The book the family has been waiting for!

The story of Maria Gallaher and her children (who included David Gallaher, the captain of the 1905 All Blacks) is told fully for the first time by her great-granddaughter Kay Carter. It is a remarkable account of a family who emigrated from Ramelton, County Donegal, to the pioneer settlement of Katikati in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.

They faced hardship and near-destitution as her elderly and ill husband failed to succeed as a farmer settler, and school teacher Maria became the sole bread winner of the family. Her early death at 42, after bearing 14 children, threw the family on to its only resource — the determination of the older children as young adults to look after their ailing father and the younger siblings. The family eventually spread across New Zealand and Australia, encouraged by the opportunities of the gold fields of both countries.

“Maria Gallaher: Her short life

and her children’s stories”

will be available from 1 May 2011

For New Zealand, $NZ45 per copy plus $5 packaging and postage, with a discount of $5 a copy for orders of three or more copies.

For Australia, $A40 per copy, plus $A12 packaging and postage, with a discount of $A5 a copy for orders of three or more copies.

For Ireland and the United Kingdom, €25 per copy, plus €15 packaging and postage, with a discount of €3 a copy for orders of three or more copies.

We are hoping to arrange distribution centres in Australia and Ireland which may effect some savings.

Orders may be made now to:

Champion Associates 4 Makarini Street Paraparaumu 5032 New Zealand kaybill@clear.net.nz

Don Fisher 58 Edgecliff Road Woollahra New South Wales 2025 Australia caroldon2000@gmail.com

Kevin Shields David Gallaher Society Ramelton, Co. Donegal Ireland kevinshields.mail@googlemail.com