Spen clan’s top secret US trip for special day

They say the secret of a good marriage is not to keep secrets, but try telling that to Siobhan McMahon.
FAMILY RUN Siobhan Harrington (centre) with her parents and four brothers during the surprise birthday trip to Virginia.FAMILY RUN Siobhan Harrington (centre) with her parents and four brothers during the surprise birthday trip to Virginia.
FAMILY RUN Siobhan Harrington (centre) with her parents and four brothers during the surprise birthday trip to Virginia.

Despite moving from Spen to the USA 14 years ago, Siobhan had a 40th birthday to remember as her husband arranged for members of her family to fly over and stop at their house in Round Hill, Virginia.

Husband Tom had spent a whole year arranging the trip for Siobhan’s four brothers and her parents to visit.

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She said: “I was turning 40, and he realised it would be amazing to get my family over from the UK.

“Once he told me, I nearly fell over – I just couldn’t believe it!”

Siobhan married Tom in 1999 atHealds Hall Hotel, Liversedge, which is owned by her parents Nora and Tom Harrington, and was where she grew up.

“Moving to America has been brilliant,” she said. “But I did have to learn a new language – even though I thought we both spoke English – and I can’t get any decent fish and chips out here!”

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Siobhan and Tom now have two children, Kiera, nine, and Kildea, 10.

Siobhan added: “It was funny to see my brothers talk with Kildea, because they kept calling her ‘Siobhan’!

“Obviously I will always think of the Spen Valley as my home, but my girls are all-American now, and I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”

The family are keen runners and, after hearing of a race – the Hometown Festivals 5K – all seven of the Harringtons, including Siobhan, took part.

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Nora and Tom Harrington managed to beat the Americans in their own back yard by winning in the over 70s age group.

Siobhan said: “My family, apart from me, are all keen runners!

“I am just so appreciative that my husband would be so thoughtful after so many years of marriage to do something so nice.”

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