SNIPPET: Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) originated in the South American Andes. Wild potatoes were brought into cultivation some 2,000 years before the Spanish conquest. They reached Europe in the late 16th century and were cultivated in English gardens a few years later. Their arrival in Ireland is obscure ... There is no certain evidence about the date or means of arrival, although tradition gives Sir Walter RALEIGH the credit. The earliest documentary reference to potato cultivation in Ireland is in a lease dated 1606 granting Scottish immigrants land in Co. Down. Potatoes were initially grown as a garden crop. In the 1640s and 1650s they were common in the gardens of the provinces of Munster and Leinster. The most plausible explanation for transition from gardens to fields is that potatoes were an excellent clearing crop on newly tilled land and valuable as a rotational crop to restore the fertility of land used for cereals. As the demand for Irish cereals increased, potatoes entered cultivation regimes. The process accelerated from the mid-18th century under the stimulus of rising cereal prices. Potatoes in Ireland served similar functions to those of turnips in England, but they were better suited to Ireland's cool climate and wet soils. To cultivate, ridges, called 'lazy beds', were dug in which the sprouting tubers were placed. Several varieties were grown (black, cup and apple varieties) and were highly prized. The poor cultivated the high-yielding though watery 'lumper.' By the early 19th century over two million acres were under potatoes, yielding from 6-8 tons per acre ... Until cultivated as field crops on a large scale, potatoes were never more than a dietary supplement. However, by the early 19th century they were the staple food, assuring the poor of a highly nutritious diet. The most common method of cooking was boiling. Consumption was 10-15 pounds daily ... Between 1845 and 1849 the potato crop was ruined three times by 'Phytophthora infestans' - potato blight. Since over three million people were totally dependent upon potatoes for food, famine was inevitable ... E. Margaret Crawford, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Social Research, Queen's University, Belfast.

GDAY:) Im in Australia researching my Direct Line of DOODY, That came here in 1882 from Listowel Co Kerry My Great Grandfather JOHN THOMAS DOODY Born circa 1860, and his Sister MARY JOSEPHINE DOODY, Born circa 1864 I realise i may not be able to Find John thomas Doodys birth, as registration didnt begin till 1864 in Ireland...They Both Catholics But im wondering if some kind person may have access to either Co Kerry records or Irish Baptisms around 1864, that they could do a lookup for me please with MARY JOSEPHINE DOODYS Birth,father THOMAS Apparently JOHN THOMAS DOODY was second son of Thomas Doody of Listowel Co Kerry according to a Newspaper article here re his Marriage Thankyou Regards from Australia Cathy:) Send instant messages to your online friends http://au.messenger.yahoo.com

Cathy, I don't think I have what you are looking for, but I did find these in that time periods. Judy DOODY, Maurice Birth Gender: Male Birth Date: 24 Jan 1869 Birthplace: 557, Listowel, Kerry, Ire Recorded in: Kerry, Ireland Collection: Civil Registration Father: Thomas DOODY Mother: Margaret LYONS Source: FHL Film 101184 Dates: 1869 - 1870 DOODY, James Birth Gender: Male Birth Date: 29 Dec 1870 Birthplace: 600, Listowel, Kerry, Ire Recorded in: Kerry, Ireland Collection: Civil Registration Father: Thomas DOODY Mother: Margarett LYONS Source: FHL Film 255816 Dates: 1870 - 1872 DOODY, James Birth Gender: Male Birth Date: 23 Dec 1873 Birthplace: 454, Listowel, Kerry, Ire Recorded in: Kerry, Ireland Collection: Civil Registration Father: Thomas DOODY Mother: Margrett LYONS Source: FHL Film 255892 Dates: 1873 - 1874

I have been searching for 7 years for details of my Uncle's Naval record to no avail when I came accross a site at URL http://www.unithistories.com/ I supplied Hans Houterman with some details VIZ Interested in my uncle James Martin from Londonderry who joined the Royal Navy as an Education Officer (and Navigator) in 1920 and left in 1940. Served in the China Squadron, the New Zealand Division, Pacific and European Waters. He died at the age of 94 in April 1991 in Coleraine, N. Ireland. The full naval record of my Uncle has now appeared at the URL http://www.unithistories.com/officers/RN_officers_nonWW2.html#M Track down until you reach J Martin This may be of some use to folk who had relatives under arms in Europe in and around the WWII era. Liam "A bird in the bush is worth two in the cat"

FYI -- Posted with permission of "Leitrim Guardian" magazine/Leitrim Genealogy Centre, Main Street, Ballinamore. The LR Festival 2006 created such interest that they have scheduled a program of events from April 14-20, 2007. Included are tour of St. Georges Church and Heritage Centre, visit to Strokestown House & Gardens (Fermanagh), visits to Leitrim County Library and Leitrim Genealogy Centre, morning church service, a traditional ceili, tour of North Leitrim visiting the famous Rainbow Ballroom in Glenfarne, also the homstead of 1916 Easter Rising patriot Sean Mac Diarmada, Kiltyclogher, Glencar Waterfall immortalized in Yeats poetry, Parkes Castle Dromahair. Other events include a theatrical performance, visit to the Arigna Mines, Lough Rynn Gardens Mohill and Fenagh Abbey, dinner at Swan Island Animal Farm, Lecture at the Dock Theatre, Carrick-on-Shannon, river excursion, farewell dinner. Project also supported by the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation and Leitrim County Council. More information: leitrimroots.com

FYI - The latest issue of the yearly "Leitrim Guardian" periodical is due to be launched shortly. Contains historical articles, old captioned photos, "memory lane" bios by elders, announcements of upcoming school reunions, community news, fiction and poetry, guide to Leitrim-area books, biography of the honored "Leitrim Person of the Year." Also information regarding the Leitrim Genealogy Centre, Ballinamore. (Apparently this is Leitrim's only periodical and a future website is being contemplated). Issues contain approx. 150 pages. For information on obtaining future/past issues: Secretary Rosaleen Kielty, Drumshanbo [email protected] Editor Aiden Kelleher, Gortletteragh [email protected] Above posted with permission.

Maureen--- Thank you for a fascinating story! I myself had an amazing experience a couple of years ago. My grandmother's family is INTEMANN---a rather rare surname, and I knew from old Bible records that they came from a village near Rothenburg, in Hannover, in Germany. I went to international White Pages on the Internet and found telephone listings for Intemann in that area. There were only a very few of them. The only problem was, I don't speak German! I finally located a listing for a little cosmetics shop in the village, which was run by an Intemann. The FAX number was also listed, so I composed a one-page message in English and FAXed it. Two days later, a cousin of the shop owner, who speaks English, replied by e-mail, and we have been enjoying correspondence since then. From local parish church records, he found our mutual family wedding and baptism records going back to about 1800! His family owns a bed and breakfast, and so we even have a place to stay when we visit there, someday! This really works with rare surnames, but if you know the village, or even the county in Ireland where your family came from, even a common name may be traceable. Another thing to think about is that your surname may be comparatively more numerous in America nowadays than in its country of origin. Thanks for sharing your experiences. ---Bob Robertson In a message dated 11/5/2006 12:24:06 AM Pacific Standard Time, [email protected] writes: I've had two good experiences through the years: 1) When I phoned all the listings in the USA with my great-grandfather's surname, the older ones of an age to have had the information I wanted were mostly widows of men with our name ..... elderly widows who knew absolutely nothing about their husband's families. Until I called the one furthest away ..... and that old guy said his sister (who had a different surname, of course!) had the entire family history and he'd take my name and address and have her write! He also took my email and said he'd let me know that way how it was coming along. I got everything they had -- superb!!! I called about 45 listings on a Saturday -- some weren't at home -- and I think it cost about 5 or 6 dollars altogether. Not very much for what I got!!! And even the ones who had changed their names were helpful as I no longer had to wonder "what if" about them! 2) I also, at another time, sent a long email to a store in Ireland owned by relatives, which I found online. When I hadn't had a reply in a month, I edited down my letter, put the questions in the first paragraph, and sent it again. Within two weeks I had a big brown envelope in the mail from Ireland. The storekeepers were not interested in answering ... but they gave my inquiry to another relative whose different name I would never have found .... his second great-grandmother and mine were sisters (the name on the store), and he has been absolutely wonderful, sending all manner of things including photos of graves there and 50 miles away, research in city directories of the early 1800s, books on the area, transcripts of a trial our mutual ancestors were involved in, great stories about my third great-aunt and her husband. Amazing stuff! Don't give up! And remember, your very best good manners can never hurt! And send a Christmas card every year after! Maureen

Hi, Jean, There was a great novel, "The Last Hurrah", written years ago by I can't recall who, but the author was well known {Frank O'Connor?} , and a great movie was made from the book.... Spencer Tracy played the lead role. The hero of the book was named "Skeffington", and the story took place in Massachussets. The character of Mr Skeffington is supposed to have been written around a real man, who was governor and mayor, and corrupt, and Irish. The old irish wake was depicted in the book, and I expect it was written from first-hand experience with one or more Irish wakes held in Massachussetts. I expect that Ambassador Kennedy would have been an appropriate character for the book. His entreprenurial days during Prohibition might have crept into that book. At any rate, the book was fascinating to me! Edward Ferrill McKee Irish-American, member of genetic haplogroup R1b1c7, which is said to have originated in NW Ireland. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jean R." <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, November 06, 2006 5:10 PM Subject: Re: [IGW] SKIFFINGTON/SKEFFINGTON/Writing to potential relativiesOf DEVITT?DAVITT > Hi Bill, I am wondering if your Mary Skiffington was Skeffington in > Ireland? > Have you investigated that latter, more common spelling? Also, take a > look > at the Family Facts Page/Skiffington Board at Ancestry.com (try googling > that Skiffington surname for websites). Among other interesting data at > that board, there is a map with distribution of Skiffingtons on the 1920 > USA > census, etc. The total for the country as 81. NY had the most (18), > followed by MA (14), MI (7), PA (7), CA (4). Several other states with > 1-3. > (Check and see, don't recall if those stats represented individuals or > families. Let me know if you can't locate it). Jean > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Bill" <[email protected]> > To: "Maureen" <[email protected]>; <irl-Cc: <[email protected]> > Sent: Sunday, November 05, 2006 2:35 PM > Subject: Re: [IGW] [IRL-GALWAY] Writing to potential relativies Of > DEVITT?DAVITT > > >> HI Maureen, Wonderful results , hope this will be as fruitful. Here is > what >> I have: my ggparents were Henry Devitt and Mary Skiffington.Henry was a >> constable/ policeman according to Mormon film recording the birth of >> their >> children Henry b1865( my Gfather),James E. b1867, Pat b1868,Eliza b1870 . >> They were born in Ballinasloe,Ahascragh,Bullaun,respectively.Henry came >> to >> the USA in 1870 . The others in 1871. They all ended in the Scranton, PA >> area. Another child was born in 1874 in PA The 1880 census shows all >> children living with other families as adopted. Anyone with any info I > would >> appreciate receiving it. THANKS, Bill Davitt >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Maureen" <[email protected]> >> To: <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>; >> <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>; >> <[email protected]> >> Cc: <[email protected]> >> Sent: Sunday, November 05, 2006 3:11 AM >> Subject: [IRL-GALWAY] Writing to potential relativies >> > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message

THE ORATOR "Remember Pearse," he said; "if we Lose Irish we lose Ireland," They looked and listened stupidly Like country folk on holiday. If Yeats were still alive maybe He could breathe vigour into clay, Conjure an aristocracy, And add grandeur to decay. But he too was responsible For this dull ash of men, for he Was often as contemptible In bartering all for poetry. Yes, I have heard some people tell Of petty spite and tyranny, For psychic sight and psychic smell Both failed to teach him charity. If Yeats were still alive maybe Ireland would cut a dash again, But men can starve on poetry And bullets break the poet's pen. We need another death. Who knows -- Before the resurrection -- Instead of arrogance and pose We'll need a Sheehy Skeffington. -- Roy McFADDEN(born 1921) The last line apparently is a reference to Francis Skeffington (1878-1916) from Bailieborough, Co. Cavan, an Irish suffragist and pacifist and writer. He was married to one of Conor Cruise O'Brien's aunts, the former Hanna Sheehy in 1903, whose own surname he adopted as part of his name, resulting in his being known as Francis Sheehy-Skeffington and sometimes referred to as "Skeffy". He was educated initially at home by his father, Dr Joseph Skeffington, a school inspector, and later by the Jesuits before enrolling in University College Dublin. He was individualistic in disposition and unconventional in temperament, refusing to shave and wore knickerbockers, long socks and, as an ardent proponent of rights for women, he wore a badge that read Votes for Women. He organised a petition to lobby for women to be admitted to UCD on the same basis as men shortly after he married. He was a well known figure at UCD and active in student politics and debating societies including the Literary and Historical Society. Hanna (1877-1946), was born in Milhouse Kanturk, Co. Cork and was very accomplished in her own right. (Please read more about this interesting couple's activism, many accomplishments, but Hanna ultimately lost her teaching job in 1913 when she was arrested and put in prison for three months after throwing stones at Dublin Castle. While in jail she started a hunger strike but was released under the Prisoner's Temporary Discharge of Ill Health Act and was soon rearrested Francis supported Home Rule but was not a supporter of the Irish Volunteers, preferring civil disobedience. Skeffy and Hanna took opposing positions towards the 1916 Easter Rising - he sticking to his pacifist principles. Hanna brought food to the rebels located at the General Post Office and the Royal College of Surgeons. In 1916, Francis Sheehy-Skeffington, was shot dead during the Easter Rising on the orders of a British army officer, Captain J C Bowen-Colthurst. He was survived by his wife, who had became increasingly nationalist-minded, and his son then age 7. The now-deceased Owen Sheehy-Skeffington, who eventually played a moderate role in Irish politics and attended the secular Sandford Park School with his cousin, Conor Cruise O'Brien, because Hanna refused to send her son to any school with a pro-Treaty ethos

Hi Bill, I am wondering if your Mary Skiffington was Skeffington in Ireland? Have you investigated that latter, more common spelling? Also, take a look at the Family Facts Page/Skiffington Board at Ancestry.com (try googling that Skiffington surname for websites). Among other interesting data at that board, there is a map with distribution of Skiffingtons on the 1920 USA census, etc. The total for the country as 81. NY had the most (18), followed by MA (14), MI (7), PA (7), CA (4). Several other states with 1-3. (Check and see, don't recall if those stats represented individuals or families. Let me know if you can't locate it). Jean ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill" <[email protected]> To: "Maureen" <[email protected]>; <irl-Cc: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, November 05, 2006 2:35 PM Subject: Re: [IGW] [IRL-GALWAY] Writing to potential relativies Of DEVITT?DAVITT > HI Maureen, Wonderful results , hope this will be as fruitful. Here is what > I have: my ggparents were Henry Devitt and Mary Skiffington.Henry was a > constable/ policeman according to Mormon film recording the birth of their > children Henry b1865( my Gfather),James E. b1867, Pat b1868,Eliza b1870 . > They were born in Ballinasloe,Ahascragh,Bullaun,respectively.Henry came to > the USA in 1870 . The others in 1871. They all ended in the Scranton, PA > area. Another child was born in 1874 in PA The 1880 census shows all > children living with other families as adopted. Anyone with any info I would > appreciate receiving it. THANKS, Bill Davitt > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Maureen" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>; > <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>; > <[email protected]> > Cc: <[email protected]> > Sent: Sunday, November 05, 2006 3:11 AM > Subject: [IRL-GALWAY] Writing to potential relativies >

HI Maureen, Wonderful results , hope this will be as fruitful. Here is what I have: my ggparents were Henry Devitt and Mary Skiffington.Henry was a constable/ policeman according to Mormon film recording the birth of their children Henry b1865( my Gfather),James E. b1867, Pat b1868,Eliza b1870 . They were born in Ballinasloe,Ahascragh,Bullaun,respectively.Henry came to the USA in 1870 . The others in 1871. They all ended in the Scranton, PA area. Another child was born in 1874 in PA The 1880 census shows all children living with other families as adopted. Anyone with any info I would appreciate receiving it. THANKS, Bill Davitt ----- Original Message ----- From: "Maureen" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>; <[email protected]> Cc: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, November 05, 2006 3:11 AM Subject: [IRL-GALWAY] Writing to potential relativies > I've had two good experiences through the years: > > 1) When I phoned all the listings in the USA with my great-grandfather's > surname, the older ones of an age to have had the information I wanted > were mostly widows of men with our name ..... elderly widows who > knew absolutely nothing about their husband's families. > > Until I called the one furthest away ..... and that old guy said his > sister > (who had a different surname, of course!) had the entire family history > and he'd take my name and address and have her write! He also > took my email and said he'd let me know that way how it was coming > along. I got everything they had -- superb!!! I called about 45 listings > on a Saturday -- some weren't at home -- and I think it cost about 5 or > 6 dollars altogether. Not very much for what I got!!! And even the > ones who had changed their names were helpful as I no longer had to > wonder "what if" about them! > > 2) I also, at another time, sent a long email to a store in Ireland > owned > by relatives, which I found online. When I hadn't had a reply in a month, > I > edited down my letter, put the questions in the first paragraph, and sent > it again. > > Within two weeks I had a big brown envelope in the mail from Ireland. > The storekeepers were not interested in answering ... but they gave my > inquiry to another relative whose different name I would never have found > .... > his second great-grandmother and mine were sisters (the name on the > store), > and he has been absolutely wonderful, sending all manner of things > including photos of graves there and 50 miles away, research in city > directories of the early 1800s, books on the area, transcripts of a trial > our > mutual ancestors were involved in, great stories about my third great-aunt > and her husband. Amazing stuff! > > Don't give up! And remember, your very best good manners can never hurt! > And send a Christmas card every year after! > > Maureen > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Barb at [email protected] writes: << Could someone please tell me what Catholic Parish Navan (County Meath) was in around 1850? >> Barb, Based on Mitchell's "A New Genealogical Atlas of Ireland" - which includes the statement "The maps included show the locations of Roman Catholic parishes by the middle years of the 19th century" - it would appear that the town of Navan and the civil parish of Navan (as well as a few other civil parishes) were included in the RC parish of Navan 'around 1850'. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Pete Schermerhorn, in the glorious Berkshire hills of western Massachusetts

I've had two good experiences through the years: 1) When I phoned all the listings in the USA with my great-grandfather's surname, the older ones of an age to have had the information I wanted were mostly widows of men with our name ..... elderly widows who knew absolutely nothing about their husband's families. Until I called the one furthest away ..... and that old guy said his sister (who had a different surname, of course!) had the entire family history and he'd take my name and address and have her write! He also took my email and said he'd let me know that way how it was coming along. I got everything they had -- superb!!! I called about 45 listings on a Saturday -- some weren't at home -- and I think it cost about 5 or 6 dollars altogether. Not very much for what I got!!! And even the ones who had changed their names were helpful as I no longer had to wonder "what if" about them! 2) I also, at another time, sent a long email to a store in Ireland owned by relatives, which I found online. When I hadn't had a reply in a month, I edited down my letter, put the questions in the first paragraph, and sent it again. Within two weeks I had a big brown envelope in the mail from Ireland. The storekeepers were not interested in answering ... but they gave my inquiry to another relative whose different name I would never have found .... his second great-grandmother and mine were sisters (the name on the store), and he has been absolutely wonderful, sending all manner of things including photos of graves there and 50 miles away, research in city directories of the early 1800s, books on the area, transcripts of a trial our mutual ancestors were involved in, great stories about my third great-aunt and her husband. Amazing stuff! Don't give up! And remember, your very best good manners can never hurt! And send a Christmas card every year after! Maureen

Could someone please tell me what Catholic Parish Navan (County Meath) was in around 1850? Thank you. Barb [email protected]

Maisie, You may have got the answer already as I wasn't following the discussion but just in case here is the Oxford Dictionary on your name: BELLAS a variation of BELLHOUSE. BELLHOUSE. English: habitational name for someone who lived by a belltower. The name is largely confined to Yorks. Irish workers migrated to this area of England for seasonal farm work if that is any help. Jim McDonald [email protected] ----- Original Message ----- From: "Maisie Egger" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 4:18 AM Subject: [IGW] Bellas name > Hello, > > I have a friend here in California whose father's name was Buckalew, a > corruption of Buccleuch (the Duke of Buccleuch), Scottish borders family. > > Some of her family were related to Coats and Clark, the thread people in > Paisley, Renfrewshire, but she said there is also someone by the name of > BELLAS who came from Ireland, also connected "with the thread people". To > me, it sounds like an Italian name, but I am not an authority, so thought > I > would post this on this site to see if it does indeed resonate with > someone > who can determine that it does have Irish roots. > > In anticipation, > > Maisie

> of Clan Cearnacháin keep to themselves. And they have from the earliest > recorded times. I have been able to track them back through history and > found that they were a warrior clan, famous for victory and valor in > battle. However, they left few tracks. On this side of the pond, many > of > them did the same. > I spent a fortune on postage and got virtually nothing in return. It > seems that we Irish who left are the ones who care about our ancestors > the > most. > Good luck. > Bess Carnahan, researching Clan Cearnacháin Hello, A few good sites: www.google.com Clan Cearnachain of Ireland http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~hiflyte/links/links.htm Bob of Canada's website. Joan

> You've struck a nerve here! While in Ireland, I looked up all Carnahans, Kernohans and any other way to spell it. I wrote to all. Received one response from a gentleman who has since removed himself. He advised that all members of Clan Cearnacháin that he knew had a philosophy. "God keeps the only lists that need keeping". In other words, the members of Clan Cearnacháin keep to themselves. And they have from the earliest recorded times. I have been able to track them back through history and found that they were a warrior clan, famous for victory and valor in battle. However, they left few tracks. On this side of the pond, many of them did the same. I spent a fortune on postage and got virtually nothing in return. It seems that we Irish who left are the ones who care about our ancestors the most. Good luck. Bess Carnahan, researching Clan Cearnacháin > Has anyone looked potential relatives up in the phone book or on line > directory and written to them asking for information and help in your > family tree research? I am looking for ideas on what to say and what > not to say or even a form letter that you have used with success. No > point in re inventing the wheel if someone has something useful. > > Thanks > Judy Quinn > [email protected] > > > -- > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.13.26/516 - Release Date: > 06-11-03 > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Jean, While it is very nice to hear a successful story a fellow descendent of "Olde Ireland", do you not think that some one(s) would begin steps to abandon celebration of St Patrick's day? That celebration has come to present a picture of "Irish Drunk Day" to many Americans, and seems to be an excuse for some Non-Irish to get drunk, along with their Irish compatriots. I expect that certain bars in Chicago, New York City, and other municipalities look at St Patrick's day as a great money day. I have seen the same sort of thing in New Orleans, having grown up close that city, with the celebration of MardiGras. Both celebrations seem to tied to the Christian Church. I always thought that Christ preached moderation in all things. The way in which St. Patrick's Day and Mardi Gras have come to be celebrated appear to go against that call for moderation. I trust I have not been immoderate in voicing this comment. Ed McKee Haplogroup R1b1c7 {origin: NW Ireland} -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jean R. Sent: Saturday, November 04, 2006 11:44 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [IGW] Dr. Frank BRADY, Manorhamilton,Co. Leitrim >> NY -- "Thoughts on Emigration" SNIPPET: At the County Leitrim Society's 101st Annual St. Patrick's Celebration, New York, 1996, a Distinguished Service award was presented to Frank BRADY, born in Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim. Per Dr. BRADY -- "Emigration, whether you regard it as a curse or a cure, a bane or a blessing, is an inseparable part of the story of Ireland. On the 150th anniversary of the Great Hunger it is worth noting that the outflow of people took on a mass character, and Ireland became the most emigrant-prone society in Europe. It was also the century when Irish America was formed, with its Tammany-Hall politics, its St. Patrick's Day parades and its revoluntionary links with the home country. The emigrant mentality developed in the wake of the mass exodus and the history of Ireland profoundly shaped by it. America became the desired destination of the destitute and desperate emigrants, as they fled from death, poverty and starvation in the bowels of "coffin ships." By a strange reasoning, the starving in Ireland were regarded as unfortunate victims to be generously helped, while the same Irish having crossed the Atlantic were regarded as the scourings of Europe, and were met with utter contempt. The U.S. authorities feared that the hordes of diseased and destitute would make their country the "Poorhouse of Europe" and the "Cesspool of the Civilized World." Though the inscription on the Statue of Liberty may read: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores," America was far from openly embracing the immigrant of the famine period. Indeed, some ships were refused entry, and had to go the Canadian ports. This is hardly surprising given that many of the arrivals were described in ghastly and macabre-lik! e terms, such as 'spectre-like wretches,' 'emaciated,' 'cadaverous,' 'feeble,' 'disease-infected' and 'destitute.' The U.S. of the 1840s was still staunchly Protestant, Yankee and anti-Catholic. Consigned and condemned to the cellar dwellings of the appalling and sprawling Irish ghettos on the East Coast, the Irish struggled with an innate tenacity to survive and later thrive. In such depraved and deplorable conditions, it is little wonder than some of the menfolk sought to drown the sorrows and horrors of their harsh existence through the numbing effects of cheap brew. The majority became relatively successful in the country of their adoption. Irish emigration tended to have exceptional degree of finality attached to it, by comparison with other groups. Once the decision to emigrate had been made and the emotional trauma of the "American Wake" undergone, few ventured a permanent return to the old country. The deserted and boarded up houses testify to this irrevocable separation from family and friends. Cecil Woodham SMITH, in "The Great Hunger" summed up the early Irish experience. "The Irish emigrants became, with rare exceptions, what their transatlantic environments made them: children of the slums, rebuffed and scored by respectable citizens and exploited by the less respectable. The Irish were the most unfortunate and the poorest; they took longest to be accepted, longest to be genuinely assimilated; they waited longest before the opportunities the U.S. offered were freely available to them." Irish emigration does not follow the normal pattern, according to social historians. Males and females left Ireland in roughly equal numbers, while emigration from other countries tended to be male-dominated. Apparently, the drudgery, drabness and the prospect of a haggled dowry in a male-dominated oppressive society was less alluring than the bright lights and a vastly improved standard of living in a foreign land. Emigration has been a bittersweet experience for the Irish, but unfortunately the negative aspects have been greatly magnified, while the more positive aspects have been minimized or ignored. Emigration, when stripped from its emotionally laden cloak, has provided substantial gains for those who stayed and those who left. Peter Quinn, in his 1994 bestseller, "Banished Children of Eve," boldly boasted, "The blessing of the Yankee dollar. It brought more comfort to Ireland than all the deliberations of the Parliament in Westminster. The world will never know how much those scared, brave, sometimes ignorant, but always loyal emigrants to the New World sent home in dollars and parcels to the people in the old country. No one will ever know the full extent of their sacrifices and how much they kept hidden from the old people who thought that America was indeed the golden land of opportunity, where the streets were truly paved with gold. For those who earned it, it came hard; the ! fruits of heaving, hauling, digging, cleaning, sewing, serving, low-paid work, of which the very numbers available to do it drove down wages further." The Irish had started down on the shanties, scrimping and saving, and with every generation moved further and further, until they made it to the lace-curtain heights. The vast majority of the emigrants improved their stakes by leaving and many moved remarkably quickly up the social ladder. Despite a number who have fallen on hard times and the rough conditions that the immigrants are forced to endure, there is a consensus that the Irish have achieve and acquitted themselves well. We have been inbued with the twin feelings of guilt and embarrassment that so many have been forced or chose to leave their native shore. Terms such as the cancer, the scourge, the shame, the evils of emigration reinforce the negative aspects. Celebration rather than lamentation should be the approach, otherwise we will pine our lives away waiting to return to the promised land when we may already be in it." Per the County Leitrim Society of NY -- "Frank was born in Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim, IR, to Bernard BRADY (deceased February 24, 1996) and Mary Kate, the second oldest of ten. Mary (Dublin), Barbara (London), Attracta (Sligo), Padraig (Ballina), John (Longford), Brian (London), Gerard (Dublin), Fr. Anthony (Knockbride, Co. Cavan) and Paul, (Manorhamilton). After attending St. Clare's Primary School, Frank obtained an academic scholarship to St. Patrick's College, Co. Cavan. Here, he excelled at academics and athletics, winning an Ulster cross-country title, as well as representing the school in football and handball. An academic scholarship followed to St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, where Frank was awarded a B.A. Degree and a Higher Diploma in Education. Later, at St. Patrick's, Drumcondra, Frank obtained a B.Ed. Degree, and then began his career as a primary school principal, first at Ballintrillick, Co. Sligo, and later at Glangevlin, Co. Cavan. As an educator, Frank ! was a great believer in giving his pupils a good foundation in their formative years. Most of his former pupils regarded him as firm but fair. As a sportsman, Frank was regarded as being tough and tenacious, and a great exponent of physical fitness. He played in all grades with his club, Glencar, and later Glencar-Manorhamilton. He has an impressive list of medals: Junior League in 1968, 1969 and 1970; a Junior Championship in 1970: an Intermediate Championship, 1973; a Senior League, 1976; Senior Championship, 1977. Frank was a team trainer for many years and was awarded Player of the year in 1974. He also represented Leitrim in all grades. With the Manorhamilton Rangers soccer team, Frank won a League title in the Sligo-Leitrim League. In 1970, Frank arrived in the States on the student exchange program, and was a frequent summer visitor for a few years. In 1978, he arrived on a permanent basis, became keenly aware of the great opportunities available and enrolled at New! York University, where he obtained M.A. and Ph.D Degrees. In NY, his interest in sport continued; he joined the College Point Track Club and the Shamrock Soccer Club. His high level of fitness was illustrated by running a half-marathon and lining out as center-half back a Gaelic Park two hours later! He also won a Metropolitan League medal with the Shamrocks. Currently, (1996) Frank is the president and manager of the very successful Leitrim Football Club in New York - they have amassed three Championships. He is involved with the St. Barnabas Club in under-age football. He is also the coach for the McLean Heights track team in Yonkers. Apart from his coaching and management duties, Frank is much in demand as a referee at all levels and still finds time to run the odd road race with his son, Douglas. Frank likes to write. Last year's Centennial Journal is testament to his busy pen. Frank has gotten renewed respect for the achievements of Leitrim people in the USA and in Ireland. He is a frequent correspondent to the editorial pages of the Ne! w York and Irish American papers. He has also been a regular contributor to the "Leitrim Guardian" for many years. Frank and his wife, Helen, a native of Glenade, and their children, Douglas and Sharon, reside in Yonkers. Currently, Frank is a Professor of Education at the C. W. Post Campus of Long Island University. The County Leitrim Society of New York is proud and privileged to present Frank BRADY with the 1996 Distinguished Service Award. You have done yourself, and your family, and your county proud, and we are greatly indebted to you." Frank's contributions were also recognized in a personal letter from the Archbishop of New York." ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

SOAKING UP SUN Today there is the kind of sunshine old men love, the kind of day when my grandfather would sit on the south side of the wooden corncrib where the sunlight warmed slowly all through the day like a wood stove. One after another dry leaves fell. No painful memories came. Everything was lit by a halo of light. The cornstalks glinted bright as pieces of glass. From the fields and cottonwood grove came the damp smell of mushrooms, of things going back to earth. I sat with my grandfa- ther then. Sheep came up to us as we sat there, their oily wool so warm to my fingers, like a strange and magic snow. My grandfather whittled sweet smelling apple sticks just to get at the scent. His thumb had a permanent groove in it where the back of the knife blade rested. He let me listen to the wind, the wild geese, the soft dialect of sheep, while his own silence taught me every secret thing he knew. -- Tom Hennen, "Good Poems," selected by Garrison Keillor (2002)

SNIPPET: The work of Englishman John Wilfrid HINDE (1916-1998) photographer, postcard producer and circus publicist for the famous Chipperfields' Circus, etc., was to define the public face of Irish tourism in the 1960s with a seemingly endless procession of postcard images of red-haired Irish children, donkeys and white-washed cottages . Other postcard subjects included O'Connell St, Dublin; Gap of Dunloe near Killarney, Co. Kerry; Medieval banquet in Bunratty Castle, Co. Clare; Kissing the Blarney stone, Blarney Castle, Co. Cork, Fishermen on the Aran Islands, Co. Galway (especially nice); an Irish creamery lorry; a Thatched cottage near Renvyle, Connemara, Co. Galway. His colorful images captured Ireland's innocence, striking a cord with the increased numbers of visitors coming to Ireland in the 1960s. One especially delightful scene was that of a young boy with freckles and red hair standing in a remote bog in the West of Ireland, watched by his smiling little sister while he piles sods of turf into a basket or pannier placed on the back of a sturdy donkey. A several-page photoarticle by Donal HORGAN about this gentleman and his work is featured in the March-April 2005 issue of Dublin's "Ireland of the Welcomes" magazine. Mr. HORGAN is the author of "The Victorian Visitor in Ireland." The postcard was the creation of the late Victorian era. In an age renowned for its strict formality, the notion of any form of correspondence being open to the prying eyes of postal officials, or anyone else, shocked Victorian sensibilities. In 1894, the British Post Office allowed postcards to be sent on condition that each card was enclosed in an envelope! This restriction was relaxed in 1899 with the development of the now familiar oblong postcard. However, it was 1902 before the postcard, as we now know it, made its arrival with the front of the card being given over entirely to a picture. Countries such as Germany and France were well ahead of Britain and Ireland in the development of the postcard. In fact, much of the technical development of postcard printing was pioneered in countries such as Germany. Picture postcards were an immediate success as is evident from the millions sent and received. The British postal authorities reported that a staggering 600 million cards were posted in 1903 alone. HINDE was born into a close-knit Quaker community in Street in Somerset the year of Dublin's 1916 Easter Rising. By his 20s, he was already recognised as a pioneer in colour photographic processes. With the onset of war in 1939, HINDE in keeping with his Quaker background, opted to work as a photographer with the civil defence forces. However, in 1944 there came a sudden career change with HINDE decided to work as a circus publicist. In was in 1947 while on tour he paid his first visit to Ireland. It was about this time that he met and married his wife - Jutta, a flying trapeze artist. They set up their own circus, The John Hinde Show, bought a circus tent, hired performers and began to tour. Life on the road quickly began to lose its appear as the financial realities of trying to run a circus began to sink it. HINDE decided to utilise his photographic skills and develop a series of postcards for the emerging Irish tourism industry. In 1957, he closed his circus in order to concentrate on producing his now famous picture postcards of Ireland. By the 1960s he was able to move the production facility from the downstairs rooms of his house to a purpose-built factory near Bray, in Co. Wicklow. During the 1960s the company opened offices in the UK and an African subsidiary was established in Nigeria. In fact, John Hind Ltd. soon became one of the biggest postcard manufacturers in the world producing approximately 50 million postcards annually for desinations far and wide from the UK, Africa and America. HINDE sold his postcard company in 1972 which continues to retain his name and produce postcards today.