thanks Selina, it should be noted that your account is an abbreviated version of a 6 page statement signed by Elizabeth Pack-Beresford in April 1923 in which she gave a detailed account of the items lost in the fire and declares her loss at approximately £5,000 sterling. The odd thing is that the statement was made for presentation to the Irish Republican Army and is witnessed by Fielding Lecky Watson of Lumclone House, Carlow. At the end of the statement it is noted in pencil "Martin Neill & co was involved, house insured with English company payout will leave them better off than before" ( initialled ) J.R. On 4 June 2013 16:04, Friend of Carlow <friendsofcarlowtempe@gmail.com>wrote: > Turtle, we have a statement in the PPP signed by Elizabeth Pack-Beresford > in which she states that at least a dozen men burst in the door of > Kellistown House in the early hours of March 23rd 1923, they demanded food > , at first she refused to speak to them but on threatening to burn down the > house her and her sister prepared a meal for them, some of the men lay down > on the beds a fell asleep, they stayed in the house most of the day, some > of them played cards, there was a few bottles of wine in a press and they > drank the wine, as darkness fell Elizabeth asked them to leave as her and > her sister had had no rest for 24 hours, one of the men said "you know why > we are here, you informed on us and we intend to burn you out" Elizabeth > replied "what brave men you are, Ireland is well served by such bravery and > courage, it takes courage to threaten two ladies and then to burn the roof > from over their heads" her sister told her not to engage the men in > conversation. > The men gave the sisters one hour to save whatever they wanted to save from > the house and some of the men helped them to lift some furniture. > The men then set the house ablaze. Before so doing one of the men > told Elizabeth that if he ever saw her again he would put a bullet through > her. > > On Tue, Apr 23, 2013 at 12:10 PM, Turtle Bunbury (History) < > turtlehistory@gmail.com> wrote: > > > Hi Michael, > > Do we know what actual date Kellistown Cottage was set on fire? > > All best for now, > > Turtle > > > > Turtle Bunbury > > > > Turtle will curate the 2nd annual History Festival of Ireland at > Duckett's > > Grove, Co. Carlow, on 15-16 June 2013. > > > > www.turtlebunbury.com > > > > Oldfort, Tobinstown, Tullow, Co. Carlow, Ireland > > Mob: + 353 (0) 87 6453 486 Office: +353 (0) 5991 80559 Skype: > > turtle1847 www.facebook.com/turtle.bunbury > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On 20 Apr 2013, at 11:15, Michael Purcell wrote: > > > > > Jean & co, > > > the sources for the Eamon de Valera statement on "house burnings" were > > > recorded in a letter, dated Dec 1922, from de Valera to P.J.Ruttledge, > > > Minister for Home Affairs in the Republican Government and another > > letter, > > > the same month, from de Valera to Liam Lynch, Chief of Staff of the > > > Republican Army. [ de Valera Archives Univeristy College Dublin ]. > > > > > > On 19 April 2013 11:51, jean casey <kildaregenealogy@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > > >> Mick, would you be able give us the source for the 1922 quote from Mr > De > > >> Valera regarding "house burnings" we have a person here who is > > undertaking > > >> research on this aspect of the troubles in Ireland. > > >> > > >> On Fri, Apr 12, 2013 at 10:03 AM, Michael Purcell < > carlowmike@gmail.com > > >>> wrote: > > >> > > >>> The house in question was known as Kellistown Cottage or The Glebe > > house. > > >>> During the War of Independence the house was set on fire by > volunteers > > of > > >>> the Irish Republican Army after it was discovered that Elizabeth had > > >> acted > > >>> as informer to the Crown forces regarding I.R.A. activity in the > area. > > >>> Elizabeth and her sister Annette were ordered out of the house and > > warned > > >>> to leave Ireland or both of them would be shot, indeed Elizabeth was > > >> lucky > > >>> to escape with her life. > > >>> An effort was made to burn Fenagh House but it was unsuccessful, the > > days > > >>> of "Hanging Gale Beresford" were not forgotten !. > > >>> de Valera was against the burning of "The Big Houses" stating in > 1922 - > > >>> " Terroristic methods may silence those of our opponents who are > > cowards, > > >>> but many of them are very far from being cowards, and attempts at > > >> terrorism > > >>> will only stiffen the bold men amongst them. I am against such > methods > > on > > >>> principle, and believe we will never win this war unless we attach > the > > >>> people to our Government by contrast with theirs. The recent burnings > > >> were, > > >>> in my opinion, puerile and futile from a military or any other point > of > > >>> view. We must on no account allow our contest to be sullied by stupid > > and > > >>> foolish action on the part of individuals who may never look to the > > >>> consequences, not to speak of the morality or justice of what they > are > > >>> doing." > > >>> It is believed that Erskine Childers was a major influence on de > Valera > > >>> regarding his policy on the "burnings" and in his dealings with "The > > >>> Gentry", this was confirmed to me some years ago by Robert > > Browne-Clayton > > >>> when he relayed a story concerning Browne's Hill estate in Carlow. > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> On 11 April 2013 21:39, noel walsh <carlowpast@gmail.com> wrote: > > >>> > > >>>> was that Pack-Beresfords of Fenagh House,? never heard of it being > > >> burnt > > >>>> out,. > > >>>> > > >>>> On Thu, Apr 11, 2013 at 2:59 PM, Michael Purcell < > > carlowmike@gmail.com > > >>>>> wrote: > > >>>> > > >>>>> old newspaper in the PPP. > > >>>>> Nationalist and Leinster Times. > > >>>>> July 1937. > > >>>>> Miss E.H. Pack-Beresford. > > >>>>> We regret to announce the death of Miss Elizabeth Harriet > > >>> Pack-Bersford, > > >>>>> which occurred on Wednesday of last week at her residence > > >> "Brambletye" > > >>>>> Headley, England. > > >>>>> She was 72 years of age. Daughter of the late Captain Denis William > > >>>>> Pack-Beresford, deceased lived at Kellistown, Carlow for many > years. > > >>> She > > >>>>> and her sister went to reside in England after their house had been > > >>>> burned > > >>>>> down during "the troubles". > > >>>>> The late Miss Pack-Beresford was widely-known and respected in > Carlow > > >>> and > > >>>>> people of all sections of the community will learn of her passing > > >> with > > >>>>> sincere regret. > > >>>>> > > >>>>> ------------------------------- > > >>>>> 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 > > >>>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> ------------------------------- > > >>>> 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 > > >>>> > > >>> > > >>> ------------------------------- > > >>> 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 > > >>> > > >> > > >> ------------------------------- > > >> 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 > > >> > > > > > > ------------------------------- > > > 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 > > > > > > > > ------------------------------- > > 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 > > > > ------------------------------- > 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 >