On Friday, May 7th in anticipation of his 107th birthday on May 12, 2021 Mathew Crowley received a special gift from the President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins.
Mathew Crowley was born In Ashkeaton, County Limerick in Ireland, the son of a Principal Lighthouse Keeper, James (Jimmie) Crowley, Loop Head Lighthouse, County Clare. His mother was Millicent (Millie) Colfer from Fethard-on-Sea, County Wexford. He was recruited from Ford Motor Company, Cork City, Ireland, to Ford Motor Company, Dagenham, Essex, UK. With the advent of WWII, Ford Motor Company changed over to Aircraft engines from Car engines, and his subsequent designation was as an “essential worker” for the British War effort.
A WWII wartime member of the Gloucester City Council ARP at Gloucester Cathedral, and a World War II RAF Typhoon and Hurricane assembly worker at Gloucester Aircraft Company, he was entering GAC the following shift during the period when a Messerschmitt-109 aircraft bombed the GAC car park causing a large loss of life of the female workforce emerging from their previous work shift. A later aircraft inspector at Sir George Dowty’s, Staverton, Gloucestershire, but with the introduction of the jet engine, he retired as a Lighthouse Keeper Attendant with the Irish Lights at Minehead Lighthouse, Ring, County Waterford, Ireland, with his wife of 62 years, Matilda Crowley, a native of Ballyvaughan, County Clare, whose career was spent as a State Registered Nurse at the Gloucestershire Royal Infirmary. They retired together to Youghal, County Cork, Ireland.
Lá breithe shona duit Mathew from everyone at Irish America
Great to know you are so hail and hearty uncle matt.