Dear Jennifer, Thank you so much for taking the time and posting this excellent article.......... Michael McNamara is, in my opinion,correct to say that the potential for tourism in Ireland could be tapped if relatives(descendants)could find an easier way to trace their roots there. Given the level of interest with Family History Research being carried out in other countries(here in Australia for example it is of "gi-normous"proportions) and I wonder if the Irish authorities in Tourism realise what a gold mine there is for them through this medium? Just cheap flights and accommodation is all that is required by the good people(The authorities) to see tourism increased big time! Cheers and again thank you Jennifer for posting. Ellen in Tasmania ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jennifer Hyatt" <jhyatt72@eircom.net> To: <IRL-CLARE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, August 13, 2006 8:13 PM Subject: [CLARE] Clare Champion Article on Genealogy > Hi all, > > Here's an article that was in this week's Clare Champion. I thought it might be of interest. (no author noted) > > A Genealogical Wealth of Information > > The provision of a proper information board chronicling the inscriptions of deceased families in old graveyards throughout South-East Clare, could provide a tourism spin-off for local communities. > > That's according to an Ardnacrusha based local genealogist who has spent the last few years logging the names and details of deceased families from headstones in cemeteries, most of which have been in Meelick and Parteen. > > Michael McNamara recently met an Australian couple outisde a graveyard in Limerick who learnt their ancestors left Ireland to go to Australia after they had completed a family history. > > Tracing Irish ancestry has generated huge interest in the U.S. and Australia and Michael believes that this tourism potential could be tapped if relatives found it easier to trace their roots in Ireland. > > He told the Clare Champion that information displays and an appropriate plaque could be provided in old graveyards, which would prove to be a huge attraction for tourists and visitors who were keen to establish if their family name was mentioned on any headstone. > > "It would be great if a plaque or information board with inscriptions of deceased families was provided by the council for tourists and people trying to complete their family history. It can be hard to see some of the names which have faded over time and a lot can depend on the way the sun hits an inscription at a particular angle," he said. > > Over the last few years, he has logged inscriptions in a number of cemeteries including Truagh, Doonass; Kilquane; Meelick Catholic Church Grounds, Church of Ireland, Punchbowl, Meelick and the hill graveyard in Ogonneloe. > > Battling with undergrowth, briars and other obstacles, he completes this time consuming task during his spare time and subsequently publishes the results in the Slieve Aughty Journal, which is available from the East Clare Heritage Centre, Tuamgraney. > > He is currently logging the headstones of the old and new graveyard at Craughaun Cratloe, which includes the ruins of an old church and burial chamber in the older section. > > Members of the BLOOD family, who were well known landlords in Cratloe, were buried in the graveyard. > > Mr. McNamara's diligent recording work has been welcomed by local historian, Donal O'Riain, who also agreed that a permanent structure with inscriptions of deceased families would be extremely useful for people trying to trace their ancestry. > > All the best > Jennifer > > > > > > > ----------------------------------------------------------------- > Find the home of your dreams with eircom net property > Sign up for email alerts now http://www.eircom.net/propertyalerts > > > > ==== IRL-CLARE Mailing List ==== > If you just want to subscribe to this list or unsubscribe from it, send e-mail to IRL-CLARE-L-request@rootsweb.com > or (for the digest list) IRL-CLARE-D-request@rootsweb.com and put the word subscribe or unsubscribe in the message body. > NO VIRUS warnings to be posted to the list. > > ============================== > View and search Historical Newspapers. Read about your ancestors, find > marriage announcements and more. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13969/rd.ashx >

I have been wondering if the Michael McNamara that is mentioned in the article is the same Michael McNamara who owns Jamaica Inn, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare which is 16 miles from Limerick.. I know he is he also associated with Tourism. My husband and I met him outside the tourist bureau in Sixmilebridge when chasing the O'Neill, McNamara ancestors from Rossroe/Sixmilebridge and also looking for a place to stay in the townland the ancestors came from. I must admit I almost fell over when he stood side by side my own husband... same body, build, big head, regular size body and short legs..with a little pot tummy.. Pans out his McNamara family came from the same area as my husbands. Working for him was his cousin an O'Neill and she was related to another O'Neill we were introduced to.. who looked identical to my husbands father and brother.Our O'Neill's/McNamara family left Clare in the 1850's yet the facial features were passed on and still current in today's O'Neill residents in the area. We have returned to the Jamaica Inn , Sixmilebridge Co Clare for all the four visits to Ireland we have had... Michael McNamara and his wife have formed a lovely friendship with myself and my husband and Michael Mc.. has taken my Michael O'Neill to an original McNamara castle that has not been restored. Both wore gum boots and tracked through the farmers land and climbed up into the castle and taking life into their own hands explored the ruin. It was such a memorable moment. The O'Neill connection from Sixmilebridge took my husband to Truagh cemetery which is about a 20 minute drive from Sixmilebridge and there were original O'Neill burials dating back many hundreds of years including an Obelisk with the Red Hand symbol.. very very old and symbolising the O'Neill's who came down from Ulster ready to fight a battle..and after fighting ended in defeat those left spread out into Limerick and the Clare area. Or so I am told.. Warm regards Gay O'Neill ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ellen Crehan" <ellencrehan@bigpond.com> To: <IRL-CLARE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, August 14, 2006 2:58 PM Subject: Re: [CLARE] Clare Champion Article on Genealogy > Dear Jennifer, > > > Thank you so much for taking the time and posting this excellent > article.......... > Michael McNamara is, in my opinion,correct to say that the potential for > tourism in Ireland could be tapped if relatives(descendants)could find an > easier way to trace their roots there. > Given the level of interest with Family History Research being carried > out > in other countries(here in Australia for example it is of > "gi-normous"proportions) and I wonder if the Irish authorities in Tourism > realise what a gold mine there is for them through this medium? > > Just cheap flights and accommodation is all that is required by the good > people(The authorities) to see tourism increased big time! > > Cheers and again thank you Jennifer for posting. > > Ellen in Tasmania > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Jennifer Hyatt" <jhyatt72@eircom.net> > To: <IRL-CLARE-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Sunday, August 13, 2006 8:13 PM > Subject: [CLARE] Clare Champion Article on Genealogy > > >> Hi all, >> >> Here's an article that was in this week's Clare Champion. I thought it > might be of interest. (no author noted) >> >> A Genealogical Wealth of Information >> >> The provision of a proper information board chronicling the inscriptions > of deceased families in old graveyards throughout South-East Clare, could > provide a tourism spin-off for local communities. >> >> That's according to an Ardnacrusha based local genealogist who has spent > the last few years logging the names and details of deceased families from > headstones in cemeteries, most of which have been in Meelick and Parteen. >> >> Michael McNamara recently met an Australian couple outisde a graveyard in > Limerick who learnt their ancestors left Ireland to go to Australia after > they had completed a family history. >> >> Tracing Irish ancestry has generated huge interest in the U.S. and > Australia and Michael believes that this tourism potential could be tapped > if relatives found it easier to trace their roots in Ireland. >> >> He told the Clare Champion that information displays and an appropriate > plaque could be provided in old graveyards, which would prove to be a huge > attraction for tourists and visitors who were keen to establish if their > family name was mentioned on any headstone. >> >> "It would be great if a plaque or information board with inscriptions of > deceased families was provided by the council for tourists and people > trying > to complete their family history. It can be hard to see some of the names > which have faded over time and a lot can depend on the way the sun hits an > inscription at a particular angle," he said. >> >> Over the last few years, he has logged inscriptions in a number of > cemeteries including Truagh, Doonass; Kilquane; Meelick Catholic Church > Grounds, Church of Ireland, Punchbowl, Meelick and the hill graveyard in > Ogonneloe. >> >> Battling with undergrowth, briars and other obstacles, he completes this > time consuming task during his spare time and subsequently publishes the > results in the Slieve Aughty Journal, which is available from the East > Clare > Heritage Centre, Tuamgraney. >> >> He is currently logging the headstones of the old and new graveyard at > Craughaun Cratloe, which includes the ruins of an old church and burial > chamber in the older section. >> >> Members of the BLOOD family, who were well known landlords in Cratloe, > were buried in the graveyard. >> >> Mr. McNamara's diligent recording work has been welcomed by local > historian, Donal O'Riain, who also agreed that a permanent structure with > inscriptions of deceased families would be extremely useful for people > trying to trace their ancestry. >> >> All the best >> Jennifer >> >> >> >> >> >> >> ----------------------------------------------------------------- >> Find the home of your dreams with eircom net property >> Sign up for email alerts now http://www.eircom.net/propertyalerts >> >> >> >> ==== IRL-CLARE Mailing List ==== >> If you just want to subscribe to this list or unsubscribe from it, send > e-mail to IRL-CLARE-L-request@rootsweb.com >> or (for the digest list) IRL-CLARE-D-request@rootsweb.com and put the >> word > subscribe or unsubscribe in the message body. >> NO VIRUS warnings to be posted to the list. >> >> ============================== >> View and search Historical Newspapers. Read about your ancestors, find >> marriage announcements and more. Learn more: >> http://www.ancestry.com/s13969/rd.ashx >> > > > ==== IRL-CLARE Mailing List ==== > NO VIRUS warnings or topics of any kind relating to this subject to be > posted to the list. > > ============================== > Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the > last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.10.9/417 - Release Date: 11/08/2006 > >

Hello all, Gay, I was intrigued when you mentioned the familiar physical characteristics of your husband and Michael McNamara... We always thought that of the three sisters in the family, my mother was the most Irish looking, a little like the next sister up, but not as much like the older sister. When we went to New Zealand, many years ago, we called to meet one of Mum's first cousins for the first time. When she opened the door, I could have sworn it was the middle sister of Mum's family... right down to the glasses and the too short perm.. 'to make it last'. Her home was decorated in much the same way as my Aunt's, even as to where the crucifix and the Holy pictures were. As she spoke, I could have been listening to my mother... then she brought out afternoon tea and proudly told us she was known for her sponges...as was Mum's older sister. This New Zealand lady was Mum's sister's daughter... she had only ever met my Mum briefly, when my Mum visited there a couple of years previously. Yet, without knowing any of the rest of the family, and thus being able to absorb different habits, likes, etc. she was living a mirror life in so many ways. Mum's mother and her Aunt had parted company some 60 plus years before, one staying in New Zealand, the other continuing to Australia, and never saw each other again. It was some years later, that I was given some photos of various members of Mum's family from Ireland and also her paternal side and there were so many of them that looked so familiar, many generations apart. They lived in varying times of better food, easier lives, more of the 'good things' you might say, yet so many years gone by and the physical characteristics remain so similar, even down to the height. Just another reason why this genealogical journey is so intriguing... Chris Gay O'Neill wrote: > I have been wondering if the Michael McNamara that is mentioned in the > article is the same Michael McNamara who owns Jamaica Inn, > Sixmilebridge, Co Clare which is 16 miles from Limerick.. > I must admit I almost fell over when he stood side by side my own > husband... same body, build, big head, regular size body and short > legs..with a little pot tummy.. > Pans out his McNamara family came from the same area as my husbands. > Working for him was his cousin an O'Neill and she was related to > another O'Neill we were introduced to.. who looked identical to my > husbands father and brother.Our O'Neill's/McNamara family left Clare > in the 1850's yet the facial features were passed on and still current > in today's O'Neill residents in the area. > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ellen Crehan" > <ellencrehan@bigpond.com> > To: <IRL-CLARE-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Monday, August 14, 2006 2:58 PM > Subject: Re: [CLARE] Clare Champion Article on Genealogy > > >> Dear Jennifer, >> >> >> Thank you so much for taking the time and posting this excellent >> article.......... >> Michael McNamara is, in my opinion,correct to say that the potential for >> tourism in Ireland could be tapped if relatives(descendants)could >> find an >> easier way to trace their roots there. >> Given the level of interest with Family History Research being >> carried out >> in other countries(here in Australia for example it is of >> "gi-normous"proportions) and I wonder if the Irish authorities in >> Tourism >> realise what a gold mine there is for them through this medium? >> >> Just cheap flights and accommodation is all that is required by the good >> people(The authorities) to see tourism increased big time! >> >> Cheers and again thank you Jennifer for posting. >> >> Ellen in Tasmania >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jennifer Hyatt" >> <jhyatt72@eircom.net> >> To: <IRL-CLARE-L@rootsweb.com> >> Sent: Sunday, August 13, 2006 8:13 PM >> Subject: [CLARE] Clare Champion Article on Genealogy >> >> >>> Hi all, >>> >>> Here's an article that was in this week's Clare Champion. I thought it >> might be of interest. (no author noted) >>> >>> A Genealogical Wealth of Information >>> >>> The provision of a proper information board chronicling the >>> inscriptions >> of deceased families in old graveyards throughout South-East Clare, >> could >> provide a tourism spin-off for local communities. >>> >>> That's according to an Ardnacrusha based local genealogist who has >>> spent >> the last few years logging the names and details of deceased families >> from >> headstones in cemeteries, most of which have been in Meelick and >> Parteen. >>> >>> Michael McNamara recently met an Australian couple outisde a >>> graveyard in >> Limerick who learnt their ancestors left Ireland to go to Australia >> after >> they had completed a family history. >>> >>> Tracing Irish ancestry has generated huge interest in the U.S. and >> Australia and Michael believes that this tourism potential could be >> tapped >> if relatives found it easier to trace their roots in Ireland. >>> >>> He told the Clare Champion that information displays and an appropriate >> plaque could be provided in old graveyards, which would prove to be a >> huge >> attraction for tourists and visitors who were keen to establish if their >> family name was mentioned on any headstone. >>> >>> "It would be great if a plaque or information board with >>> inscriptions of >> deceased families was provided by the council for tourists and people >> trying >> to complete their family history. It can be hard to see some of the >> names >> which have faded over time and a lot can depend on the way the sun >> hits an >> inscription at a particular angle," he said. >>> >>> Over the last few years, he has logged inscriptions in a number of >> cemeteries including Truagh, Doonass; Kilquane; Meelick Catholic Church >> Grounds, Church of Ireland, Punchbowl, Meelick and the hill graveyard in >> Ogonneloe. >>> >>> Battling with undergrowth, briars and other obstacles, he completes >>> this >> time consuming task during his spare time and subsequently publishes the >> results in the Slieve Aughty Journal, which is available from the >> East Clare >> Heritage Centre, Tuamgraney. >>> >>> He is currently logging the headstones of the old and new graveyard at >> Craughaun Cratloe, which includes the ruins of an old church and burial >> chamber in the older section. >>> >>> Members of the BLOOD family, who were well known landlords in Cratloe, >> were buried in the graveyard. >>> >>> Mr. McNamara's diligent recording work has been welcomed by local >> historian, Donal O'Riain, who also agreed that a permanent structure >> with >> inscriptions of deceased families would be extremely useful for people >> trying to trace their ancestry. >>> >>> All the best >>> Jennifer >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>>