You can download a PDF of the sheet music here
- or braille format here.
The track is additionally available within the following collections and sets: -
Associated Collections: -
4/4
Ayrshire Characters
Not Yet Recorded
Reel
The Kilmarnock Collection
The Three Six Five Collection
