SNIPPET: It is said that Arthur MacMurrough KAVANAGH did not equal any man, but few men equalled him - see his remarkable story below. Carlow with an area of 345 square miles is one of the smallest counties in Ireland. The population of the county in 1841 was 86,228, the population nearly halved in the next 40 years, famine playing a big part in this with emigration also to blame. In 1991 the census was 40,942 with Carlow town at 11,271, per article in the 1997 #3 "Irish Roots" magazine published in Cork. Almost triangular in shape, Carlow is surrounded by Counties Kildare, Wicklow, Wexford, Kilkenny and Laois (Queen's Co.), and bounded by the River Slaney to the east an the River Barrow to the west. There are 597 townlands and seven baronies. The Barrow has long been the gateway to trade, with Waterford in one direction and, by joining the Grand Canal just under Athy, with Dublin and Limerick in the other. Many Carlow families were employed on the boats, most of them on the Graiguecullen side of the Barrow, but many also from South Carlow, Tinnahinch and Graignamanagh. Traditionally, son followed father - even grandfather and sometimes farther back. Unfortunately in 1960 trading ceased and a tradition and a way of life died. With Mount Leinster at a height of 2,610 feet, looking down on the beautiful village of Borris, the county is surrounded by hills. The Barrow Valley, in all its breathtaking beauty, takes you through Carlow town, on to Leighlinbridge, Bagnalstown,! Goresbridge, Graignamanagh and on to St. Mullins, famed in history, from where the river is tidal. At the time of trading, the boats were met here by a steamer which took them out on the early morning tide. St. Mullins is the site of the famous monastery founded by St. Molling, a place of great learning and holiness. The saint is reputed to have promised that those buried in the graveyard would go straight to Heaven. There is a Pattern held there every year. There were many stately homes (so-called Big Houses) in the county to include the BRUENs of Oakpark, the BROWNs of Brownshill, DUCKETTs of Ducketts Grove (this house was occupied by the Pro-Treaty IRA during the 'troubles'), BURTONs of Burton Hall, ROCHFORTs of Clogrennan, and BAGNELs of Dunleckney, who gave their name to Bagnelstown. The proximity of Carlow to Dublin and the quality of the land was a big factor in its plantation. In nearby Borris is the home of the MacMurrough KAVANAGHs, descendants of Diarmuid MacMURROUGH, King of Leinster. One of the most notable of this family was Arthur MacMurrough KAVANAGH, who was born in 1831 without arms or legs. His story is a remarkable tale of victory over adversity, as he led a very full life despite his physical handicaps. He managed to attend to himself in every way, travelled extensively all over the world. He married, and fathered seven children, he was MP for Carlow from 1866 to 1880. By means of a steel hook protruding from his sleeve he could fish, hunt, sail and shoot. A very good story is told of his arrival at Abbeyleix, County Laois, by rail for a shoot at the DEVESCI Estate. As the station master helped him fron the train to his carriage, he said - "You are welcome back to Abbeyleix Mr. KAVANAGH." Later in the day while shooting with a gun that he had adapted to strap to his shoulders, KAVANAGH commented: "Amazing, I have not been in Abbeyleix for 15 years and the station master recognised me." Arthur died in 1889 at the ripe old age - for that time - of 76 years. Other famous individuals include Myles W. KEOGH, born at Orchard House, Leighlinbridge. In 1860 Myles enlisted in the Papal Army of Pius IX as a second lieutenant in the Battle of St. Patrick. After the capture of his very ill-equipped regiment, which after a brave fight was forced to surrender, KEOGH and his comrades were prisoners of war for a short time before being repatriated. Some of them, including Myles, decided to stay on as regulars in the Papal Army. Myles had distinguished himself at the Battle of Ancona, and had received two Papal medals. At the outbreak of the Civil War in America, Myles joined the United States Army as a Captain at age 22. After long service in the Army he was attached to the regiment of General George CUSTER, and became second in command. In 1876 he fought at the Battle of the Little Big Horn when Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse wiped out the entire regiment, leaving nothing living except the horse of General KEOGH, named Commanche. This! horse was taken care of by another Irishman, Captain NOLAN. The horse was made subject to an army order, never ridden or worked again, but kept as a living memorial to the battle. When Commanche died 20 years later he was skinned and stuffed and at the time of the article (1997) was on exhibition in the University of Kansas. Per the article, all the soldiers killed at the Battle of Custer's last stand were mutilated and scalped, with the exception of CUSTER and Myles KEOGH. When Sitting Bull was killed in a later battle he was found to be wearing a Papal Medal. Another famous man born at Leighlinbridge, was the scientist, John TYNDALL, a recognised genious. The renowned playwright George Bernard SHAW had strong Carlow connections through his mother's family, the GURLYs, who went back to the 1700s. SHAW bequeathed several properties to Carlow town, the first of which was then the Assembly Room, in Dublin Street, which became Carlow Technical School and subsequently the County Library. Carlow, because of its proximity to Wexford where the rising of 1798 began, was the scene of many bloody battles. The death and torture carried out in Carlow town was horrific. When the rebels approaching Carlow met no resistance and preceded down Tullow Street, they found the street closed before and behind them. All were literally slaughtered. Griffith's Valuation was carried out in Carlow in 1852. At that time the most numerous household surname in Carlow was BYRNE, follwed by NOLAN/NOWLAN, KAVANAGH, KELLY, NEILL, McDONNELL/McDONALD, KINSELLA, WHELAN, RYAN and BRENNAN.