The gathering of the Scanlon/Lehane family tree began with a conversation between Michael (Scanlon) my brother, Sheila (Matjeka) our first cousin (home on holiday in 2011) and myself, Mary. We were visiting Whitechurch graveyard and discussing were the Scanlons' were buried. Michael mentioned 'the old Scanlons' and immediately my mind was on the search for 'who were the old Scanlons'? That was the moment it began.
Growing up, we were reared on family stories told by my mother. She could trace family members, who they were married to, how old they were, who their parents were and where they came from. She, truly was a mind of information. She died in 2007, so remembering the stories she told and piecing them to actual people, took time.