As she prepares to share the colourful bounty of her sunflower field this weekend, Geraldine Mullan marks the second anniversary of the deaths of her late husband and children.
On 20th August 2020, John, Tomás and Amelia Mullan lost their lives in a tragic road accident at Quigley’s Point between Derry and Moville. Geraldine was the sole survivor.
This morning, she penned the following powerful and beautiful piece in their memory.
My beloved John Tomás and Amelia
As I lie here all alone listening to the wind howling outside, it only seems like yesterday we were a family of four and there was music, love, laughter and joy in our home and in my heart….yet in the blink of an eye 2 years has passed since I last held you all, hugged you, kissed you, heard your voices, saw your beautiful smiles, & listened to your laughs.
Time moves on, yet my pain, sadness, grief, heartache and loneliness are still as raw as they were on 20th August 2020.
However the love you all showed me each and every day, the precious memories I have of us as a family of four and the love and support I have received from everyone since our accident has helped me to keep putting one foot in front of the other, to never lose hope and to take it a day at a time.
Sometimes just breathing is all I can do, and on those occasions that’s enough. My broken heart continues to beat with those precious words echoing in my ear from my beautiful daughter Amelia “there’s 4 corners in your heart, daddy is in one corner, Tomás is in another corner, I’m in another corner and you’re in the other corner…. when you’re sad put your hand over your heart and we’ll be there”….so today my heart will beat for the 4 of us. I will place my hand over my broken heart and close my eyes and think of you all & smile.
Send me signs today, keep me upright and wrap your heavenly arms around me.
When I walk through the Field of HOPE later today, I will stop, remember and acknowledge how lucky I was to be your wife my sweetheart John & how blessed I was to be your mum, Tomás and Amelia.
For updates and more information on the Festival of Hope, please visit: The Mullan Hope Centre
Geraldine also penned the following poem:
Another year
There’s one more year of silent birthdays,
Milestone moments stuck in solemn guise,
No cards or cakes or candles to reflect on,
Smiles and laughs give way to tearful eyes.
There’s one more year of lost anniversary,
A broken thread where once all was strong,
No shared reverie or trips in to our archive,
Just a lonesome view magnifying a wrong.
Time will pass relentless,
And sadly without change,
I stay bereft and still at loss,
I must accept this strange.
There’s one more year of ongoing anguish,
With many questions painful and perverse,
No reasons yet revealed for this outcome,
No sliding door where I could seek reverse.
But there’s also one more year of knowing,
That I am held in the warmest of embrace,
With family, friends and a wide community,
In loving step they help me find the grace.
Time will pass relentless,
And sadly without change,
So I pick hope over abandon,
And will accept this strange.
Love you all to the sun, moon & stars
Your Galway girl/mummy Geraldine xxx
Geraldine Mullan in her Field of Hope which is open to the public.