1870: Paddy Garvey

"He never grew old in his ways. He aged, but he never grew old."
-Mary Garvey, describing her father Paddy Garvey

Paddy Garvey emigrated from Ireland in the 1850s to become one of the first settlers on the Little Bonnechere River. A colourful character, he worked as a raftsman, farmer, park ranger, wagon driver, bridge and road builder, and keeper of Sligo House, a stopping place upstream from Couchain Lake.

Many tall tales tell of Paddy's sharp wit, keen business sense and great strength, including building the bridge at Sligo all alone, for which the stringers were 65 feet from one pier to the next.

Photo: Frank McGuey, Mary Garvey, Martin Garvey, Mike Garvey

Listen: Martin Garvey tells Rory MacKay about the Garvey House

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