After Annie's birth in October 1932 there was no record of other children being born until 1942 when Cepta Mary arrived on the scene. I was eleven years old but only have a scant memory of her.

Perhaps there were other children that were either still born or who died in infancy. Malnutrition was rampant in those days. The Second World war was in it's early stages and people were feeling the effects. So may things were either rationed or could not be got. Certain fruit like bananas, oranges, lemons amongst others were impossible to get. We had plenty of milk, eggs, butter, potatoes and vegetables to sustain us, so we were the lucky ones.

But another baby did become part of our family. Biddy had a six month's old nephew, whose name was Joe Smyth. Joe's father was her brother. He was a stone mason by trade and by all accounts a very skilled worker. To this day there are momuments to testify to his skill with a hammer and chisel. Joe's mother was Judy and her maiden name was Collins. Joe was the baby in a large family.

Six months after Joe’s birth his mother died, leaving the large family to be reared by her husband Larry. Her death was a great loss to the family and created many problems for all of them. Larry, my uncle, asked my mother if she would mind Joe during the day while he was at work. A six month old baby needed care and attention and Biddy was happy to be able to help. So each morning Joe was brought down to number 24 Emmet Terrace and minded throughout the day. His father collected him each evening after work and took him home. It was not the ideal situation but the best that could be worked at the time. It seemed reasonably satisfactory and Joe was happy.

Tragedy struck the Smyth family again six months after Judy died. Larry was a member of the local fire defence force – most men were involved in some act of community service as a contribution to the war effort – when the accident happened. A new ladder was being tested in Navan and Larry was the one who went to the top to test it’s durability. Unfortunately the ladder moved and Larry fell to his death.

My father looked at Joe, a mere baby resting in his cot and told him he had a home with us for life. Joe grew up with Annie and myself and soon became known as Joe Bradley, a situation that was to cause him problems in later life. Joe was a brother to Annie and me and as the years proved, a wonderful blessing for us all. His contribution to the life of the family has been a hallmark and one I am glad to say stayed with us throughout his life. His attention to my mother and his care of her is something he can be proud of all his life.

Since Joe grew up in our family from when he was a baby meant being seen with Biddy, Annie and myself much of the time. As a consequence he became known as Joe Bradley. Few saw him as a Smyth or few knew of his background and therefore did not equate him as a brother to Tom, Christy, Brian, Lal and the girls Eva, Rita and Tiny.

When he was old enough to go to school and a young boy he was asked by his teacher on his first day of school what his name was, he replied Joe Bradley. The nun in question had no hesitation in putting this name in the class registration and Joe always answered to it when the role was taken each morning. It was not until it came time for Joe’s First Holy Communion that the problem surfaced.

The records in the office said there was a Joseph Smyth in first class but no Joe Bradley! Sister could not understand the problem at first and so Biddy was called in to clarify the situation. She had been coming to the school each morning with Joe and again in the afternoon until he was big enough to venture off on his own, so Sister had little difficulty meeting Biddy and enquiring the circumstances. Once it was explained how it came about the Joe Bradley was really Joe Smyth, there was no real problem. Joe made his First Communion and did the rounds like Annie and myself. He had many family members to visit and managed to get around all of them after he had the customary breakfast in the Arcadian Café. By this time the café was a feature of First Communion Day. After that Joe did, as all the boys in the convent did, transferred to Brothers’.

He was growing tall but remained slender in build. He showed tremendous ability in music especially percussion. To say he drove the neighbours bonkers seems almost as under statement. “Ma” Rafferty on one side of our house and Aggie Kerrigan on the other often mentioned the noise to Biddy.

Joe did not have a proper drum in those early days so he practiced every day, often for hours, on an upturned biscuit tin! There was no denying he had talent and would prove this over the years. He enrolled as a member of the Boys’ Band and immediately became a drummer. He enjoyed many years with the local band while still at school. It was not, however, until he left school that his talent was recognised by all who heard him. He soon became a marked man as an excellent drummer with exceptional talent. Several good bands sought his services and while he played with many of them for a short period to gain further experience, it was not until he became a member of the “Topics Band” that he really came to the fore.

He was called upon many times by St. Mary’s Silver Band to play when they had special occasions. He played with them when they accompanied the Irish Symphony Orchestra in the National Concert Hall in Dublin. His great delight was the “1812 Overture”. The excitement it generated thrilled him and gave him an opportunity of showing his skills as a percussionist. He played with St. Mary’s when they led the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Dallas, Texas, U.S.A. and he broadcast several times when the band gave concerts.

As a dance band drummer he was privileged to accompany many of the great names in show business and was recognised as easily in London as he was in his home country. Joe would be the very last to tell you these things but I believe I have “Writer’s Privilege” and so can share with you.

Several years later Joe married and won for himself a delightful lady named Ann Ryan. She in her own right was an accomplished seamstress. Her shop in Navan saw the landed gentry as well as the locals lay claim to her talents. She and Joe shared much in common. Their children Joseph and Lucia both did their parents proud. The great sadness in Joe’s young life was the sudden death of Ann after a short illness. The death of his wife was a severe blow to such a young family but true to his strength of character and durability he saw to it that life went on and that both his children were well schooled.

Annie, for whom Joe had a special regard and love thought there was nobody like Joe and was forever boasting about him. For myself I have always loved Joe as a brother and to this day we remain very very close. Biddy would be so proud of him and his family for the way they have made a success of life.