SNIPPET: The faded elegance of New Orleans, the houses with their ornate iron balconies and long-shuttered windows; the glimpse of courtyards hung with jasmine, is very different from Ireland and yet James GALLIER, one of the city's most influential architects had come from County Louth and his father was the builder of Anaverna, the house where Melosina LENOX-CONYNGHAM was brought up. Now residing in Kilkenny and regularly broadcasting for RTE radio, this well-known authoress has written an interesting article entitled 'From Ravensdale to New Orleans' (with colorful photos and drawings) in the May-June 2006 issue of Dublin's "Ireland of the Welcomes" magazine. "James GALLIER was born in Ravensdale in 1798. The GALLAGHERs, (it was only when James arrived in America that he called himself GALLIER, claiming a French descent for the family) had been established in the area for several generations. His father, Patrick, was a builder whose two big commissions were Anaverna for BARON McCLELLAND and Mourne Park on the other side of Carlingford Lough for LORD KILMOREY, the proprietor of Newry. Patrick GALLAGHER also acted as builder and engineer for the linen bleaching mils on the Flurryriver and with a farm he rented, he made a comfortable living until the defeat of the French at Waterloo when there was a serious agricultural depression and the linen trade was in decline. James was the eldest son of a family of thirteen. He learnt to read and write at a small local school 'in a miserable cottage of one apartment that served as kitchen, parlour, bedroom for the master and his family.' as well as school .... " (You can learn more about his career by reading Melosina's interesting article, enjoy the beautiful photo of Claret Rock, the small country house on the border of counties Louth and Armagh designed by James when he was just 20, etc.) Briefly, this talented young man studied architectural drawing. His first solo commission was constructing a waterwheel for the spade factory in Ravensdale. James worked on Grange Church, Co. Louth before he emigrated. In New Orleans, commissions included St. Patrick's Church. He built many public buildings in New Orleans to include the Post Office, the Exchange, City Hall, and the Greek revival building known today as Gallier Hall. His son, also named James GALLIER, also became a distinguished architect in New Orleans and designed the opera house. In retirement, James GALLIER Sr. took to travelling. In 1866, when returning to New Orleans on the steamer 'Evening Star,' the ship was lost in a hurricane off Cape Hatteras. Along with many other prominent people from New Orleans and the members of a French opera troupe, James and his wife perished in the disaster. There is a fine monument in the St. Louis Cemetery designed by the son to commemorate him. (I only hope the buildings have survived the latest disaster to befall New Orleans!)