Ian Dodson Snr: The Dodson Family Tree

I came to Ireland as a seven year old with my mother Irene Dodson for a holiday in the summer of 1950. Irene was going to marry Terry Lehane and we stayed in his family home in the tiny village of Glencairn in Co Waterford. What a culture change for a small boy from post war London. I vividly remember the new experiences of mushroom picking, snaring rabbits and fishing in the river Blackwater with the local lads.

After Irene and Terry were married in Dublin in Jan 1951 we lived in Limerick where I grew up with the Lehane family of five brothers and four sisters. I went to school at the CBS Sexton St until I completed my Leaving Certificate examination in 1961 when I joined CIE(National Transport Co).

That summer I met Theresa Yelverton, daughter of Michael and Helena Yelverton, on a blind date and we went out together. In 1963 I asked her father's permission to get married and when he said yes we got engaged and we married in April 1965. We have 4 children, Karen (1966),Paul (1968),Ian (1969) and Suzanne (1971). I worked with CIE first in Limerick, then as Station Master Foynes for a short period. I went to Birr Depot as Freight Superintendent and in 1981 was promoted to District Manager Tralee. When CIE was split into three operating companies in 1987 I came to Limerick as Regional Manager Bus Eireann I retired in 2003 and live with Theresa in Limerick.

Karen Dodson studied art and design at the Grafton Acadamy and married John McPartlan and they have two children Amy and Alan. She joined the wardrobe dept of RTE (National TV) and after 11years she left to set up her own business as a wedding coordinator.( Karen@wedinireland.com ). Karen presently lives with her partner Joe Peters in Co Wexford.

Paul Dodson attended Robert Gordon Institute in Aberdeen Scotland and graduated in business studies and marketing. He emigrated to Australia in 1993 where he works in the pharmaceutical industry. He met and married Gisele and they had a son Joshua who died eleven days after birth. Paul presently lives in Sydney Australia ( pauldodson7@hotmail.com ).

Ian Dodson Jnr always had an interest in art and music and sang in his own rock band. He spent some time working in New York and then returned to Ireland and attended Mary I College in Limerick as a mature student and graduated with a B.A. degree in Philosophy and History. He spent a year in University of Limerick completing a post graduate course in computer studies. Ian subsequently worked in the computer industry. He met his partner Virginie and they live in Bray near Dublin. Ian & Virginie married in Dublin in May 2005.( ian@iandodson.com ).

Suzanne Dodson attended the L.S.B College in Dublin and completed a diploma course. She then went to New York, on receipt of her green card, where she worked for various investment banks. She subsequently studied at N.Y.U. where she also worked, and graduated with honours. Suzanne returned to Ireland after nine years (with Spathers her cat). She gained a diploma in reflexology and is in the process of setting up her own business. ( suzanne@suzannedodson.com ). Suzanne met Bryan Roche her partner and they live in Maynooth near Dublin.