Athlone and Bigmeadow in County Westmeath, Leinster, Ireland — Mid-East (and Dublin)

Hannah Greally

1925 - 1987

— Author, originally from Pearse Street —

Hannah Greally Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., April 4, 2025

1. Hannah Greally Marker

Inscription.
Hanna Greally, Author: was born in Athlone in 1925. She grew u[p] in Pearse Street and was a popular and happy young girl. At nineteen she was admitted to St. Loman's Hospital in Mullingar. She remained there until she negotiated her own release in 1962 having agreed to go into the care of Coolamber Manor, a state-run rehabilitation centre.

Her boo[k] 'Birds Nest Soup' (1971) gives a gripping picture of live in a provincial asylum. A second book 'Flown the Nest' (2009) deals with her later life including her rehabilitation and life in rural Roscommon. Her works have inspired drama as well as radio and television documentaries.

Hanna Greally died in 1987 and is buried in Cornamagh Cemetery.

[TIMELINE]
1925 BORN AND GREW UP IN PEARSE STREET.

1940's MOVED TO LONDON AND WORKED AT GUY'S HOSPITAL DURING 'THE BLITZ'

1944 ADMITTED TO ST. LOMANS HOSPITAL, MULLINGAR

1962 RELEASED AND MOVED TO COOLAMBER MANOR REHAB

1971 FIRST BOOK PUBLISHED 'BIRDS NEST SOUP"

1987 HANNA GREALLY DIED AND WAS BURIED IN CORNAMAGH

2009 SECOND BOOK PUBLISHED 'FLOWN THE NEST"

[Photo captions read]
Fig. 1 Picture of Hanna Greally
Fig. 2 Front cover of her second book 'Flown the Nest'
Fig. 3 Front cover
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of her first book 'Bird's Nest Soup'

Erected by Athlone Tidy Towns, pobal, and spectrum signs (assumed).

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Civil Rights • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1962.

Location. 53° 25.308′ N, 7° 56.793′ W. Marker is in Athlone, Leinster, in County Westmeath. It is in Athlone and Bigmeadow. It is at the intersection of Connaught Street and College Lane, on the left when traveling west on Connaught Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 20 Connaught Street, Athlone, Leinster N37 X2K4, Ireland. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Hidden Heartlands. Globally, it is in the Atlantic Ocean,

in the North Atlantic Region,

in Europe,

on the Island of Ireland,

on the Celtic Fringe,

in the European Union,

in Atlantic Europe,

on one of the British Isles,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Michael Kilkelly (here, next to this marker); Desmond Egan (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); History and Heritage of Connaught Street & Environs (about 90 meters away); The Courthouse/Teach Na Cúirte (about 90 meters away); Connaught Street (about 90 meters away); Connaught Street And Environs (about 90 meters away); 1836 National Bank/c.1850 Bishop's Residence (about 120 meters away); John Broderick (about 120 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Athlone.

More about this marker. The building, which has no association with the marker subject, is vacant but

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., April 4, 2025

2. Hannah Greally Marker

Partially obscured by green mailboxes

in the day was The Athlone Arms Bar, likely to be razed and the site redeveloped.

Regarding Hannah Greally. St. Loman's was a psychiatric hospital that closed in 2013.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Also see . . . Remembering Hanna Greally (RTE, 2008). (Submitted on April 12, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 3, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 12, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 182 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 12, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.