Bless Michael McNamara, and I hope he finds his way over to west Clare. Thanks, Jennifer, for this article. Melody -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: "Jennifer Hyatt" <jhyatt72@eircom.net> > 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 >