December 2004. We live in Birmingham UK and came over to my Irish husband Tony’s Dublin family for Christmas. Had to come to the 100th celebration. Champagne toast in the lobby. Made my way over to Michael Yeats. ‘Mr. Yeats! I know your friend Bill Murphy in Florida!’ ‘Oh, really,’ he said. Murphy told me later, ‘He said there was this nice American lady in front of him, but he couldn’t hear what she was saying.’

When I left and walked down Abbey Street, I saw Michael inching his way along so asked where he was going. ‘They’re giving me a party at the Winn Dixie, but I’m having trouble getting there,’ he said. So I helped him along…