A former journalist and university lecturer originally from Belfast has told of his joy of finally being reunited with a lasting piece of his Irish heritage following a 4,000 mile journey to his home in Canada.
A rusty, iron-wrought gate that for 75 years stood at the entranceway to Don Gibb's old home at 91 Mount Merrion Park in Belfast has now been delivered to his house in Oakville, close to Toronto.
"Every day I glance at that gate, a smile crosses my face and another memory stirs in my mind," he said.
Earlier this year, Mr Gibb told Irish News readers of his memories of leaving his Belfast home to emigrate to Canada in 1957, recalling how the gate was "the last image I remember as our taxi pulled away from the house".
Crafted by the skilled hands and creative mind of his grandfather, William John Ross, in his forge at Salters Grange in Armagh, each time Mr Gibb returned to visit Northern Ireland, he made a pilgrimage to Mount Merrion.
"The gate’s advancing age was evident", he recalled.
A few years ago, his son Colin, his wife Christina and their family from Fort Wayne in the United States, visited Belfast and travelled to see his father's childhood home.
They met the current owner of the house, Karen Gallagher, who told them of how one part of the gate, which had been removed to repair the supporting brick wall, had been stolen.
When they asked about the remaining gate, Ms Gallagher "graciously parted with it and thus began the long journey" to return it to Mr Gibb.
In an update on the return of the treasured reminder of his roots in Northern Ireland, Mr Gibb has told of the two-year journey to see it finally arrive in Canada.
"To get to its final destination, in my home in Oakville, Canada, a town 30 miles west of Toronto sitting along Lake Ontario, the gate first travelled by van from Belfast to Castlebar in Co Mayo, where Christina’s family owns a plant, Fort Wayne Metals," he said.
"From there, it crossed the Atlantic by cargo ship and was trucked to Fort Wayne.
"The gate was to be my St Patrick’s Day birthday gift in 2020, but Covid-19 restrictions interrupted the surprise.
"So last weekend, Colin, who has his pilot’s licence, flew into Oakville for the final leg of a journey that began more than two years ago to deliver the gate."
Mr Gibb said prior to being delivered to his home, the gate was "treated to a remarkable makeover, subjected to a blast in a furnace to remove the invasive rust that had crept into every crevice and then powder-coated".
"It could easily have been crafted in the forge yesterday and delivered today," he said.
"The W. J. Ross signature hammered into the iron so many years ago returned to life, no longer smothered under layers of paint.
"Back in 1960, grandpa’s obituary also said that the products of his skills could be admired as far away as Belfast, some 40 miles from his forge at Salters Grange.
"Now, many more miles away, I shake my head, almost in disbelief, at a magnificent, bold piece of art created by a master of his craft that lives on to be admired and appreciated."
Mr Gibb said now on "our condominium balcony, the gate has its special spot and can be seen from the window every day".
"And every day I glance at that gate, a smile crosses my face and another memory stirs in my mind," he said.
