An end of an era in historic Milltown
The Burke family's major contribution to the social, sporting and community life of Milltown from the 1930s to the '90s
By Jim Carney
A LINK with an era of progress and prosperity in the North Galway village of Milltown was severed this year with the death of a well-known local man.
Burkes' family shop and residence was a landmark building on the N17 between Tuam and the South Mayo border village of Ballindine, 6 km from the town of Claremorris.
Billy Burke, farmer and retired school bus driver, died on April 5 at his home, unexpectedly. The second son of William and Delia Burke, he was predeceased by his brother Noel in September 2020. His siblings are Seán (Tuam), Declan (Galway), Jimmy (Dublin), Mary (Taupo, North Island, New Zealand) and Jarlath (Galway).
They had all helped out in their parents’ shop, housebuilding business and farm in their younger days; they all received their second-level education in Tuam, and life choices later took them away from their native parish, but they remained true to their roots.
Read this three-page special feature in full in this week’s edition of The Tuam Herald, on sale in shops or buy the digital edition here