Helena Theresa Key - Auntie Lily

Helena Therea Key was born 28th February 1913 in Athlone Castle barracks, daughter of Tom and Molly Key.

She was baptised on 9th March 1913 in the Church of St Peter and St Paul's Athlone by the reverend R Morris CC.  The sponsors were James Bridles and Bridget O'Brien (aunt)

Mary Emma Key was known to all her friends and family as Lily. 

She married Patrick Guiry on 15th April 1944 in St Mary's Church Clonmel.

Maura (Tom and Madge’s daughter) remembers the wedding: Paddy didn’t wear a shirt because he married in his army uniform.  Maura was bridesmaid and Lily wore a powder blue dress with maroon hat and gloves.  They went to Dublin for the honeymoon after which Lily went back to England (probably St Albans) and Paddy had to finish his military service in Ireland.

Lily was in the ATS

Lily had lived at 63 Upper Irishtown and this was how she met Paddy who had also lived in Southview Terrace, Upper Irishtown (the house with railings before the shop was Uncle Paddy’s).

Lily, like most of her brothers and sisters came over the Ireland in the 20's and moved to St. Albans, Hertfordshire, where her father had relatives.

Eventually she and Uncle Paddy settled in London Colney just south of St. Albans.

Lily and Paddy had no children of their own, but were incredibly family mined and much loved by their nieces and nephews.  Lily was particularly good at keeping in touch with many of the family and was very close to the Shaw cousins.

Pictured left to right here are Uncle Paddy, Auntie Lily, Maura Harney (Uncle Tom's daughter), Jim Harney (Maura's Husband), Tom Shaw and seated on the floor, John Shaw.  The picture is taken in Paddy and Lily's flat in London Colney.

Pictured below are Lily and Paddy (taken on the same visit as above), Lily and Paddy on a visit to Braintree, Essex where they are pictured with Uncle Arthur (lily's brother), his son Patrick and his daughter.