I found it so ridiculously difficult trying to get my late father's school records. I e-mailed Raphoe National school several times asking if they had the records, they never replied. I then wrote several times enclosing stamped addressed envelopes, giving all personal details that could only be known to family..........they never replied. I was extremely fortunate, a recently discovered cousin made the journey to Raphoe National School and managed to get the details. There was only a few lines. Full name. Date Started Attendance Name of parent/guardian Date of leaving. Those few lines have made such a difference to my research. Prior to receiving the details, I had no idea with whom my father had spent his early years, the date he's left for England etc. The name of the guardian gave me details which I could never have known had I not got the records. In the last month I've twice written to the school again asking for details of other family members...they haven't replied. Why they have to make it so difficult for us, is hard to understand. It would seem that the only way to get the records still held at the schools is by making a personal visit..impossible if one doesn't live in the vicinity......if we were all incredibly wealthy we could commission professional researcher, whether records would be released to them is another matter. Possibly some kind soul living in the area would make a visit to the school on the researchers behalf, unfortunately when the researcher lives in a different area/country it's hard to repay the favour. Aren't we lucky to have fabulous people like Lindle and friends.. Good luck. Jackie.

Many people ask why their families left Ireland at times other than the Great Famine (An Gorta Mor - Great Hunger) or one of the Rebellions. Ireland had much poverty and the following excerpt shows all too well why our ancestors found it necessary to flee Donegal and other parts of Ireland. Maude Gonne MacBride helped tenants in County Donegal during the 1880s when many were being evicted from their homes. Taken from : Freeman's Journal and Daily Commercial Advertiser (Dublin, Ireland), Saturday, April 8, 1882 There is a long article about evictions in County Donegal. Since my area of research is Malin Head I am listing only one item: "The next move was the property of Mr. George Harvey of Malin, a short distance away.Several cases on this estate were temporarily settled, none of which are of great interest. The only actual eviction that took place was on the holdings of PATRICK COLLINS, who held 12 or 13 acres of which it is almost hardly too much to say that there are no more than 4 acres arable.The rent is 6 pounds,3s,6d and I think there are 10 family members living on the holding. The land is the poorest of the poor. How any man could hope to work it with any chance of making a livlihood is a mystery and certainly nothing could explain the circumstances that the family contrived to hold on so long save the knowledge that an Irish peasant will cling on like a "limpet to a rock" to the old homestead. All efforts at a satisfactory settlement failed and the shovel and bar brigade commenced operations. I never saw anything to equal the way n whcih these men tumbled out the wretched furniture of htat cabin, and I will not dwell much longer on the painful picture the scene presented. An incident on the apinfrul picture the scene presented. An incident took place, however, which deserves to be mentioned because ot its extraordinary character, and one whichprobably has ot its parallel in connection with evictions in Ireland. The soldiers were present under the command of Lieut. Segrave, an officer whose kind manner and whose obvious distaste for the unmilitary duty at whcih he was called on to assist made him a great favourite with nearly everybody who met him. For the first time, up to the present, they were actual spectators of the work of eviction, and seemed really moved by the scene. When the work of clearing out and nailing up had been finsihed severalyoung peasants girls who were sittig opposite the door sang a melancholy old Irish song bewailing the bitter day and full of patriotic sentiments, theythen sang in lud chorus, "God Save Ireland". When they had finished the soldiers formed in a ody on a little bill behind them and san to a national air "The Land of Saint Patrick." The effect was very remarkable, and the event is not without significance. On yesterday the scene of operation ws changed to Glenealy, to the property of Mrs. Torrens. of Coleraine." The only Patrick Collins I found in Clonca Parish in the Griffith's Valuation was Patrick Collins of Balleelaghan. Beannachtai, Margaret (Máiread)