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@oliviaward__

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♐︎ • j 💓• perth, australia 🐨🇦🇺🦘

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After 14 years of research, I finally went to the hometown of my great grandmother Mary and remembered her despite never meeting her. She fled domestic violence just as Ireland became a free state and Northern Ireland stayed a part of the UK. Leaving behind her 4 younger brothers and sister to never see them again, she was only 17 or 18 and travelled from Limavady to Surrey. England brought her 4 children of her own and sadly she passed away at 52 unexpectedly, one month before she was due to be a grandmother. For 5 decades, she was remembered as Mary McLaughlin from Ireland. I had one photograph of her and her eldest child, my grandad had passed away before I was born and could ask him questions. Luckily, my Nanna and uncle Harold told me all they could. It took such a long time to find her birth, which was in Scotland not Ireland and eventually I found her parents and siblings. Last year I put my DNA into a database and found her brother’s children. We all met in a pub about 300 meters from the Protestant Church where my 2x great grandparents were married in 1905, just two months before Mary was born. At the end of 2025, I was told an elderly woman was looking over me and that everything I’d been looking for would come together, all the questions would be answered. I learnt even more about her on the day we met her extended family and it was truly so beautiful. I’m so proud of her braveness and resilience but also wish she’d had a better life that was lived a lot longer than 52 years. I didn’t just start and continue searching her to know about myself but for her sons who are still alive today and were 14 and 24 when she died. Tony and Harold, this one was for you but to Mary; I couldn’t be anymore proud to be your great granddaughter. I hope I’ve made you proud & have finally reunited your families after 100 years apart. Mary Agnes Kirkland McLaughlin 1905-1958 ☘️🇬🇧❤️ taken in Northern Ireland by @oliviaward__

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a month ago

A UK Summer!! (Ireland to come)

York 🫖

The east coast have the fattest seagulls I stg

My angel in human form

The memories this house holds 🫶🏻

Only took us 26 years to see each other again but couldn’t live another day without our Marnie 🫶🏻🫶🏻

The countryside will always have my heart

princess Aylah 👑 👸🏾

I’d give you my heart if you needed it

Can’t forget Sim 💓

Edinburgh for 24 hours (should’ve been longer smh)

inside joke with the bf so ofc it came home with me hehe

One of so many matchas, petition to bring blank street to Aus

Love an English breaky

The church my grandparents got married in Kent 💓 by @oliviaward__

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2 months ago

Nothing beats spending time with my Manc family 💙💙💙 my heart in human form 💓💓 taken in Manchester, United Kingdom by @oliviaward__

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2 months ago

July, I loved you ❤️ swipe to the last slide for the cutest part 🫶🏻 taken in Perth, Western Australia by @oliviaward__

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2 months ago

live laugh love @tayabreehair taken in Perth, Western Australia by @oliviaward__

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5 months ago

celebrating the mum-to-be and baby Healey 🩷💙 #babyshower #cousins #anothermemberofthefamily taken in Raffles Hotel by @oliviaward__

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a year ago

Friday to Monday in Melbourne for @thedriverera 2.0 and this time managed to not faint (from my knee but definitely could’ve fainted at the sight of @ross_lynch and @rockylynch) taken in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia by @oliviaward__

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2 years ago

back in the best aus city 🫶🏻 taken in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia by @oliviaward__

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a year ago

feb dump 🌶️ taken in Perth, Western Australia by @oliviaward__

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2 years ago

what a year 2024 has been
1. Wine time
2. Started my year blonde
3. The first of many Freo games
4. Internship @ NAA!!
5. Finally met little squish
6. Lots of Yochi
7. Lila
8. Unseen grad pic
9. My nanna turned 89!!
10. Starting to feel confident and happy in my own skin taken in Perth, Western Australia by @oliviaward__

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2 years ago

sweet & spicy taken in Perth, Western Australia by @oliviaward__

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2 years ago

After 3.5 years separated by covid, I finally got to see my nanna again 🩷 even thought the dementia has gotten worse, I enjoyed every moment of hearing you repeat the same things. Never take your time with your grandparents for granted because one of mine wasn’t here this time 👼 by @oliviaward__

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3 years ago