When Norma McEnhill was born on 18 April 1909 in Omagh, Tyrone, her father, Hugh, was 31, and her mother, Catherine, was 40. She had one son and one daughter with Felix McMahon.

She died in May 1975 in Lynton, Devon, at the age of 66 of a massive heart attack. Norma is often referred to as “Nonnie”. She was a teacher – a head teacher for a while – and also conducted “hedge row” classes for illiterate poor children. Norma was a political activist with the Fianna Fail party, running as a candidate.

She knew Eamonn De Valera, president of the Irish Republic. A staunch Irish Republican, she was voted “IRA glamorous granny of 1963” at a fundraiser in the Irish Republic after the birth of her grandson Anthony McMahon.