Josephine Agnes Loughnan was born on 13 December 1874 at 3 Slaney Place, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, Ireland. Her parents were James Loughnan (from Carnew, Co. Wicklow) and Mary Darcey (from Co. Carlow). She had three sisters, Esther (1864), Margaret (1865) and Mary Eliza (1877) and three brothers Philip (1866), James (1868) and John (1871). She was educated at the Loretto Convent, in Enniscorthy and did her Junior Grade exam in 1887 and again in 1888.

Josephine moved to Belfast, where she lived in Cooke Street. She married Benjamin Norman Palmer on 05 August 1900 at the Holy Rosary Church, Belfast. Her profession was given as "salewoman". She probably moved to Salisbury Street where her husband lived, and then after April 1902, the couple lived at 39 Sandhurst Gardens, Belfast. About 1903, they moved to 4 Grafton Terrace, Derry, when her husband set up a small accountancy practice in the city. They moved again some time after 1910, to 17 High Street, in the heart of the Bogside. They had five children, Benjamin Gerard (1902), Margaret (1903), Anne (1905) and twins Olive and Martha (1908).

After the death of her husband in 1914, her daughters Margaret and Anne left the convent where they were being educated, and worked in the local shirt factory. Josephine took in needlework to make ends meet.

Josephine went to London with her son Benny in 1936, and lived at 40 Avonmore Road, London W14 with her daughter Anne O'Donnell. She was known to her grandchildren as "Mamó". Josephine died in the Ducane Hospital, Hammersmith in 1940 and is buried in Kensal Green Cemetery in West London.

If you are related to Josephine, please contact Ben Palmer at benlpalmerAThotmailDOTcom