There has been in the last 5 years a marked turn-around in Irish historical research with genealogical implications. The "post troubles" reseach is funded by university grants, written by acknowledged researchers in their respective fields and has academic credibility. The "genealogical implications" are primarily in the footnoted documentation to the facts and matters presented and in the extensive bibliography that accompanies the new publications. The writers don't fry your fish, they show you where to catch them. There is a fantastic series of hardcover books published by Geography Publications in Dublin and funded by Irish universities in Dublin, Belfast and by the Ulster Local History Trust. The Volume I am referencing is "Down, History & Society," edited by Lindsay Proudfoot, Reader in Geography, The Queen's University of Belfast who is a specialist in historical geography. There are 24 essays in the volume which cover the range of historical research in County Down from prehistorical artifacts through the 19th century. No volitile political articles. I also have the volumes for Donegal and Derry, which in my estimation are two outstanding, must read books for understanding the plantations period and subsequent development of the respective counties. There are about 8 other volumes to date but they pertain to Republic of Ireland Counties in which I have no interest. Since I have learned to pull the curtains wider on my historical window I now read some research materials that deal with events after 1796 when my Cowans left Ireland and the 1830's when my McClays got out of Derry and Tyrone. Chapeter 17 of the text is an essay, "The Irish Language in County Down" and makes a specific citation to a James Cowan in 1945 taken by a linguist researcher. On March 11, 1945 {the researcher, McPolin} visited James Cowan, farmer, Stang, aged 60. Cowan was able to repeat a number of phrases in Irish which his grandmotheer who knew the language taught him when he was a child, e. g. bless himself, count from one to ten, and such phrases as "showitchshough." At the same time he says his mother knew no Irish. She apparentlhy was born about the transition period when parents did not wish their children to learn Irish. That would be about 1840-50 in this district. Cowan's granny belonged to Drumboniff." In our country, Presbyterian services in Gaelic where held in Cape Fear as late as the 1840's. One of the first books published in Gaelic was John Knox's Catechism. The Scottish Presbyterians took an active role in speaking and publishing in Gaelic. The purpose was to gain converts among Gaelic speaking Scots and Irish. The Catholic priest showed little interest in learning and teaching Gaelic since the Mass and services were in Latin, and the Priests aspired to an education on the Continent in Spain, France or Italy. There was little or no prestiege associated with learning Gaelic. The only Gaelic I know is Turrah Lurrah Lurrah, That's an Irish Lullaby which my Grandmother always sung to me. I don't know if she sang it because she knew the Gaelic or if she just liked the song. jcmclay