Hi Ken - I have read that there was state-aided emigration for Irish folk wishing to settle in Canada in the 1880s. This may be similar to the government-sponsored schemes under which many people emigrated to New Zealand in the 1870s. However there is also some evidence that other factors were in play in Ireland as 1879-1882 brought great destitution and suffering to the country, said to be surpassed only by the Great Famine itself. There is a paper on JStor by Gerard Moran which may go further into this - I am unable to access more than the first page. http://www.jstor.org/pss/25512998 Regards, Patsy - New Zealand Website: http://www.loanegenealogy.webs.com ----- Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 2010 2:34 PM Subject: [IRL-CARLOW] War of Brothers ???? > Hi There: > I don't want to stir up any problems, but I keep hearing that unsettling > phrase. My G-G-Grandparents (JAMES/Fitzjames and LEECH) who were longtime > residents of Kildare and Carlow left everything in 1882 and the entire > family sold everything and came to Smiths Falls, Ontario, Canada. I am > trying to understand why (ie not potato famine - but must have been severe > as the youngest of six was barely a year old). I "Googled" the phrase but > came up with many (I think biased) descriptions. To further complicate > things, I understand that the resulting unrest is much of what still is > fealt in Northern Ireland today. I just don't seem to understand or absorb > what was/is going on to cause so much hatred/unrest. It just isn't logical > and I don't understand. Again, I don't want to open a wound or "sore > point", > but can somebody point me to a book/ resource where I can get some true > answers. They did not teach any Irish history in Ontario schools, and I am > sort of the person who does not readily accept everything he reads. > Thanks Again > Ken