Thanks Judy, MaryPat

Sorry, I was writing to my cousins and somehow the Irish-American address was on my message. Sloppy of me.

If anyone wants to write to Ireland for our Slyne grandparents birth certificates, their parents birth and marriage certs, also their death certificates, this is the place. I do believe it will cost you....don't know how much either... I found on line that the Parish should be Enniskeane and Desertserges with the addresses for the : Very Rev Sean McCarthy PP Enniskeane, Co Cork 023 47162 To add another thought/suggestion to the initial email posting. I was able to find the website first where my Grandparents' Church - the same church where my parents also got married. I emailed the pastor, seeking the cost of attaining a copy of their marriage certificate. He was most generous with his time and efforts, that when I sent the payment for the certificate, I also included a donation in memory of my grandparents and father. So some parish priests are most understanding, and then some are so busy, they simply do not have the time to search the records. However, this priest helped me to connect to grandparents that I had never met for which I was most grateful. Eileen/MA This was in a site that I subscribe to. Doesn't cost me anything..... Dottie

SNIPPET: In the Sept-Oct 2000 issue of Dublin's "Ireland of the Welcomes" magazine, readers had various comments: Ambrose H. JACKSON, Orlando, FL, shared: ... "My wife is Irish, having come from Co. Westmeath. We met when I was in the U.S. Air Force stationed in England in 1951. She was a nurse, working in a hospital near our base in Bedfordshire. The nurses used to have a monthly informal dance at the hospital, and when we Yanks arrived at our new base in late 1950, we received invitations to attend the dances. My wife, Pat, and I met the very first time I attended, and obviously we hit it off, because we have been married nearly 48 years. We were married in Ireland, in her church and one of her brothers was my best man. The Priest who married us was the very same one who had baptised her when she was a baby!. The reception was in a hotel in Virginia, Co. Cavan .... On the occasion of our 40th Anniversary, we had a glass of wine there. We have been home nearly every year since that time, and we never fail to have a ball! Even though we can't get around as well as we once ! did, we still thoroughly enjoy our visits to home and family. Pat came from a fairly large family, and my in-laws and cousins keep us fully occupied when we are there ...." Tom GILLESPIE, Collaroy Plateau, New South Wales, Australia, shared: "Catherine RYAN from Tipperary, one of the fifty residents in this hostel who are incapacitated in different ways through strokes and other illnesses, has brightened my life with a copy of your magazine. Paddy DILLON's inspiring account from Castlebar, with the beautiful photographs of people from all nations - 'A Walking United Nations,' gives great hope for a more peaceful world in 2000. Thank you for inspiring an 89 year old Celt with a great hope for the future." Kelly O'GRADY, Fredericksburg, VA wrote: .... "I am enjoying your lovely magazine immensely. but I could not let pass an historical error in Anne HAILES' otherwise wonderful story on the Ulster-American Folk Park - 'From Fairy Water to the New World,' Mar/Apr 2000. New York's Civil War era Archbishop John J. HUGHES was not America's first archbishop. That honour goes to the Most Reverend John CARROLL, 1735-1815. Archbishop CARROLL was the brother of Charles CARROLL, a signatory of the Declaration of Independence, and an influential and respected friend of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. He was the first American bishop, chosen by Pope Pius VI to head the Diocese of Baltimore in 1789, and the first archbishop of America's five dioceses by 1810. CARROLL founded the country's first Catholic university, Georgetown College, and also established Mount St. Mary's College in Emmitsburg, MD, an institution perhaps most famous for its association with Mother Elizabeth A! nn SETON, America's first saint." Christopher O'ROURKE, Providence, RI penned: "I wish to thank Pat KIELY from the Military History Society of Ireland for his response to my letter regarding the Connaught Rangers which you published in the March/April 2000 issue of "IOTW." I also wish to thank the anonymous reader from NY who sent me three excerpts from the different books pertaining to the Connaught Rangers ... I once read a quote somewhere - 'Those who do not recognise the achievements of their ancestors, are very unlikely to achieve anything worthy.'" Mary Lou SAMS, Shumway, IL, wrote to point out that Maureen O'SULLIVAN played Jane in the "Tarzan" movies, and that Maureen O'HARA played opposite John Wayne in "The Quiet Man." My note -- Actress Maureen O'SULLIVAN, a popular Hollywood actress of the 1930s-40s, born in Boyle, Co. Roscommon in 1911, was educated in parochial schools in London, Dublin in Paris. She played the role of 'Jane' opposite Johnny WEISSMULLER's 'Tarzan.' Other films included "Peggy Sue Got Married," and "Hannah and Her Sisters" in which she played the mother of her actress daughter in real life, Mia FARROW. Mother of seven children, O'SULLIVAN also enjoyed a thriving stage career which began in 1962 in "Never Too Late." Other Broadway credits include "The Subject Was Roses" and "Mornings at Seven." She died in 1998. "Maureen O'HARA" was born Maureen FITZSIMMONS in 1921 in Milltown, Co. Dublin, raised in a family active in singing and acting. She studied theater in England and Ireland and joined the Abbey Theatre in 1939. A year later she was in London starring in her first film, "Jamaica Inn." In Hollywood, her first major role came in director John FORD's Academy Award-winning film, "How Green Was My Valley" (1940). She worked with many of Hollywood's top leading men in both dramatic and comedy roles. She left Hollywood for St. Croix in the 1960s after marrying aviator Charles BLAIR, but kept a home in Co. Cork and maintained connections with several Irish-American groups. In 1999 she was honored as Grand Marshal of NY's St. Patrick's Day Parade.

SNIPPET: Readers shared their comments regarding Ireland in the Sept-Oct 2000 issue of "Ireland of the Welcomes," magazine, published in Dublin: Kathleen Norton MADIGAN, Broad Brook, CT, wrote, " Turning the pages of your beautiful magazine is like taking a brief journey back to Ireland! ... On my only trip to Ireland last June, my family and I visited with my mother's first cousin and his family, the CARROLLs. They live in Leighlin Bridge, and since my ggparents are buried on the grounds at St. Laserian's Cathedral, we spent some time there. My grandfather, James Laserian CARROLL, was named after St. Laserian, so it meant a lot to me to see this beautiful place. We took pictures, of course, including one of the east window behind the altar and another of the majestic gateway to the Cathedral. Imagine my surprise and delight at discovering your article 'Setting the Date for Easter' (Mar-Apr 2000 issue). You are correct in saying that St. Laserian's Cathedral is set deep in the countryside of Co. Carlow, where no tour bus will take you; our cousin told us many of the things which your article mentioned. I congrat! ulate you on your fine ability to get to the core of the stories in Ireland ..... Thanks for including St. Laserian's and its heritage in your magazine!" (Editor replied: "You will be interested to hear that there was a wonderful ecumenical service in the cathedral and at the nearby holy well on St. Laserian's Day, April 18. In the tradition of pilgrimage, people walked from nearby Leighlin Bridge and Carlow town. One octogenerian made the trip in traditional pilgrimage paths across the country fields." Reverend Gordon WYNNE, St. Mary's Rectory, Dunleckney, Co. Carlow, penned: "Your presentation of St. Laserian's Cathedral in the March-April 2000 issue is superb in every way. We shall treasure this article and indeed find much use for it." Moira MORRISON, Whitby, Ontario, Canada, shared: "When I opened the Mar-Apr 2000 issue of IOTW, I found a wonderful surprise! On page 11, there was a photograph of a most loved and familiar site - the lighthouse at Black Head, Co. Antrim. I grew up beside the lighthouse in the scenic little seaside town of Whitehead. One of my favourite walks was up to the top of Black Head and down the winding path on the other side and through a series of interesting caves. The story goes that these caves were used by pirates and smugglers in bygone days and here on the rocks , there are always keen fishermen with rod and reel. Continuing along the seaside walk, you can see the Copeland Islands (another lighthouse) and the town of Bangor, on the Co. Down side of Belfast Lough. During the war years, in the 1940s, there were cargo ships, battleships and aircraft carriers sheltering there in safe waters. There are probably still some of your American readers who know this area very we! ll. If they were in the U. S. Army, stationed around the town of Whitehead in the 1940s and just before the Allied Invasion on the beaches of Normandy, France, they won't forget Black Head! I enjoyed all of the article and it's wonderful to know that five Irish lighthouses are to be restored by the Landmark Trust. Wonderful memories of 'home.'" Lionel KANTE, Buenos Aires, Argentina, commented, ".... I think that receiving your magazine is like opening a window to breathe Ireland's fresh air every two months. Thank you very much." Marcia HAKEY, Vernon, VT, wrote: "For many years I have been subscribing to IOTW and I have been to Ireland six times. My experiences have been the most marvellous you could every remember. One of the most delightful experiences was about two years ago; I had the wonderful chance to meet Noel C. DUGGAN at Green Glens Arena and he was so very delightful to us. Although he was busy, he took the time to show us around the horse farm and showed us some of his preferred stock. He asked me if I was riding tomorrow and when I said that I was, he informed me that he would have a special mount for me and much to my surprise he certainly did. I got to ride one of their famous and very valuable thoroughbreds called 'Mill Trump,' whom now I believe has doubled in value. Back I went to visit again in 1997 and they let me ride her again and she was now even more valuable. They remembered that I had ridden her back in 1996 and what a grand thing to be remembered like that. I have ! had MS for 21 years now and as of last year I am unable to ride, so these memories are very precious to me; to be treated like someone very special was just wonderful. Thanks many times to Noel C. and son Tom and our guide Kate for all their Irish hospitality, there is none like it."

County Offaly is located in the midlands. At one time it was Kings County. I have the 1901 census in which it is King's county. It is the location of Clonmacnoise, which is the monastery and ruins on the river Shannon where the Pope visited back in the 1970's or 80's. My husband's family {PILLION} are from Clongowney and thereabouts and buried at Clonmacnoise {lovely spot on the River Shannon}. Interestingly, as to "religious profession" they list "roan an catchlic". Judy

SNIPPET: In an effort to re-establish contact, thousands of 19th-century Irish immigrants advertised for missing relatives and friends in the "Boston Pilot" newspaper. Most often the Irish and North American place origins of both seeker and sought are identified. The New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS), Boston, MA, has published eight volumes, all of the personal classifieds published in the "Boston Pilot" from 1831 to 1905. The title of this set is "The Search for Missing Friends" under the general editorship of B. Emer O'KEEFFE and published by the NEHGS. (Certainly, opportunities exist for extraction of similiar data by genealogy and family history societies to follow the example of the NEHGS and extract classifieds from local newspapers in NY, Philadelphia, Toronto, Montreal, Sydney, Melbourne, Wellington, London, Liverpool and Birmingham for the same time period). The following are examples of advertisements with ideas for further research: 13 April 1872: "Information wanted of James O'CONNELL, son of Dennis and Mary O'CONNELL, of the townland of Ballyconlon, parish of Killanerin, county Wexford, who came to this country about 22 years ago; he wrote from Jerseyville, Jersey County, Illinois, about three years ago; since then he has not been heard from. If this should meet his eye, or anyone knowing his whereabouts, they will convey a favor on his anxious sister, Mary SWEENEY (maiden name Mary O'CONNELL) by communicating with same. Please address Bernard SWEENEY, Albion, Erie County, PA." Here we have the name of the mother and father and the likely birthplace of James O'CONNELL in Ireland and the possibility of Irish parish records that would reveal other ancestral lines. We learn James came to America circa 1850 and was in Jerseyville, IL around 1869. We know his sister Mary married a Bernard SWEENEY and was living in Albion, PA in 1872. A search of passenger arrival lists, city directories and 1860 and 1870 USA Federal censuses could potentially turn up additional information. 21 December 1872: "Information wanted of Denis KIELY, son of Denis and Elizabeth KIELY, Castletownroche, county Cork, he worked for the Suffolk Company, 10 Eastern Avenue, Boston, Mass., about three years ago; supposed to be now in the vicinity of New York. Should this meet his eye he will hear of his sister Katie, by addressing a letter to Katie KIELY, 41 Fair Street, Newburyport, Mass., or to his uncle Bartholomew HORRIGAN, West Newbury, Massachusetts." Here again we have the name of father and mother, their Irish location and possible birthplace of Denis KIELY and sister's name. Assuming that uncle HORRIGAN is a maternal uncle, we would have mother's maiden name. The 1870 USA Federal Census may contain more information. Irish parish records might contain parents' marriage and earlier ancestral information. 22 November 1873: "Information wanted of Mary COULTER, who left the city of Montreal, about 19 years ago, for the New England States; father's name was Samuel COULTER, and mother's maiden name was Mary McCLORAIN; also, of her two uncles, William and Alexander COULTER, when last heard from were in Ellicotte's Mills, Md., and are supposed to be there still. Her brother John COULTER, care of Gray Brothers, Syracuse, N.Y., or Ontario St., Rochester, N. Y. dead or alive, will receive information of her." We have quite a few names here to help pin down a particular family and that Mary COULTER left Montreal around 1854 and might be found in the 1851 Canadian census for that city, perhaps with parents and brothers. The census would give their nationality and ages leading to birth, parents' marriage and countries of origin. There is also a strong possibility of confirming the Montreal information with the 1870 U. S. census data for Ellicotte's Mills, MD, and Rochester, NY, the location of the brothers. 3 April 1875: "Information wanted of John LOYDEN, Connemara, parish of Ross, county Galway, aged about 60 years; about 45 years ago he went on board of a man-of-war; twenty-three years ago he wrote a letter home to his brother, Michael LOYDEN, who had left there: at that time he was in Archiel, England: his father's name was Michael LOYDEN, and his mother's name was Bridget WALSH, both of the same parish and county; about a year ago his brother was told by a man that a man of that name kept a hotel in Liverpool, and described about his age and size and complexion, and said the same man spent most of his time at sea. Information of him will be received by his brother, Michael LOYDEN, Victory Mills, Saratoga county, N. Y. or by P. O'REGAN." We learn the likely birth location of John LOYDEN, the names of his parents and a brother. Irish parish records could lead to earlier generations of paternal and maternal ancestors. A search for more information on "John Loyden, a man who spent a great deal of time at sea and was a hotel owner" and possibly a merchant marine captain might be found in British Naval records on a British man-of-war. Liverpool city directories and tax records should contain some details on his hotel enterprise and a check of merchant marine records may contain some details of his activities. These resources along with 1851 census records for Archiel and 1871 census for Liverpool could reveal other details such as wife and family.

New name added to our tree: Martin Gavin Possibly born in Mayo near Turlough and died 1902 in Tullamore, in Offlay ??? Where abouts is OFFLAY ??? Any assistance appreciated.. MaryPat Researching: Gibbons, Flanagan, Hughes, Murphy, O Hora/ O Hara, Gavin, Howley, Loftus

Thank you Jerry for the Web site. It took some digging around but RTE' Radio 1 put me right on the actual programming of the time. Not only did I learn about the troubles of RTE, but I got tuned into a conference of somewhat who was addressing the ills of the country. There is much too work on. For those of us interested in Ireland now this is a great web site to have. Again thanks, jd

> resource or website, for searching cemeteries in Co. Galway? Here's one website with links to cemeteries in Co Galway http://www.interment.net/ireland/galway.htm -- Pat Connors, Sacramento CA http://www.connorsgenealogy.com All outgoing mail virus free, scanned by Norton

Hi List :) I am wondering, if anyone knows of a resource or website, for searching cemeteries in Co. Galway? especially from 1835-1880/90. I don't know where in Galway (yet), just Co. Galway. Thanks! :) Phyllis

>And one question for you, the G5 you have next to the surname, does that mean 5 entries of that surname in the Griffiths? This is from the Household index and I thought the following above the table was clear, but maybe only to me :-) G5 means the name was mentioned in the Griffiths Valuation 5 different times. > G=each occurrence in the Griffith's Valuation, 1850 > T=only an occurrence in Tithe Applotment Book (not counted), 1826 -- Pat Connors, Sacramento CA http://www.connorsgenealogy.com All outgoing mail virus free, scanned by Norton

Hello Pat My name is Natalie Glynn and I was quite interested in your post about Churches in Offaly. Did go on-line and was connected and they have information about the surname listed (BESTICK). What I received (after M/C #) was listing of the available areas. Do you know of anyone that has subscribed to this site?

> > >Did go on-line and was connected and they have information about the surname listed (BESTICK). >What I received (after M/C #) was listing of the available areas. Do you know of anyone that has subscribed to this site? > I believe you are referring to the Ireland.com website sponsored by the Irish Times. I don't know anyone who is subbed to this site. If anyone on this list has ever subbed or is subbed to this site, please give us your review as to what you get for the money and how much does it cost....thanks. http://scripts.ireland.com/ancestor/index.cfm -- Pat Connors, Sacramento CA http://www.connorsgenealogy.com All outgoing mail virus free, scanned by Norton

OOPS! You can access the website at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~irltip/tipperary.htm -- Pat Connors, Sacramento CA http://www.connorsgenealogy.com All outgoing mail virus free, scanned by Norton

I have updated the Co Tipperary website by adding and/or updating the following town(land)s: Clonmel, Birchgrove, Ballinunty, Ballingarry, Ballyclerahan, Drom, Ballycohy, Raheen Lower & Upper, Ballyporeen, Clogheen, Ballycahill, Islandwood, Stonyacre, Ardbaun, Ballycarrane, Ballygammane, Bawnanattin, Bawntameena, Bohernamona, Bowling Green, Brittas, Brittasroad, Carrigeen, Clongower, Commons, Farranreigh, Furze, Garryvicleheen, Glebe, Glengarriff, Gortataggart, Gortnaglogh, Grange, Killinane, Kilrush, Knockauns, Knockcurra, Knockeen, Laghtagalla, Lewagh Beg & More, Liscahill, Lognafulla, Loughlahan, Monacocka, Monakeeba, Monanearla, Mullaunbrack, Mullauns, Racecourse, Rathcooney, Sheskin, Stradavoher, Thurles, The Heath, Thurles Townparks, Toor, Tooreen, Turtulla, Wrensborough, Ardkeen, Brookley, Clonbrassil, Clonismullen, Drom, Graigue, Killahagan, Kilvilcorris, Knockagh, Larha North & south, Rathleasty, Rorardstown Lower & Upper. There are now over 160 town(land) pages on the website. Many include LDS film #s for the Tithe Applotments, Griffith Valuations, and the 1901 & 1911 Ireland censuses plus the available RC birth and marriage records, plus surnames contributed by researchers and appropriate links relating to the town(land). Thanks to Patrick Ryan, who contributed the Griffith Valuation for Drom plus the accompaning GV lots map. Also thanks to Mary Stewart who contributed a database with almost 400 Maher County Tipperary births covering 1831-1867, found on both Records and Surnames pages of the website. You can access the website at: -- Pat Connors, Sacramento CA http://www.connorsgenealogy.com All outgoing mail virus free, scanned by Norton

If you have ever seen the Frank McCourt play "The irish and how they got that way", you will remember that part of this letter is quoted in a very touching way by Keiran Sheehan. I enjoyed reading the complete letter. Thanks.

SNIPPET: An Irish immigrant in New York City, John DOYLE, writes a letter home to his wife in 1818: "Oh, how long the days, how cheerless and fatiguing the nights since I parted with my Fanny and my little angel. Sea sickness, nor the toils of the ocean, nor the starvation which I suffered, nor the constant apprehension of our crazy old vessel going to the bottom, for ten tedious weeks, could ever wear me to the pitch it has if my mind was easy about you. But when the recollection of you and my little Ned rushes on my mind with a force irresistible, I am amazed and confounded to think of the coolness with which I used to calculate on parting with my little family even for a day, to come to this strange country, which is the grave of the reputations, the morals, and of the lives of so many of our countrymen and countrywomen... We were safely landed in Philadelphia on the 7th of October and I had not so much as would pay my passage in a boat to take me ashore... I, however, contrived to get over, and ... it was not long until I made out my father, whom I instantly knew, and no one could describe our feelings when I made myself known to him, and received his embraces, after an absence of seventeen years. (The father was a United Irish refugee of 1798) ... The morning after landing I went to work to the printing ... I think a journeyman printer's wages might be averaged at 7 dollars a week all the year round ... I worked in Philadelphia five and one-half weeks and saved 6 pounds, that is counting four dollars to the pound; in the currency of the United States the dollar is worth five shillings Irish ... I found the printing and bookbinding overpowered with hands in New York. I remained idle for twelve days in consequence; when finding there was many out of employment like myself I determined to tur! n myself to something else, seeing that there was nothing to be got by idleness ... I was engaged by a bookseller to hawk maps for him at 7 dollars a week ... I now have about 60 dollars of my own saved ... these I laid out in the purchase of pictures on New Year's Day, which I sell ever since. I am doing astonishingly well, thanks be to God, and was able on the 16th of this month to make a deposit of 100 dollars in the bank of the United States. As yet it's only natural I should feel lonesome in this country, ninety-nine out of every hundred who come to it are at first disappointed... Still, it's a fine country and a much better place for a poor man than Ireland ... and much as they grumble at first, after a while they never think of leaving it ... One thing I think is certain, that if emigrants knew beforehand what they have to suffer for about the first six months after leaving home in every respect, they would never come here. However, an enterprising man, desirous of advancing himself in the world, will despise everything for coming to this free country, where a man is allowed to thrive and flourish without having a penny taken out of his pocket by the government; no visits from tax gatherers, constables or soldiers, every one at liberty to act or speak as he likes provided he does not hurt another ..." -- Excerpt, "The Irish, A Treasury of Art and Literature," ed. Leslie Conron Carola (1993).

Wouldn't that be a wonderful "ministry" in a parish? To volunteer as a parishoner to do lookups which would result in a donation to the church. Here in the US, probably many churches would be able to get volunteers for such a project. What about parishoners in Ireland? Does anyone know whether there has ever been such a project or "ministry" to help oversees relatives? Just curious. Maureen N

> > > from Offaly and was born in 1891. > Here is a website all should bookmark if you have ancestors who were RC and from Ireland: http://scripts.ireland.com/ancestor/browse/counties/rcmaps/ You will find a map, click on the county, and then you will see a county map divided into RC parishes. Now if you don't know the RC parish, then this site won't work, so then you need to do work to find where your ancestor came from within the county. Since yours was born in 1891, after civil registration of births, I suggest you check for the birth record. There is an index, by year filmed by LDS that you can view at your nearest Family History Center. Once you find the birth, you will get volume and page name and will then have to order another film to see the birth record which will give place of birth and parents names. If you can't get to a Family Research Center, you can order directly from Dublin at Ireland's Registry Office: http://www.groireland.ie/ Or, you can hire a company or a person living in Ireland to go to the GRO for you whick is faster. If you would like a name of a person living in Dublin who will do this for a fee, email me off list. -- Pat Connors, Sacramento CA http://www.connorsgenealogy.com All outgoing mail virus free, scanned by Norton