North west man passes away in London, prompting community search for family in Ireland

A poignant notice has been put up on a shopfront in London, appealing for help in locating the family of a man from the north west who recently passed away in the city.

A former BBC journalist shared a photo of the notice on X, which shows an image of the man –  Martin Fallon, originally from Sligo – who passed away at Whittington Hospital in May.

The notice states that he was born in April 1951, and that his funeral and cremation are scheduled to take place in Finchley, London, on Monday, June 9.

“The area used to be home to lots of these old boys from Ireland but they are slowly dying out along with their pubs and betting shops,” the journalist wrote.

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She also mentioned that the shop displaying the notice serves as a “hub” for sharing personal news, and carries a wide selection of local Irish newspapers.

Since the post was shared, people on social media have rallied to trace Martin Fallon’s relatives.

On June 4, OceanFM posted a photo of the notice on Facebook in an appeal for information, which has since been shared over 300 times.

One commenter mentioned that Fallon had two sisters who lived in England, both of whom have passed away, and one remaining sister in Galway.

In an interview with OceanFM, Cllr Thomas Healy – who lived in England for a decade – said Fallon came from Collooney and moved to England 40 years ago.

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“London is a very lonely place if you haven’t a support base around you,” said Cllr Healy. 

He noted that many Irish people, like Fallon, have become disconnected in their roots over time.

“This brings it all home and I’m sure Martin has some family here in Ireland,” he added. “It’s sad to see it.”

Sligo Genealogy Research Services reported finding a Martin Fallon born in Sligo in 1951, though they cannot confirm if it is the same individual.

The moving notice in the north London shop window speaks to a generation of Irish who once made London their home – now slowly drifting from the familiar places and faces that once kept them tethered to their native land.