80-year-old pens heartfelt letter to his hometown seeking old friends

An elderly man from Lahinch has been homesick for a long time now.

Jim Logan wrote a heartfelt letter to a newspaper in his hometown, asking if anyone from the area remembers who he is.

The 80-year-old has been living in England, reflecting on the days of his youth during the hot, summer days.

“I was wondering how everyone is doing back in Lahinch and is there anyone left who remembers me?” Jim asked in his letter.

Lahinch is a small town on Liscannor Bay, on the Northwest coast of County Clare, and it seems Jim was longing for those seaside breezes to relieve him from the relentless London sun.

“I was born in June 1938 in Lahinch and lived in Crag from age nine to 16, when I emigrated to England.

“I attended national school in Lahinch and CBS in Ennistymon. It would be great to hear from anyone from that era. I wonder how many of us are left?” Jim continued.

His letter, published in The Clare Champion, was seen by hotelier Michael Vaughan, who was moved by what the local-at-heart had to say.

Feeling a sense of comradery and compassion, the hotelier immediately took action and penned a response.

Michael offered to fund Jim’s trip back to Lahinch and give him the opportunity to reconnect with past friends and family.

Clareman Jim Logan, 80, from Lahinch and living in sheltered housing in Camden would like to hear from anyone who remembers him there. He's been in London since he was 16. https://t.co/DPXOZGlqRs via @broadsheet_ie pic.twitter.com/JpPleKSyEY

— the Irish World (@theirishworld) August 10, 2018

The letter has since gained popularity, attracting attention from Jim’s old buddies that have missed the Irishman since his move across the pond.

Former Sunday Tribune editor Nóirín Hegarty replied: “My Dad, Sean Hegarty was in school with Jimmy Logan and remembers him well. He is going to write to him, reminding him of their antics. He has some great stories.”

Another local, Tomsie O’Sullivan, is planning to write to his old friend and said he remembered Jim and his family as “very hard workers and very well respected.”

Jim has yet to respond to the flurry of loving letters he has received, but the hotelier has reassured Jim’s friends that if he does not come to Lahinch, they will come to London.

“I don’t even know at this stage if Jim would like to travel back so if not, we can organise a small delegation to go over from here to London to cheer him up.”