The County Armagh website at Ireland Genealogy Projects has been updated. The following civil parish webpages have been added and/or updated: Armagh, Ballymore, Ballymyre, Confeacle, Creggan, Derrynoose, Jonesborough, Killyman, Tartaraghan. The following town(land) pages have been added and/or updated: Aghanore, Allistragh, Annahagh, Aughnacloy, Ballygassoon, Ballymackilmurry, Cabragh, Carganamuck, Carrickaloughran, Drumcarn, Drumsill, Grange Blundel, Grangemore, Killylyn, Shantally, Breagh, Portadown Town, Derryhirk, Knockaconey, Lisdonwilly, Moneycree, Mullynure, Teeraw, Tirgarve, Tullyard, Tullygarran, Tullygarran, Tullygoonigan, Annaclare, Ballybrannan, Drumman Beg & More, Drumogher, Kilmachugh, Salters Grange, Annacrampt, Ballknick, Tiregerty, Drumart, Greenan, Carricktroddan, Ardrea, Lurgan Town, Crossdall, Carrive The following sections have also been updated: Surnames, Records, Land Divisions. You can access the website at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~nirarm2/ If you have any suggestions, additions or corrections for the website, email me off list. -- Pat Connors, Sacramento CA http://www.connorsgenealogy.com

New York Gazette May 11, 1752 Died lately, Robert Magrath, of Kilburrow, in the County of Clare, Ireland, aged 115, in his full Senses: He was a Student at the Temple of the Restoration, had a Daughter born in 1664 and another in 1737. Cathy Joynt Labath Ireland Old News http://www.IrelandOldNews.com/

BALLINA CHRONICLE Ballina, Mayo, Ireland Wednesday, April 24, 1850 (From the Malta Mail of March 30) On Sunday last, notice was given in the Roman Catholic Churches, that for the future no Intermarriages would be permitted between parties, one of whom professed the Roman Catholic and the other the Protestant faith, except under a solemn premise that the children to be born thereof should be brought up in the Roman Catholic faith. On the same day public notice was given from the altar of the Cathedral church of St. Paul, that for the future no banns of a marriage would be published, or the solemnity performed between parties as above, of opposite religious faith, if either had sworn, in the court of the Roman Catholic Bishop, to bring up the children in the Roman Catholic faith. His Lordship the Bishop of Gibraltar concluded, and we think with much reason, that the parents who would consent to such a sacrifice, had better themselves embrace the profession to which the children are thus by parental weakness, so unceremoniously condemned. A very singular case, which occupied the attention of the Commissioner of Insolvents now holding his court in this city, is suggestive of serious ground for reflection. We allude to the case of Mr. John Joseph Tangney, a solicitor, who, unhappily for himself, as it has turned out, and not fortunately for others, united to his professional avocations the trade of bill discounting. The moral of the transaction has been read in the court of insolvents- Although Mr. Tangney charged an average of £46 on every £100, and frequently (according to the evidence of Mr. White) received £100 for every £30 which he advanced to some desperate claimant for a loan, the result is--the insolvent court! His case is adjourned to next commission. But Mr. Tangney, the solicitor, is not the only victim of his own usurious money dealings; Mr. White, a member of the same profession, bitterly regrets that he ever entered upon the crooked path, and abandoned the legitimate road. He also had his golden dreams, his Visions of wealth; and he is now living in the jail of this city, after having lost £1000--Cork Examiner. At the Dublin Police-office, on Friday, Thomas Seamon of 11 Dame-street, was fined £5 for having a lottery at his bazaar, the magistrates staffing, if her persisted, he would in future be mulct in 100l. Mr. Litton, Master in Chancery, is dangerously ill. Dysentery is prevalent in the gaol of Ennis, which is overcrowded, and two prisoners died of the disease this week. William Blood, Esq, son of Bindon Blood, Esq, is appointed to the chair of Civil Engineering in Galway Queen's College. Cathy Joynt Labath Ireland Old News http://www.IrelandOldNews.com/

SNIPPET: Oliver GOLDSMITH of Longford was a physician turned prolific writer, editor, and poet. His essay on Turlough CAROLAN (1670-1738) is said to be the earliest mention of the blind harpist. Per the author -- "Of all the bards this country ever produced, the last and the greatest was Carolan the blind. He was at once a poet, a musician, a composer, and sung his own verses to his harp. The original natives never mention his name without rapture; both his poetry and music they have by heart; and even some of the English themselves who have been transplanted here, find his music extremely pleasing .... Whenever any of the original natives of distinction were assembled at feasting or revelling, Carolan was generally there, where he was always ready with his harp, to celebrate their praises. He seemed by nature formed for his profession; for as he was born blind, so also he possessed of a most astonishing memory, and a facetious turn of thinking, which gave his entert! ainers infinite satisfaction. Being once at the house of an Irish nobleman, where there was a musician present, who was eminent in the profession, Carolan immediately challenged him to a trial of skill. To carry the jest forward, his lordship persuaded the musician to accept the challenge, and he accordingly played over on his fiddle the fifth concerto of Vivialdi. Carolan, immediately taking his harp, played over the whole piece after him, without missing a note, though he had never heard it before: which produced some surprise but their astonishment increased, when he assured them he could make a concerto in the same taste himself, which he instantly composed, and that with such spirit and elegance, that it may compare (for we have it still) with the finest compositions of Italy ... " A painting by Francis BINDON, "Carolan the Harper, oil on copper, 18th century, can be found in the National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin.

BALLINA CHRONICLE Ballina, Mayo, Ireland Wednesday, April 24, 1850 CONVICT SYSTEM - Earl Grey moved the [ink spot] reading of the Convict Prisons Bill in the Lords on Friday, when Lord Monteagle hoped they would not overlook the effect which transportation had on criminals. With regard to the great mass of Irish criminals transportation was dreaded more than death. As regarded the benefit to the colony and to the criminal, he might refer to the evidence of an individual witness, Lieut-General Sir R. Bourke, late governor of Australia, who stated in a memorandum, now in the Colonial office, that the effect of the convict system had been within fifty years to convert the wilderness of New South Wales into a prosperous colony, and that its effect on the criminal had been a moral improvement equal to any system of prison discipline would have produced. The condition of the criminal population was most deplorable. In the gaol of the county of Limerick, with which he was connected between 100 and 200 prisoners were placed in cells provided only for the accommodation of 15. If it was found inconvenient to remove prisoners who were sentenced to transportation, it was the bounden duty of the government to provide adequate accommodations for them at home. Earl Grey did not deny that the number of persons sentenced to transportation in Ireland and confined in the prisons of that country, was overwhelming; but the Lord Lieutenant had done everything in his power to increase the means of disposing of convicts. A large establishment had been provided at Spike Island, where from 1200 to 1400 convicts were confined. Not fewer than 48,000 persons who had passed their sentence of transportation in the Australian colonies were now living there, and a large majority of them were obtaining an honest livelihood; but if they had remained in this country they would, almost in spit of themselves, have been compelled to continue criminals. The bill was read a third time and passed.--Limerick Chronicle. FLIGHT OF THE TILLERS OF THE SOIL - Several hundred emigrants left our quays on Saturday by the Nimrod and Albert steamers for Liverpool, to take passage for America. The deck of the former powerful steamer was densely crowded with men, women and children, the greater number of them comfortably attired.--Cork Constitution. PICKING POCKETS - On Wednesday week, in the market of Elphin, a poor country woman, named M'Donogh, was eased of a few shillings and sixpence, by a man named Brenan, (one of the lightfingered folk that infest most of our country towns;) but fortunately for her Richard Stafford, Esq, happened to be convenient, and arrested Brenan, when he found on his person the foregoing amount in a purse, which she, Mrs. M'Donogh, identified to be her property. The money lies in the hands of the Police and Brenan has been committed to abide his trial at Strokestown Quarter Sessions. It appears from inquiry that this Brenan located in Elphin about three weeks ago, and that he sis from the neighbourhood of Ballaghaderreen, or French-park.--Sligo Guardian. Bernard Bradly and Pat M'Govern were apprehended on Tuesday, charged with having, when in prison in Roscommon, declared their determination to shoot Head-Constable Henderson, of Boyle, by whom they had been brought to justice for robbery. At the court-martial assembled on board the flag-ship, Ocean, at Sheerness, for the trial of Assistant-Surgeon James Campbell, of the Wellington, ordinary guard-ship, for drunkenness when on duty, he was found guilty and dismissed the service. Cathy Joynt Labath Ireland Old News http://www.IrelandOldNews.com/

THE CONNAUGHT JOURNAL Galway, Monday, October 11, 1824 DIED On last Friday, of a lingering illness, in the 76th year of his age, 52 of which were spent in the active duties of his Ministry, the Very Reverend Denis Mannion, Dean and Vicar of the College Church of Saint Nicholas. This verable [sic] and truly edifying Pastor has departed amid the tears and blessings of a numerous acquaintance, attached to him by the amiable innocency of his disposition, his pious and Christian-like demeanour, and the varied & extensive acquirements of his mind; - his sympathy and his purse were never denied to the children of adversity, and whilst he indulged without reserve in this charitable disposition he was left to die in the Apostolic spirit, without the means of defraying the expense of his burial. His virtues are fresh in the memory of Galway; and while other names descend to oblivion, his will be remembered with blessings and with praise. Cathy Joynt Labath Ireland Old News http://www.IrelandOldNews.com/

Dear Karen, the Cogan name has two origins: 1) Wales, de Cogan of Glamorgan accompanied Strongbow (Richard, 2nd Earl of Pembroke) and settled in Cork. 2) Ireland (in full Mac Cogan, from Mac Codaghain, ultimately from Cuchogaidh 'war hound'), of Leitrim, and nothing to do with the previous. So there is no need to assume an Irish origin without documentary proof, especially as there were many Cogans in Yorkshire (possibly originally attracted there from Wales by the mines), e.g.: COGAN, William, alderman of Hull, 1823 COGAN, James, victualler & saddler of Blakestone, Finningley, Doncaster, 1822. Regards, David

Hi everyone, I wonder if anyone can help? I have been trying to determine whether our family originated in Ireland and now more specifically the possibility of Cork. I did a surname search on www.goireland.com for the COGAN name and it said that they mainly resided in Cork - obviously our branch could have moved but as I've had a brick wall with this for a couple of years I thought I'd give it a go. The info I have are as follows: John COGAN was born somewhere between 1859 and 1863, he died in January 1937. He was a Coal Miner and lived from at least July 1881 (when he married Martha PRINCE) until he died in Kippax, Yorkshire, England. His fathers details from the marriage certificate state his name as James COGAN and occupation as a Miner. Before 1881 we cannot find any trace of John unless we assume the 1881 census entry for John CROGON who was living with Marthas mother on the 1881 census in Kippax was another miss-spelled name and is our John COGAN which means we know he was in Kippax at the time of the 1881 census. The only other thing we know for John is the place of birth information on 1891 and 1901 census' which state North Newcastle and Lancashire respectively and the name was written as COGGAN (a common problem having this name). The 1881 census also had Lancashire but also mentioned Wigan as the place of birth. The age given on 1881, 1891 and 1901 census' all tally being 22, 32 & 42 respectively. This leads me to his age which would mean that in 1871 he should be 12 and 1861 aged 2. This places his date of birth as c.1859 but his death certificate stated he was 74 when he died which puts his date of birth c.1863. He marriage certificate states he was 21 at the time of the marriage which puts his birth c.1860. This obviously doesn't confirm whether John or James were from Ireland but having searched the English 1871 and 1861 census I have not found any COGAN family where the there was a son John with a father James even allowing for miss-spelling in the surname. Also information from living relatives does not confirm anything - one member thought he was born in Lancashire another thought Newcastle, Northumberland, England. So I thought why not look in Ireland - it seems to be an Irish name from the info found on the internet. Also it could be possible they came from "a" Newcastle in Ireland and settled in Wigan before John came to Yorkshire. If anyone is researching the COGAN family or can help it would be very much appreciated. I also apologise if you get this message twice as I've posted it both on the Cork and the Ireland lists. Regards Karen Cogan Yorkshire, England Other Irish names being researched are: ROCH (probably Cork - still trying to track this one down), McCaffrey(McCaffery) - Armagh

Karen, Could the following help? I have NO additional data or information on this surname, for additional data visit the FHC in your aea and review the index films and BIVRI2 data on their in-house computers. Bob Cdn. =================================== COGAN, John Christening Gender: Male Birth Date: 3 Jul 1861 Christening Date: 29 Sep 1861 Recorded in: Great Bedwin, Wiltshire, England Father: James COGAN Mother: Charlotte Source: FHL Film 1279362 Dates: 1841 - 1906 ---------------------------------- COGAN, William James Christening Gender: Male Birth Date: 3 Feb 1856 Christening Date: 29 Feb 1856 Recorded in: Great Bedwin, Wiltshire, England Father: James COGAN Mother: Charlotte Source: FHL Film 1279362 Dates: 1841 - 1906 ----------------------------------------------- COGAN, Eliza Clara Christening Gender: Female Birth Date: 17 Mar 1858 Christening Date: 25 Apr 1858 Recorded in: Great Bedwin, Wiltshire, England Father: James COGAN Mother: Charlotte Source: FHL Film 1279362 Dates: 1841 - 1906 ----------------------------------------------- COGAN, Julia Christening Gender: Female Birth Date: 10 May 1864 Christening Date: 29 Jun 1864 Recorded in: Great Bedwin, Wiltshire, England Father: James COGAN Mother: Charlotte Source: FHL Film 1279362 Dates: 1841 - 1906 -------------------------------------------------- Karen Cogan wrote: <SNIP> >John COGAN was born somewhere between 1859 and 1863, he died in January >1937. He was a Coal Miner and lived from at least July 1881 (when he >married Martha PRINCE) until he died in Kippax, Yorkshire, England. >...fathers details from the marriage certificate state his name as >James COGAN and occupation as a Miner. > > >

THE CONNAUGHT JOURNAL Galway, Thursday, October 7, 1824 LIMERICK, OCT. 2 - There is a report in town to-day, that a serjeant and two privates of the 62d regiment, on their march to an out-post on the upper Shannon, were deprived of their arms near Nenagh, yesterday, by a gang of ruffians who murdered the serjeant and beat the others in a frightful manner. We have not been able as yet to learn the particulars. Since writing the above we have been favoured with the following statement of fact, from a most respectable Gentleman in the neighbourhood where the murder was committed: "Serjeant Dowd, of the 62d regiment, commanding a small detachment of soldiers on the Shannon, about six miles from Nenagh, on returning to his barrack on Tuesday evening, about eight o'clock, went into a public-house on the road side with two of his men, and called for a little beer. There were four or five countrymen, who had been in Nenagh, with cars, sitting in the house when the serjeant had entered it - some conversations took place between one of the countrymen (a person of the name of Kennedy) and a soldier, Kennedy saying he liked the soldiers and damned the police; the soldier made some remark in favour of the police, when the countryman stood up to strike him; on which the serjeant said he would not allow his party to be resulted and that he would inform the police, and have them all taken up under the Insurrection Act in the morning, and instantly ordered his men back to their barrack. On the soldiers leaving the house, the carmen almost immediately got their cars ready, and followed in the same direction; on their coming up with the serjeant and his two men (one of whom was 50 or 60 paces behind,) the men leaped down off the cars, and coming behind the serjeant in the dark, (it being then between nine and ten o'clock) they knocked him down, on which Quin, the soldier, ran up to assist the serjeant, and was himself knocked down. The serjeant got up, and ran towards the door of a house, and knocked, to try and save himself from his pursuers, but was not admitted; Quin ran towards another house, but could not get in, and on going up towards the house where he saw the serjeant knocking, he found him lying on his face on the road speechless. The other soldier, Coleman, who was in the rear when the serjeant was first knocked down, was, at the same instant, struck with the butt end of a whip; and, on another of the countrymen coming up, he said, 'that is Coleman, don't strike him,' (Coleman is a native of that country;) but, however, after some struggle, they succeeded in forcing his bayonet from the scabbard, and after striking him violently with it two or three times, they ran on towards the place where the serjeant was, and gave him a desperate stab between the fourth and fifth ribs, which penetrated to the heart, besides a severe cut on the head. The soldier instantly, on his murderers leaving him, carried the serjeant into the house, where he almost instantly expired, but never spoke. Great praise is due to the detachment of police stationed at Kilbaron, for their exertions in apprehending three men, who are fully identified, and a Coroner's Jury have found against them a verdict of 'Wilful Murder.' They have been fully committed for trial. One of the murderers has fled, but hopes are entertained of his being apprehended."--Limerick Chronicle MARRIAGE IN HIGH LIFE - On Tuesday, by special license, Lord Henry Seymour Moore, only brother to the Marquis of Drogheda, to Mary, second daughter of Sir H. Parnell, Bart., M.P. for the Queen's County, and niece of the Marquis of Bate and Earl of Portarlington. Immediately after the ceremony, the happy pair set out for the Continent. Cathy Joynt Labath Ireland Old News http://www.IrelandOldNews.com/

NATIONAL PRESAGE Unhappy Erin, what a lot was thine! Half-conquered by a greedy robber band; Ill governed with now lax, now ruthless hand; Misled by zealots, wresting laws divine To sanction every dark or mad design; Lured by false lights of pseudo-patriot league Through crooked paths of faction and intrigue; And drugged with selfish flattery's poisoned wine. Yet, reading all thy mournful history, Thy children, with a mystic faith sublime, Turn to the future, confident that Fate, Become at last thy friend, reserves for thee, To be thy portion in the coming time, They know not what -- but surely something great. -- John Kells INGRAM (1823-1907)

SNIPPET: An exquisite treasure awaits visitors to the library at Trinity College, Dublin - the Book of Kells. Its decoration and calligraphy, or penmanship, have earned it a reputation as the most beautiful book in the world, and countless thousands have viewed it over the years. In 1990, a superb facsimile edition was produced - 1,480 copies. Nothing can quite capture the magnificence of this lavishly-decorated manuscript measuring 13 x 9 inches and displayed under thick glass and soft light. There are full-page depictions of the Evangelists and their symbolic portraits of Christ and the Virgin and Child, and illustrations of the temptation and arrest of Christ. Its text is enlivened with fine interlinear drawings and decorated initials composed of human and animal figures. Some of its decorated initials occupy a full page. It was apparently the work of scribes in Columba's monastery in Kells, Ireland, during the the 700's or 800's. Columba, himself, may have worked on it, as he transcribed about 300 volumes. To quote Bernard MEEHAN, keeper of manuscripts at Trinity, it is a "large-format manuscript codex of the Latin text of the Gospels." Its origins are unclear and still the subject of debate. At best, it can be dated to circa 800 A. D. Where it was written has been a matter for much scholarly investigation. It has been suggested that work on the manuscript was begun on the monastic island of Iona off the coast of Scotland. However, Iona was subject to attack from Norsemen, and it seems likely that the monks fled and continued their work at Kells in Co. Meath. Records of the books whereabouts throughout the Middle Ages are sketchy, but by about 1653 it could be accurately located in Dublin, where it had been sent for safekeeping during the Cromwellian period. Some time after this it found its way to Trinity and for many years afterward the popular belief persisted that it was written by St. Colum Cille, who had founded the monastery on Iona in about 561. Even in 1849, when Quee! n Victoria and Prince Albert visited Ireland, it was referred to as "St. Columba's Book," and the royals were accorded the privilege of signing it although the additional flyleaves (which included their signatures) were removed from the book when it was re-bound in 1953. It is often assumed that the Book of Kells is a complete masterpiece, perfect in every respect. Despite the superb detail and decorative artistry of many of its pages, some pages are almost illegible, other contain errors in the text. In some places the embellishments are incomplete or not fully colored. In one instance an entire page was repeated by mistake and was subsequently adorned with red crosses to alert the reader to this mistake. This only serves to heighten the viewer's sense of wonder at the beautifully-illuminated (decorated) pages -- any one of which could hold the viewer's attention for hours. The book has not survived all these centuries without damage. A number of pages have been lost and various personages of note with access to the book have seen fit to leave their signature or initials on some of the pages. In an effort to flatten the pages in the 19th century, a technique was used in which the pages were wetted. This succeeded in its purpose, but the water took away some of the delicate washes of color, some of its three-dimensional look. Again, what remains outweighs that which has been lost. The painstakingly intricate work of the monks has proved to be remarkably durable. Research indicates now that the Book of Kells is largely the work of four monks whose styles were remarkably similar. They worked on vellum, which is treated calfskin, and a rough calculation suggests that as many as 185 hides would have been needed to create the whole book. A wide range of pigments were used, both organic and mineral, and some of these had to be imported, giving further credence to the belief that the book must have been produced by a wealthy monastery. Some of the pigments have yet to be clearly identified, and scholars would love to know with certainty the book's origins and date of writing.

Hi Listers I have put some more Irish genealogy data online. I now have Dispensary Committees for Offaly County Ireland in 1890. The lists have over 100 names of the men that served on the committees. If you want to see the lists go to http://www.ancestorsatrest.com/ireland_genealogy.shtml Hope you find an ancestor. Brian. ___________________________________________________ Try the New Netscape Mail Today! Virtually Spam-Free | More Storage | Import Your Contact List http://mail.netscape.com

"michael trowbridge" <b_sgun@magicohio.com> wrote..................... >List, >I have a 2nd great grandmother by the name of Catherine Mc Carl or >Mc Carroll. Her death certificate says she was born August 13, 1817 in >Ireland and died February 21, 1895 Gallia County, Ohio, USA. > >I am looking for what county or counties that her last name would appear >in Ireland. >Also if the name was a clan by itself or a sub clan. >Mike Trowbridge Looks like McCarl is a phonetic corruption of McCarroll. O Cearbhaill - O'Carroll or Carroll - Co Offaly and Tipperary - of Uibh Fhaili CARROLL (British). "Brave in fighting" (Irish). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chief Eile O'Carroll's Offical Clan Cian, Carroll, O'Carroll Webpage: http://www.thos.com/cian.html --------------------------------------------------------------------------- CARROLL One of the twenty five most common Irish surnames, Carroll comes, in the vast majority of cases, from the Irish O Cearbhaill, from Cearbhall, a very popular personal name thought to mean 'fierce in battle'. It is widespread today throughout the three southern provinces of Connacht, Leinster and Munster, reflecting the fact that it arose almost simultaneously as a separate surname in at least six different parts of Ireland. The most famous of these were the Ely O'carrolls of Uibh Fhaili, including modern Co Offaly as well as parts of Tipperary, who derived their name from Cearball, King of Ely, one of the leaders of the victorious native Irish army at the battle of Clontarf in 1014. Although their power was much reduced over the centuries in the continuing conflict with the Norman Butlers, they held on to their distinctive Gaelic customs and way of life until the start of the seventeenth century. ------------------------ O'Carrolls Castle at Kinnity (Birr) , King's County, no longer possessed by the O'Carrolls, and after a failed seige by them, was taken by General Preston in 1643 and held by him for the Confederate Catholics, until in 1650 when it was taken by Cromwell's son-in-law, Henry Ireton. ---------------------------- Births in 1890 by county: Carroll Leix 12 Carroll Offaly 12 Carroll Kildare 13 Carroll Louth 19 Carroll Kilkenny 25 Carroll Dublin 71 Enter carroll in my search box on my webpage. Several places with Carroll items there. If interested in the O'Carrolls of county Monaghan in ancient times, I can send you a large item from "The Monaghan Story". TRAYNOR'S Web Page. (Irish stuff) http://www.angelfire.com/my/tray

SNIPPET: Remarkable Anne SULLIVAN was to give Helen KELLER her cheerful spirit and perseverance as well as teaching her Braille and guiding her to understandable speech. (See Ms. KELLER's letter below). Their relationship is explored in the extraordinary film, "The Miracle Worker." Afflicted with poor sight herself, teacher Anne SULLIVAN(1866-1936), daughter of immigrants from Co. Limerick, arrived from Boston to meet the extremely wild and unruly 7-year-old Helen Adams KELLER (1880-1968) to help her conquer her physical handicaps. A serious illness, which was diagnosed as brain fever, had destroyed Helen's sight and hearing before she was two, leaving the beautiful little girl unable to communicate with others. (Helen was born in Tuscumbia, AL). Anne SULLIVAN was able to make contact with the girl's mind through the sense of touch. She worked out an alphabet of sorts by which she spelled out words on Helen's hand. Gradually, the child was able to connect words!with objects. Helen also "listened" to others speak by putting her middle finger on the speaker's nose, forefinger on the lips, and thumb on the larynx. Helen learned to speak herself and by the time she was 16, she could speak well en! ough to go to preparatory school and to Radcliffe college, from which she was graduated in 1904 with honors. Anne SULLIVAN stayed with Helen through these years, interpreting lectures and class discussions to her. The two women remained companions even after SULLIVAN married John A. MACY. When Anne died, Mary Agnes "Polly" THOMSON (1885-1950), who had been Miss KELLER's secretary, took her place. After college, Helen KELLER became concerned with the conditions of the blind and deaf-blind and became active on the staffs of the American Foundation for the Blind and of the American Foundation for Overseas Blind. She appeared before legislatures, gave lectures, and wrote books (including autobiographies) and articles and traveled to 25 countries promoting better conditions for the handicapped. During WW-II, Helen worked for soldiers who had been blinded in the war and received many honors from governments all over the world. Helen wrote a letter to an acquaintance in November of 1935 describing her meetings with two renowned operatic tenors - John McCORMACK (1884-1945)of Co. Westmeath,and Enrico CARUSO (1873-1921) and "hearing" them sing by feeling the vibrations of their voices. Excerpt from letter -- "Once we happened to be at the hotel where McCormack was staying. His publicity man arranged to have him sing "My Wild Irish Rose" for me. A number of the singer's friends and ours were gathered in the sitting-room for the performance. I was all expectation and excitement. My fingers were on his lips, but no sound came from them for several seconds. Then he cried, "I can't, I can't" his tears wet my hand, and turning away he ran into his bedroom. I loved him for that tenderness which seemed to me the flower of the Irish heart. How different Caruso was when we met under similar circumstances! ... When I entered his room, Caruso was being shaved. A pretty girl was manicuring his nails... "Ah! you have come," Caruso said, and seized my two hands and clapped them on his great chest, which was bare, and with almost terrifying intensity burst into Sampson's lament over his blindness. I never dreamed that a human chest could expand as his did, nor that a throat could emit such a volume of sound. ....To come back to "My Wild Irish Rose," I love it because I remember my teacher as a wild Irish rose when she came to me. It is no hyperbole to say that when I touched that rose, happiness skipped to my side. The wild-rose tells a wondrous story in my life of growth and beauty. Its perfume is the fragrance of God's Goodness and of a Love that passeth knowledge... Helen"

OF TIME And the long twisting road out of town is what he wanted to be on. His heels kicking up dust and his lungs inhaling the escape from the Banal. But that was yesterday, when he was as delicate as a shrub. Through the wrinkles of the years, he's wept inside. Too old to cry, and have them say something unintelligible. Adjusting his cap, he takes a step, and strikes a match against the wall of time. -- James H. Conway

THE WILD SWANS AT COOLE The trees are in their autumn beauty, The woodland paths are dry, Under the October twilight the water Mirrors a still sky; Upon the brimming water among the stones Are nine-and-fifty swans. The nineteeth autumn has come upon me Since I first made my count; I saw, before I had well finished, All suddenly mount And scatter wheeling in great broken rings Upon their clamorous wings. I have looked upon these brilliant creatures, And now my heart is sore. All's changed since I, hearing at twilight, The first time on this shore, The bell-beat of their wings above my head, Trod with a lighter tread. Unwearied still, lover by lover, They paddle in the cold Companionable streams or climb the air; Their hearts have not grown old; Passion or conquest, wander where they will, Attend upon them still. But now they drift on the still water, Mysterious, beautiful; Among what rushes will they build, By what lake's edge or pool Delight men's eyes when I awake some day To find they have flown away? -- William Butler Yeats

AT THE WELLHEAD Your songs, when you sing them with your two eyes closed As you always do, are like a local road We've known every turn of in the past -- That midge-veiled, high-hedged side-road where you stood Looking and listening until a car Would come and go and leave you lonelier Than you had been to begin with. So, sing on, Dear shut-eyed one, dear far-voiced veteran, Sing yourself to where the singing comes from, Ardent and cut off like our blind neighbour Who played the piano all day in her bedroom. Her notes came out to us like hoisted water Ravelling off a bucket at the wellhead Where next thing we'd be listening, hushed and awkward. That blind-from-birth, sweet-voiced, withdrawn musician Was like a silver vein in heavy clay. Night water glittering in the light of day. But also just our neighbour, Rosie Keenan. She touched our cheeks. She let us touch her braille In books like books wallpaper patterns come in. Her hands were active and her eyes were full Of open darkness and a watery shine. She knew us by our voices. She'd say she 'saw' Whoever or whatever. Being with her Was intimate and helpful, like a cure You didn't notice happening. When I read A poem with Keenan's well in it, she said, 'I can see the sky at the bottom of it now.' -- Seamus HEANEY, b. 1939 Co. Derry

It's not exactly my new site - I research for it. I hope that I haven't broken any rules here. I would be delighted to look towards Monmouth Thank You for your kind words, I will convey them over Gill ----- Original Message ----- From: "david dowd" <david.dowd@tesco.net> To: <IRELAND-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, January 04, 2006 3:05 PM Subject: Re: [IRELAND] New site > Hi Gill, > was pleased to see the advent of your new site which I note covers the > Irish in Wales. PLEASE devote some time to Newport, Monmouthshire, > where my lot arrived probably in the 1850s -- and are still there. > Would be glad to contribute. > Regards, David > > > ==== IRELAND Mailing List ==== > Ireland Mailing List website..surname registry, links, lookup > volunteers,unsubscribe, change your subscription from L to D or D to L > http://www.connorsgenealogy.com/IrelandList/ > >

Hi Gill, was pleased to see the advent of your new site which I note covers the Irish in Wales. PLEASE devote some time to Newport, Monmouthshire, where my lot arrived probably in the 1850s -- and are still there. Would be glad to contribute. Regards, David