Some 120 members of the McGahern family descended on Norway Bay for a weekend this month for their eighth family reunion.
People travelled from as far as Hawaii and the New York City area for the three-day affair (Aug. 7-9), which included a golf tournament at Pine Lodge, an open mic night, a baseball game, a family history talk, and a dinner and dance at Coronation Hall.
The family branch that settled in the Pontiac traces its Canadian roots to Joseph McGahern, who came to Canada from Derrylane, County Cavan, Ireland, in 1928, along with several of his siblings. While some of his siblings built their lives in the New York area, Joseph and his wife, Kathleen Theresa (Menton) McGahern, settled in Campbell’s Bay, where they raised their five children. Their children, Mary, Bill, Patrick, Joseph and Virginia, have maintained strong connections to the Bristol area. Joseph, who passed away several years ago, remained deeply connected to the community throughout his life.
Two of those grandchildren, Eileen Barry and Susan (McGahern) Davin, both of whom have cottages in Norway Bay, took on the organizing duties for this, the family’s eighth reunion, which focused on celebrating the family’s Irish ancestry.
Many generations of the McGahern family came together to help Eileen and Susan organize the reunion. Among those who played an important role was Virginia (McGahern) McCormack, who has a cottage in Norway Bay. The support of family members across generations helped make the weekend a true family effort, with relatives of all ages contributing to the celebration of their shared Irish heritage.
“This year’s reunion was an opportunity to focus on what the family has in common, particularly our shared Irish ancestry and the strong family roots that connect us across Canada and the United States,” said Eileen.
Joe’s son Patrick McGahern, who, like Eileen and Susan, spends a lot of time at his cottage in Norway Bay, gave Saturday afternoon’s family heritage talk.
“[Joe] was at Calumet Mines and they needed somebody to start running a bus to bring the workers in and out of the mine,” he said of the origins of Pontiac Bus Lines.
In the early 1940s, Joseph McGahern began transporting workers to the New Calumet Mines, laying the foundation for what became Pontiac Bus Lines. The company subsequently expanded its routes throughout the Pontiac and beyond.
He said his father travelled to Windsor, Ont., in the middle of winter to pick up a chassis that he planned to use to build their first bus.
“He drove that home in the winter time. He borrowed a buffalo coat, and then for goggles he had a pair of welder’s goggles, and he drove it the whole way home, I understand pretty much non stop,” Pat said. “Kind of incredible to think of somebody [doing that] in the winter.”
In 1986, Joe’s sons Joseph and Bill purchased Pontiac Bus Lines from their father. The brothers grew the business into a cross-border school bus company, now represented by LaSalle Bus Lines and Renfrew County Bus Lines, with more than 400 buses. The company also operated an Ottawa to Fort-Coulonge coach route and offered charter services.
The bus business was eventually sold in 2006.
Eileen said she was excited to be able to share this slice of the world with her extended family.
“We have really strong roots here in Western Quebec, and we’re proud of that.”
