SNIPPET: In 1988, at the time of the Bicentenary of white settlement in Australia, the Taoiseach of Ireland was Charles J. HAUGHEY, while the Prime Minister of Australia was Robert J. HAWKE. To mark the occasion, the Government and People of Ireland graciously presented a gift to the Government and People of Australia in the form of a series of microfilms entitled "Transportation Records: Ireland to Australia 1788 to 1868." These records are available at the National Archives, Bishop, Street, Dublin, the National Library of Canberra and at the State Library in each capital city in Australia, British Public Record Office, Dublin Castle records, genealogical library of Kiama, New South Wales, etc. (More information regarding same may be found on the Internet). Most of the documentation originated from departmental correspondence within the Chief Secretary's Office, particularly the classes concerned with supervision of the penal system and the exile of prisoners from the! ir homeland. The Chief Secretary was the chief executive of the British administration until 1922, being responsible to the Lord Lieutenant who represented the Crown in Ireland. From 1787, the First, Second and Third Fleets to Australia carried convicts from English gaols which included some Irish and Scots prisoners who had been sentenced in British courts. On September 26, 1791, the first vessel to carry convicts from Irish prisons, the "Queen," arrived at Port Jackson. While prisoners continued to be sent to Western Australia until 1868, the last ship to sail directly from Ireland was the "Phoebe Dunbar," which arrived on August 30, 1853. The final vessel from England to Western Australia, arriving on January 9, 1868, was the "Hougoumont" which carried 63 Irish Fenians convicted in Ireland but imprisoned in England. In addition to the respositories mentioned, the 1995, #4 issue of Cork's "Irish Roots" magazine went into great detail on these transportation records as well as data on one of the convicts relating to #596, form K (and a photo). While it does not give the year (1868?) and exact destination, some detective work may give you that information. Patrick DORAN -- Age 25, can read and write, religion Roman Catholic, single, trade or calling is "gardiner," born in Donneybrook Rd, Dublin, where resident, East Morland Place, Dublin. Description: Brown hair, hazel eyes, regular mouth, fresh complexion, oval visage, stout make and height 5 ft. 6 in. Dates and sentence are not given, but he did sail on the ship "Houghoumont." (In the picture he has a full head of wavy hair, full beard, and he is wearing a shirt and tie and a coat that looks a little too small for him).