SNIPPET: In 1820, Fr. Thomas HORE (24) of Wexford visited America. More than two decades later, as the Famine ravaged Ireland, Fr. HORE became deeply concerned about his followers and felt strongly that America offered them their best chance for survival.. Fr. HORE led 450 of his followers to New Orleans, LA, planning to buy land in AR. When Arkansas did not welcome them, HORE instead took his people to St. Louis, MO, and then went on ahead to IA to buy 3,000 acres of land. Upon returning for the group, however, he discovered that many had joined the CA gold rush, while others were happy in St. Louis. Still, a dozen families followed HORE to IA, where they founded the new community of Wexford. (As I recall, one of his BREEN families helped to establish Wexford, IA). There is a chapter on Fr. HORE and his flock in Edward Laxton's book, "The Famine Ships," (1996).