Do  you know if this book is still in print and where it would be available? Mary ----- Original Message ----- From: "michael purcell" <carlowmike@gmail.com> To: irl-carlow@rootsweb.com Sent: Saturday, February 27, 2010 10:20:06 AM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: [IRL-CARLOW] They First Arose Nationalist, September, 1967. Ballon writer launches new book. In the quite village of Ballon, local publican Mr William Nolan last Thursday marked the launching of his novel "They First Arose" , ---a two year labour of love --with a pleasant function in his home. A historical novel, centred around Ballon as it was in the latter part of the 18th century, has as its hero, a local man, Ned Hickey, who was involved in the "98 Rebellion. Mr Nolan (49) a Carlow County Councillor for twelve years, is married with two children. Deeply interested in local history and tradition since boyhood days, he started the book as a hobby. Mr Nolan maintains that we have failed completely in presenting history in an attractive form. He says: we must present our past in it true light to our young people and we must explain the motivation which eventually led to our independence, but we must do it attractively. ======================================= Before you post a message to the IRL-CARLOW mailing list you must subscribe to the List. Its FREE! --------------------------------------- To subscribe to the IRL-Carlow mailing list, send an email to IRL-CARLOW-request@rootsweb.com  with the word "subscribe" (without the quotes) in the Subject box. No additional text is required. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to IRL-CARLOW-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

5th January 1831. The Information of Michael Harris of Ballon in the Parish of Ballon, Barony of Forth. Servant. Swears on the Holy Evangelists that on the night of 25th December 1830 he was called by his Mistress Mrs Thomas Nowlan of the town of Ballon to go to her turf house. Informant obeyed her command and repaired to the said turf house and discovered Sarah Abbott of the town of Ballon with a load of turf the property of informant's Master named Thomas Nowlan of the town of Ballon and obliged said Sarah Abbott to leave said turf in the house of said Thomas Nowlan. Sworn before us ; (signed) Michael Harris before Justice of The Peace ; --?-- Dillon, John Watson, A.B. Feltus.

Nationalist, September, 1967. Ballon writer launches new book. In the quite village of Ballon, local publican Mr William Nolan last Thursday marked the launching of his novel "They First Arose" , ---a two year labour of love --with a pleasant function in his home. A historical novel, centred around Ballon as it was in the latter part of the 18th century, has as its hero, a local man, Ned Hickey, who was involved in the "98 Rebellion. Mr Nolan (49) a Carlow County Councillor for twelve years, is married with two children. Deeply interested in local history and tradition since boyhood days, he started the book as a hobby. Mr Nolan maintains that we have failed completely in presenting history in an attractive form. He says: we must present our past in it true light to our young people and we must explain the motivation which eventually led to our independence, but we must do it attractively.

Carlow 1922 updated: http://www.igp-web.com/Carlow/Carlow_1922_index.htm Regards Michael Brennan Carlow Website: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~irlcar2/ My Laois Page: http://freepages.family.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mjbrennan/index.htm

I have managed to find a small amount of information about the D'lsraeli School of Rathvilly in the Carloviana 1983 along with a photo of the school: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~irlcar2/Disraeli_School.htm And Benjamin D'lsraeli from the same source: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~irlcar2/Beechy_Park_Rathvilly.htm Regards Michael Brennan Carlow Website: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~irlcar2/ My Laois Page: http://freepages.family.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mjbrennan/index.htm

[ note added 2010 by Michael Purcell ---- During one visit to Marie's home, I held an original copy of the "1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic" in one hand and her grandfather's Victoria Cross in the other, she was proud of both items and in a surreal way so was I . Many of the people ( i.e. Eamonn Ceannt, Cathal Burgha, May Gibney et al ) mentioned in the 1922 reports are "googleable" therefore I do not elaborate on their role or background (in other words I encourage you to do your own research ! ). Obituary submitted to Nationalist , December 1982. Veteran Republican, journalist and author, Marie Comerford, who died on Wednesday, December 15th, aged 92, at St. Nessan's, her Dublin home, was due to spend Christmas in Carlow. Esther Purcell, Kennedy Street, Marie's former Kilmainham prison-mate during the Civil War, received a letter from Marie accepting an invitation to stay at the Purcell home for Christmas. Ironically the letter arrived after the news of her death was broadcast on the Radio Eireann 9 a.m. news. Marie had recently presented a portrait of Kevin Barry and a wooden travel trunk ( with a secret compartment, used for hiding documents and a weapon ) which once belonged to Eamon Ceannt to Mrs Purcell, who in turn presented it to Carlow County Museum. Miss Comerford was born in Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow, her mother Eva Esmonde was lady tennis champion of Ireland for three years, her father, James Comerford, a miller in Rathdrum, was a friend of Charles Stewart Parnell. Her grandfather, Thomas Esmonde, served in the Crimean War and was the first British officer to enter Sebastopol after the siege. Captain Esmonde was awarded the Victoria Cross and later became Deputy Chief Inspector of the Irish Royal Constabulary. Marie always laughingly claimed that the Esmondes were a "minor tier of the Anglo-Irish Catholic aristocracy". She became a Republican propagandist during the Anglo-Irish War, a position which she never quite relinquished. In 1918 she was sent to regulate the Cumann na mBan organisation in Carlow. During this period she was "on the run" and stayed in the home of the Snoddy family in Blackbog, Carlow. In 1920 she became private secretary to the historian Alice Stopford Green, and was appointed to the General Council of the White Cross. This work facilitated her in her other role as a trusted courier for Michael Collins in the Irish Republican Brotherhood. Marie was a regular visitor to Carlow during the Irish-Anglo War 1919-1921 , where she sheltered in Duckett's Grove, later she was in charge of a Cumann na mBan unit who looked after the upkeep of the Duckett mansion when it was occupied by the National Army before "the Split". Marie opposed the Treaty. At the outbreak of the Civil War she reported to the Four Courts garrison in Dublin, opened a first-aid station and riding her bicycle along the bullet-swept streets and quays kept communication open between the Four Courts and the IRA Headquarters where de Valera was stationed, he had re-enlisted as a private in the Third Battalion of The Irish Volunteers (called "Dev's Own"). She later joined the O'Connell Street garrison and was there when Cathal Brugha walked out the door of the Hammam Hotel, a revolver in each hand raised against the levelled rifles of the Free State troops, Brugha, rushed forward, firing, and fell amid a volley of shots. Marie rushed to his side and held a severed artery until medical attention arrived. Two days later he died. One time on a mission in Wexford she encountered the Free State Army, they shot at her on her motorbike, later she wrote, "shot through the hat, drove through and delivered the stuff". After the Civil War --or "Counter Revolution" as she insisted on calling it ---de Valera sent her to America, in November 1923, travelling under the name of " Edith Lewis", to raise funds. Life was hard for her on her return to Ireland as she refused to sign an oath of allegiance to King George, she was unable to work in the Civil service. For years she eked out an existence on a chicken farm in Wexford. She joined the staff of the Irish Press in 1935 where she edited the Woman's Page, six days a week for about 30 years. She ended formal ties with the Republican movement in 1941, in protest at the Stephen Hayes affair. Hayes, the then Chief of Staff, was forced to sign a "confession " admitting treachery. Marie always maintained Haye's innocence and regretted that his name had not been cleared. In 1969 she published her book "The First Dail" which today is indispensable to historians. Michael Purcell who attended Marie's funeral told "The Nationalist" in a statement: " Marie Comerford will undoubtedly be remembered as a woman with an unquenchable thirst for the cause of Irish freedom and as a chronicler of the important events of Ireland's struggle for independence. But there was another side of Marie's character that the general public was unaware of and that was her generosity and hospitality. I often visited her at her home in Sandyford, where she held court as the grand old lady of Irish Republicanism, and where she made her vast and valuable archive available for research. Her home was crammed with mementos of Ireland's troubled past. Marie engrossed her listeners with stories of stirring episodes that she had been involved in. Aided by her facility with words, her sometimes humorous observations and her meticulous attention to detail, students and researchers always left her company feeling they had gained an insight into the characters and events that formed our history. She could give personal pen pictures of the members of the First Dail. In old age her mature enthusiasm, energy and refusal to be daunted inspired many". Speaking of her recent presentations to Carlow, Mr. Purcell added , " I know that had she lived she would have donated many more items of historical interest to Carlow Museum, indeed she had agreed to meet myself and local photographer Rory Moran on a date in January 1983 to make another presentation". A prolific letter writer and alert to the end, an unfinished letter to The Irish Times in support of the H-Block hunger strike was found on her typewriter at the time of her death. One of last letters she had published in The Irish Times stated : The Churches have played a part in the despoliation of Ireland. I appeal to them to make amends to the Irish people , and to provide an example of Christian living, by giving up their wealth, and by joining together in unity. Marie was buried under a tree on a hillside, in a farmer's field, beside her lifelong republican friend, Father John F. Sweetman, O.S.B. overlooking Mount St. Benidict, outside Gorey. Cumann na mBan and Fianna Eireann provided a guard of honour. Fintan Vallelly played "Boolavogue" on the flute while Padraig O' Gallachoir recited Padraig Pearse's " Caoimne Bean an tShleibhe". Sinn Fein Northern Ireland Assembly member Danny Morrison delivering the oration, said that Marie Comerford was a rebel stretching from the days of Easter Week 1916 through the Tan War and Civil War to the struggles in Northern Ireland today to rid Ireland of British rule. Among those who attended were , Rita O' Hare, Daithi O' Conaill and Joe Cahill of Provisional Sinn Fein, and many Old IRA veterans. Among the wreaths was one from Mr. Charles J. Haughey, T.D. leader of Fianna Fail.

Anyone following this "extracts" history of 1922 period will know that we are working from reports as published in our local Carlow newspaper. The copies of the Nationalist and Leinster Times that we have found in the PPP date from January 1922 to January 1923. Because it can be still be regarded as controversial I have skipped details relating to the treaty negotiations of 1921 which were a prelude to the signing of the Anglo / Irish Treaty of December 1921. There are dozens of sources for research dealing with this period, I hope this effort will encourage others to study them One of the benefits of publishing the data to the Carlow List in this fashion is that any Lister may question any item, and if anyone feels I am being biased please pull me up. I do have opinions on the people and events of the period but I will do my best to keep them to myself. As most of the reported incidents occurred during the Truce I feel it is necessary to give a little background on same, we can then resume the Nationalist reports from March 1922. The main terms of the Truce between the Irish and British governments came into effect at noon on Monday , July 11th 1921. On behalf of the British Military it was agreed : No further movements for military purposes of Military Troops, Royal Irish Constabulary, Auxiliary Police or munitions. No provocative display of Forces, armed or unarmed. No pursuit of Irish officers or men or war material or stores. No secret agents, noting descriptions or movements, and no interference with the movements of Irish persons, military or civil, and no attempts to discover the haunts or habits of Irishmen. No pursuit or observance of lines of communication or connection. No Curfew restrictions. On behalf of the Irish Republican Army it was agreed: Attacks on Crown Forces and civilians to cease. No provocative displays of Forces , armed or unarmed. No interference with Government or private property. And to discountenance and prevent any action likely to cause disturbance of the peace which might necessitate military interference. President de Valera issued a proclamation ; "During the period of the truce each individual soldier and citizen must regard himself as a custodian of the nation's honour" he ordered that they "should hold themselves ready for mobilisation if force was resumed against our nation" The men of the Irish Republican Army were free to return to their homes. A few hours before the Truce came into force the following was reported by the Officer Commanding, H. Company, Cork No. 1 Brigade, Irish Republican Army. " At 8pm we held up four British soldiers and searched them, but found no arms. We took them to a field in our area where they were executed before 9pm.

Ann, By the time my great grandmother, Sarah Hickey (daughter of Catherine Kehoe and John Hickey), was born in 1855, they probably moved from Kilbride - as there is no baptismal record at Clonegal parish for her. Due to the proximity of Co Wicklow and Co Wexford, they may have moved to one of these counties. Maureen N In a message dated 2/26/2010 7:35:16 A.M. Central Standard Time, ann.burns@rogers.com writes: Thanks Maureen. I'll file the information you provided here. At the moment my Kehoes are a mystery but one day I may get all the pieces to fit. Right now I'm going to look up my townlands map to see how far Kilbride is from Coolross. Ann

Thanks Ann. Maureen N In a message dated 2/26/2010 4:14:44 A.M. Central Standard Time, annagolan@eircom.net writes: just coincidence but the big house in Kilbride - the gentry at the time - were the Keoghs - they spell it K'Eogh! just a little interesting note for you!

Hi Paul, I only have a Catherine Kinsella who was b/bap 21/8/1878 and I don't think a link to my family. She is much later than your CAtherine - but I though I'd let you know. Her parents were Timothy Kinsella & Mary Byrne & the sponsors were Thomas Kinsella & Theresa Byrne. Her birthplace was Monaughrim, Clonegal Parish, which is only a few kilometres north of Kildavin Regards, Pauline

It would depend on how they got there...private steamer or something like merchant marine. I'm trying to track down an illusive Sheil relation who may have joined the MM or the Navy and gone to Chile or Argentina. ----- Original Message ----- From: michael purcell To: irl-carlow@rootsweb.com Sent: Friday, February 26, 2010 4:19 AM Subject: [IRL-CARLOW] Ireland to Chile ? Fellow Listers, any idea how much it would have cost to get to Chile from Ireland back in 1890s? mick ======================================= Before you post a message to the IRL-CARLOW mailing list you must subscribe to the List. Its FREE! --------------------------------------- To subscribe to the IRL-Carlow mailing list, send an email to IRL-CARLOW-request@rootsweb.com with the word "subscribe" (without the quotes) in the Subject box. No additional text is required. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to IRL-CARLOW-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

thanks for your reply pauline regards paul fenlon ----- Original Message ----- From: "Pauline Hall" <pphall10@bigpond.net.au> To: <irl-carlow@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, February 26, 2010 3:11 AM Subject: Re: [IRL-CARLOW] KINSELLA > Hi Paul, > I only have a Catherine Kinsella who was b/bap 21/8/1878 and I don't think > a > link to my family. She is much later than your CAtherine - but I though > I'd > let you know. Her parents were Timothy Kinsella & Mary Byrne & the > sponsors > were Thomas Kinsella & Theresa Byrne. Her birthplace was Monaughrim, > Clonegal Parish, which is only a few kilometres north of Kildavin > > Regards, Pauline > > ======================================= > Before you post a message to the IRL-CARLOW mailing list you must > subscribe to the List. Its FREE! > --------------------------------------- > To subscribe to the IRL-Carlow mailing list, send an email to > IRL-CARLOW-request@rootsweb.com with the word "subscribe" (without the > quotes) in the Subject box. No additional text is required. > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > IRL-CARLOW-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message

just coincidence but the big house in Kilbride - the gentry at the time - were the Keoghs - they spell it K'Eogh! just a little interesting note for you! ----- Mautrav@aol.com wrote: > Ann, > > My gggrandmother was Catherine Kehoe born approx 1812 - 1818. She > married > John Hickey - born approx 1805 - 1815. They had 4 girls - 3 baptised > at > Clonegal parish, County Carlow, and a 4th with no baptismal record I > have > found so far. The 3 daughters were: Elizabeth Hickey (b - 1837), > Elizabeth > (b-1838), Catherine "Kitty" (b 1842). The 4th daughter -Sarah - was > born in > 1855. The baptismal sponsors for the baptisms were: > Power, Arthur Murphy, Michael Kehoe, Fitzpatrick,Michael Kehoe, and > Ellen > Keogh. They lived in Kilbride, Clonegal parish, at the time the > girls > were baptised. > > The one daughter, Catherine, may have married Michael Keegan at > Clonegal > parish. > > Since some of these names are similar to those you mentioned, I > thought I > would send you this email - just in case. > > Maureen Neidle > > > In a message dated 2/22/2010 1:03:12 P.M. Central Standard Time, > ann.burns@rogers.com writes: > > Hello > > I am new to the list and had been concentrating my searches in > Wicklow. As > the area of interest is close to the border with Carlow and Wexford > I'm > branching out. > > My ggg grandmother was Eliza Kehoe, married to Arthur Byrne circa > 1818. > They were tenant farmers on the Fitzwilliam Estate in the townland of > > Coolross/Coolruss. Just across the road from them is the townland of > > Urelands/Newry. In Newry in 1827 I found a Michael Kehoe age 49 > according to the FW > rental papers. His wife was 42. Given that reporting of ages was > unreliable, it > is possible that they were the parents of Eliza. They had 4 sons and > 2 > daughters reported living with them. Michael was a labourer. They had > 3 acres. > > In 1824 Michael Keyhoe in the Tithe Applotments, had 8 acres and paid > 9s7d > in rent. No family information is given. > In 1839, Michael Keoghoe was age 65 and his wife 55. Two sons and a > daughter were still with them and they had 4 acres 2 rods. > In 1848 Michael was 70 and so was his wife. They had 5 acres, one son > and > one male servant and one female relative living with them. > In 1850 both were 72 and one son was with them. That's the last I > found of > them. > > Two of Art and Eliza's children had Kehoe sponsors: Owen and Martin. > I > have no idea if they were related to Michael of Newry. They were > baptized in > the RC church in Clonegal. I only have records for the baptisms of > the four > youngest of Art and Eliza's family as records started in 1833 after > their > oldest children were born. > > > ======================================= > Before you post a message to the IRL-CARLOW mailing list you must > subscribe to the List. Its FREE! > --------------------------------------- > To subscribe to the IRL-Carlow mailing list, send an email to > IRL-CARLOW-request@rootsweb.com with the word "subscribe" (without > the quotes) in the Subject box. No additional text is required. > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > IRL-CARLOW-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message -- Anna!

Fellow Listers, any idea how much it would have cost to get to Chile from Ireland back in 1890s? mick

Thanks Maureen. I'll file the information you provided here. At the moment my Kehoes are a mystery but one day I may get all the pieces to fit. Right now I'm going to look up my townlands map to see how far Kilbride is from Coolross. Ann ---------------------- Ann, My gggrandmother was Catherine Kehoe born approx 1812 - 1818. She married John Hickey - born approx 1805 - 1815. They had 4 girls - 3 baptised at Clonegal parish, County Carlow, and a 4th with no baptismal record I have found so far. The 3 daughters were: Elizabeth Hickey (b - 1837), Elizabeth (b-1838), Catherine "Kitty" (b 1842). The 4th daughter -Sarah - was born in 1855. The baptismal sponsors for the baptisms were: Power, Arthur Murphy, Michael Kehoe, Fitzpatrick,Michael Kehoe, and Ellen Keogh. They lived in Kilbride, Clonegal parish, at the time the girls were baptised. The one daughter, Catherine, may have married Michael Keegan at Clonegal parish. Since some of these names are similar to those you mentioned, I thought I would send you this email - just in case. Maureen Neidle

With the Regular British Army, the Black and Tans and the Auxiliaries already departed, the members of the Royal Irish Constabulary were the last branch of the British administration in Ireland to vacate their barracks and disband. This account has a "happy ending". Nationalist, March 1922. POLICE BARRACKS EVACUATED. On Saturday the Royal Irish Constabulary Barracks at Baltinglass was evacuated and the police took their departure accompanied by an armed escort. Similar scenes were witnessed in Tullow and Bagenalstown on Monday, the men being conveyed to Carlow where the evacuation of the Carlow R.I.C. Barracks took place on Wednesday. The police left Carlow accompanied by a military escort, equipped with rifles, machine guns and an armoured car. There were several lorries and a small crowd witnessed the departure of the men. The various barracks were subsequently taken over by the Irish Republican Army and the Irish Republican Police. About 12.30 on Wednesday a motor car belonging to the District Inspector of the Royal Irish Constabulary was left on the street opposite the Royal Hotel in Dublin Street, disappeared while the Inspector and his driver were inside the hotel. Inquiries failed to discover the whereabouts of the car . The Republican Police are investigating the matter.!

Nationalist March 1922. (by Tatler.) The campaign of highway robbery and burglary in Carlow is now stopped thanks to the activity of the Irish Republican Army and the Irish Republican Police in the various districts. The gangs were availing of the Truce and the Inter-regnum to carry on, but failed.

Ann, My gggrandmother was Catherine Kehoe born approx 1812 - 1818. She married John Hickey - born approx 1805 - 1815. They had 4 girls - 3 baptised at Clonegal parish, County Carlow, and a 4th with no baptismal record I have found so far. The 3 daughters were: Elizabeth Hickey (b - 1837), Elizabeth (b-1838), Catherine "Kitty" (b 1842). The 4th daughter -Sarah - was born in 1855. The baptismal sponsors for the baptisms were: Power, Arthur Murphy, Michael Kehoe, Fitzpatrick,Michael Kehoe, and Ellen Keogh. They lived in Kilbride, Clonegal parish, at the time the girls were baptised. The one daughter, Catherine, may have married Michael Keegan at Clonegal parish. Since some of these names are similar to those you mentioned, I thought I would send you this email - just in case. Maureen Neidle In a message dated 2/22/2010 1:03:12 P.M. Central Standard Time, ann.burns@rogers.com writes: Hello I am new to the list and had been concentrating my searches in Wicklow. As the area of interest is close to the border with Carlow and Wexford I'm branching out. My ggg grandmother was Eliza Kehoe, married to Arthur Byrne circa 1818. They were tenant farmers on the Fitzwilliam Estate in the townland of Coolross/Coolruss. Just across the road from them is the townland of Urelands/Newry. In Newry in 1827 I found a Michael Kehoe age 49 according to the FW rental papers. His wife was 42. Given that reporting of ages was unreliable, it is possible that they were the parents of Eliza. They had 4 sons and 2 daughters reported living with them. Michael was a labourer. They had 3 acres. In 1824 Michael Keyhoe in the Tithe Applotments, had 8 acres and paid 9s7d in rent. No family information is given. In 1839, Michael Keoghoe was age 65 and his wife 55. Two sons and a daughter were still with them and they had 4 acres 2 rods. In 1848 Michael was 70 and so was his wife. They had 5 acres, one son and one male servant and one female relative living with them. In 1850 both were 72 and one son was with them. That's the last I found of them. Two of Art and Eliza's children had Kehoe sponsors: Owen and Martin. I have no idea if they were related to Michael of Newry. They were baptized in the RC church in Clonegal. I only have records for the baptisms of the four youngest of Art and Eliza's family as records started in 1833 after their oldest children were born.

March 1922. With the Irish Republican Police doing their best to maintain order a recruitment drive was under way for the new Civic Guard to replace the Royal Irish Constabulary. Despite the turbulent times that were prevailing the Free State government had made a decision not to arm the new police force. Nationalist, March, 1922. A fine lot of strapping intelligent young men were in Carlow early this week for the purpose of being examined in respect of the new police force with will be known as the Civic Guard. The new type Civic Guard is a good one. I happen to know a few of the candidates, and if the rest are equal or nearly equal, it should be plain sailing. In those places where barracks are in ruins it is obviously necessary that some vacant building should be availed. Any police force is intended to see that the laws made by the nation are kept, and no human law is binding unless it has the sanction of the people ; and no police force can expect the support or confidence of the people's representatives.

Laois --- Leix---- Queen's County. Leix No 1 Brigade. I.R.A. March 28th 1922. WARNING. As it has come to my notice that certain persons are using my rank for the purpose of deceiving the general public in connection with public notices purporting to be published on behalf of Leix No 1 Brigade I.R.A. I hereby give notice that nothing is to be considered as having official authority which does not bear my name, rank, and address as hereunder. And I give further notice that the Headquarters of Leix No. 1 Brigade, I.R.A. have been transferred from Abbeyleix to Portlaoighise (Maryborough ) (signed) M. Gray, Brigadier, O.C. Leix No. 1 Brigade, Portlaoighise. _____________________________________________________________ Action in Laois 1916. Unsurprisingly, the first shot of the Rising has more than one claimant. One claim that has many supporters is that the first shots came from the Volunteers of Laois, who destroyed a section of railway track at a place called Colt Wood on the night of April 23rd – the day before the Rising began in Dublin. A monument to the event was erected near Colt Wood in an area called Clonadadoran. The monument bears three plaques: a copy of the proclamation; a picture of a derailed train; and a dedication which names the Volunteers and reads: “On Easter Sunday night, 23rd April, 1916, acting under the direct orders of Patrick Pearse, the Laois Volunteers participated in the demolition of a section of the Abbeyleix-Portlaoise railway line at a location near here. The purpose of this exercise was to prevent British military reinforcements from reaching Dublin via Waterford after the Rising had started. This demolition was followed by the firing of the first shot of the 1916 Rising.” Other activities engaged in by the Laois Volunteers included an attempted similar demolition of the Carlow-Kildare railway line and a raid on the Wolfhill RIC Barracks.In 1916 volunteers who were detailed to carry out operations in Colt Wood included, Patrick J. Ramsbottom, Laurence Brady, Colum Houlihan, Thomas F.Brady, Patrick Muldowney, John Muldowney and Michael J. Sheridan. These were all from Portlaoise.