Prior experience in mining was not necessary to becoming a miner in the United Sates. So far as I know, none of my Donegal ancestors had worked in any sort of mine prior to settling in northeastern Pennsylvania (around Hazleton PA), but most of them found employment mining coal. In fact, my greatgrandfather died in a mine accident. Mining was simply hard, dirty, dangerous work, and - like canal digging and railroad work - among the few occupations available to recent immigrants. The Irish were often seen as a source of cheap and expendable labor. It puts me in mind of a lyric from the recent song "Far Away Boys" by the band Flogging Molly: We buried four workmen/ They dug themselves well/ >From four empty coffins, to four early graves. They're only paddys, just paddys/ Don't dig them too deep/ You'll need all your strength, boys/ And they're replaced easily. Regards, Jim - researching MUNDIE (MUNDY, McLOONE, MacALOON, MacLUAIN, Mac GIOLLA UAIN) from Glenties ________________________________________ James Mundie Philadelphia PA, U.S.A. Prodigies: Anomalous Humans by James G. Mundie http://www.missioncreep.com/mundie/images/