| The Mary O'Connor Spirit Award |
Congratulations to Rosabelle Gifford, our first-ever Mary O'Connor Spirit Awardee.
Gifford’s story is as inspiring as that of the Irish heroine after whom the award is named, the inspiration for
the great love song, “The Rose of Tralee.” Rosabelle left England in 1958 as an impoverished single mother
to bring five children to the Philadelphia area. She now presides over an extended family of 13
grandchildren, all college graduates, and 20 great-grandchildren.
“We were all poor during my childhood,” recalls Gifford, born Rosabelle Blaney in Doorin, Donegal, “There
were no cars. We thought it a great adventure to get a ride home on the bar of some boy’s bicycle.” One of
those boys, Edward Harvey of Castleogary married the young Rose Blaney and they had five children, raised
in London following World War II.
Living conditions in England following the war were nothing to write home about, with rationing and
shortages widespread and the marriage disintegrating. Adversity to Rosabelle simply meant another
challenge to overcome. She headed for the United States with her children, where she ultimately married
again, this time to Charles Gifford, a World War II veteran.
Five decades later she is an inspiration to the Irish community, a longtime member of the Donegal Society of
Philadelphia, staunch supporter of Irish affairs, and an avid advocate of educational opportunity for all and
of programs to combat domestic violence.
Despite the happiness of recent years, life hasn’t been all sunlit days for Gifford since arriving in the United
States. Charlie Gifford passed away more than 20 years ago, shortly after the death of her son-in-law Joseph
McCullough. Her oldest son, Ted Harvey, died four years later, followed within five years by his beloved wife
Mae. Attending the award ceremony will be three of her four surviving children, Rosemary McCullough,
Kathleen Harshberger (and her husband Dick) and Frank Harvey, along with many grandchildren. The
fourth child, educator James Harvey, cannot attend as he will be in China as a guest of the Chinese
government.
“Rosabelle is a wonderful woman,” said selection committee member Thomas Conaghan, himself a native of
Donegal, from Dromore Townland. “We sometimes see people we admire and wish we could be more like
them. Rosabelle has that quality. She’s a friend of the downtrodden who combines remarkable energy with
a powerful will. Her quick wit makes her a pleasure to be around. She’s a splendid example of the spirit of
Mary O’Connor.”
Help us congratulate and thank Rose on 50 years of contributions to the Irish community in Philadelphia at
the 8th Annual Philadelphia Rose Ball on Saturday, June 27th at the Springfield Country Club.
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