Would anyone have any information on John Cassidy born early 1800's in the parish of Ardea, town of Killeen or Killenlynagh, or any info on him living in that parish in 1840 to approx 1847 ? Thanks in advance Frank

Irish Geography People tend to pen their ancestors in, they have a townland name, a parish name, a county name and no matter what is said to them they will focus on that once name. It wasn't until I began to look at maps for other countries that I understood this. If I take a map of America and look at that, the states, they all have nice straight boundaries. Then, within states, the roads are straight, organised, hardly a space which looks unoccupied to my Irish mind. If I look at a map of Ireland and our counties, they're all over the place, no such thing as a straight line, they blend together, meander into one another. Not only can one county look like there are bits of it in another county, but part of a county can lie between two counties. There is no fixed definite shape or pattern to Irish counties. As if this wasn't bad enough, counties are further subdivided, we have Baronies, Religious Dioceses which spread over a few counties, Catholic and Protestant Boundaries for somewhere of the same name not being in the same place, the Religious Dioceses are subdivided into Religious Parishes, we have civil parishes, we have towns and townlands. We also have names for houses or farms. There are Poor Law Unions, legal divisions. The numbers of religious parishes may have changed over the years, increasing or decreasing depending on how many parishioners there were in an area, depending on whether or not there were religious in the area to serve that parish. One thing I have noticed over the years, is that people don't realise the size of the area they are dealing with. Take for example a map of Ireland, compare it to a map of the States. As an Irish person, regardless of the key telling me what distance is equal to a mile, I still tend to relate the two maps in one way or another. I once told someone that a place was only a little bit away from where they were, relatively speaking. It turned out that the friend laughed at the good of it, told me he would buy me a map and that the two places were 600 miles apart. I think Irish, the searchers from outside Ireland will generally tend to think in a manner which will suit their country. I think small, they generally think big. There will be a few who manage to get over that mental hurdle, and who will comprehend the size differences, but not many. The first thing searchers have to do is think 'small', think Irish, and always remember that here in this country for any small town or village there will be a core number of people who are descended from those who left. Twenty or thirty years ago, when someone moved in to any town or village, they were 'blow-in's'. They still are today, but not as noticeable this isn 't, because we move around more often, work brings us from place to place. Today, fewer will leave their home town permanently, they will travel home at the weekends, they will commute to wherever they work. The towns and villages are not dying as they did in the past, their populations are not necessarily shrinking like they did in the past, and so it is harder to find that original 'core' group of families. To go back through the genealogical information on any core group of families in any town or village it will be found that each of these families is related to the other in some way, somehow. In some ways,contradicting what I have just said, that the searchers should not pen their ancestors in, believe that these people did not move around, and that there are core families in any area, there is the fact that yes, they did move from place to place, or some of them did and great distances. You need to become familiar with our geography. For any county that you have a townland name for, you need to check out the various division names associated with that place. This you can do by visiting one of the townland sites available on the net. These really show you nothing, tell you little other than to give you more place names to be concerned with. (www.seanruad.com) However, then you can also visit various sites available which 'sell' Ordnance Survey maps for Ireland. Each county is broken up into a number of divisions. Each county has a number of OS maps associated with it. These do not necessarily cover only the one county, there may be information or bits of three or four counties on a map. The maps themselves are not indexed so it is necessary for you to go through them square by square looking for the townland/placename in which you have an interest. While the maps are not indexed, there are indices available at some of the sites and using these you can find out which map you actually need. These maps are relatively cheap. People ask about copies of original OS maps which can be bought from the Irish OS office, containing great detail and dating from the mid 1800's, showing the layout of the land, houses on it etc. These are expensive, but nice to have and look at. However, I don't recommend that you go out and buy any of these until you have positively identified the area in which you are interested using the cheaper, smaller OS maps. Then, do so. The placenames on the current OS maps have not changed that much from the names used on the earlier maps. One of the problems encountered with townland names is that any county may have had three or four townlands of the same name. This makes it hard to decide exactly where you should be interested in for definite. With the aid of these maps, you can judge the size of townlands, the closest local market town, the locations of churches and graveyards in the area. You still have to find and work your way through any records which would be available for that area, but you can make the journey smaller by concentrating initially on the biggest townland. Some of our townlands are no more than the size of a field. If you have a place name and there is only one of that name occurring in a county, then you treat this as the centre point on a dart board. The Bulls Eye so to speak. Remember our geography, the way counties sit together, mix in with one another. You work your way round that area, making the circle bigger and bigger as your search goes on, as time passes, taking into account any places in those rings which are found in other counties. Remember this, they were not penned in, just because someone said they came from this place or that place, doesn't mean that the closest church for their religion was actually found in that parish. You could live in one parish and the closest church could be in another parish, another county, but sit in the field next door. How many of us would walk miles and miles to our Parish church if we had another church 5 minute's walk down the road? Think small, simple, easy, shortest route.

'On the last day of 1739, Ireland awoke to find itself in the grip of what was in effect a mini Ice Age. Rivers froze, mills seized up and houses could not be heated above frezingh point. It was as if nature had gone a little crazy. Many were enchanted by the novelty of it all.Carnivals, dances andsheep-roastings were held on the ice. But the euphoria proved fleeting. In its wake came an almost biblical ordeal by drought, flood, fire, famine and plague, that has few parallels in the recorded history of this island.' The above from the cover of a book 'Arctic Ireland' written by David Dickson a senior lecturer of Modern history in Trinity College, Dublin. ISBN1 870132 85 8 Published by The White Row press Ltd., 135 Cumberland Rd., Dundonald, Belfast BT16 OBB First published 1997

Hi everyone Dose this ring any bells with anyone out there? The following was taken from a Dublin newspaper cutting in 1995: " Mark BULGER/BOLGER worked for the Irish Press (DeVeLara Paper). He was a member of the Bohemians FC Dublin. He died in the Palliative Care Unit in Our Lady's Hospice, Harolds Cross, Dublin on Saturday 18th Feb 1995. He was then removed on Monday at 5pm to The Church of Our Mother of Divine Grace, Ballygall Road East, Dublin. Cremated at Glasnevin Crematorium on Tuesday 21st Feb 1995 after 11am mass". Mark's wife's name was Alice (surname unknown)? His Fathers name was Mark BULGER/BOLGER and at one time he lived at 5 Phibsborough Avenue, Dublin. He married Christina BRENNAN (my Great Aunt) who was born in Ballickmoyler, Co. Laois. Other names in this family are: Eileen BULGER/BOLGER born 1917 m James O'Riley Patricia BULGER/BOLGER m Jack McGregor Rose BULGER/BOLGER m unknown I have no other dates or info for this family or where the rest of the family lived or came from. If there is anyone out there who knows anything about this family I would love to hear from you as I would dearly love to get in touch with any decendents of this famly who may be able to help me with my research. Regards Michael Brennan Kent England Home: michael@janbren.freeserve.co.uk I am also researching the following members of my family: All descendants of William BRENNAN, (c1800's) of Ballickmoyler, Co.Laois.IRL MORAN & LALOR/LAWLER/LAWLOR, Ballickmoyler, Co.Laois.IRL KELLY/CARTER, of Ardateggle, Co.Laois. IRL BORAN, WALL & RYAN, Ballickmoyler, Co.Laois. IRL BRENNAN, James, Ballickmoyler, Co.Laois. IRL BRENNAN, Martin, d1963, Belfast, N.IRL

We all know this one in one form or another Taken from Irish Local Legends by Lageniensis. John Canon O'Hanlon 1896 LEGEND OF ARDMORE COUNTY OF WATERFORD "Blessed that child of humanity, happiest man among men, Who, with hammer, or chisel, or pencil, with rudder, or ploughshare, or pen, Laboureth ever and ever with hope through the morning of life, Winning home and its darling divinities--love-worshipped children and wife, Round swings the hammer of industry, quickly the sharp chisel rings, And the heart of the toiler has throbbings that stir not the bosom of kings." Denis Florence MacCarthy's -Bell-Founder, part i. EVERYBODY knows, that a celebrated artist, the Gobban Saor, was the greatest builder of churches in Ireland. Among other great Works, he designed and erected that remarkable group, which rises over the sea at Ardmore, in the County of Waterford. The Round Tower and the churches there are well known as objects of curiosity to the antiquary and tourist; but few are aware, that after Gobban had built them, he chose to erect a house for himself and to settle in the neighbourhood. His fame for ingenuity and good workmanship soon extended to the most distant places; and wherever a great building was desired by any of the clerics, he was ever and always consulted about its erection, and most, generally employed to carry out the design. Moreover, he was skilled in all branches of the fine arts; especially in wood and metal work. He also kept a number of tradesmen and apprentices at the carpenters' bench, and quite as many at the smiths' forge. All of these he taught their respective trades, so that many of them became famous, and when they set up on their own account they got sufficient ernployment from the kings, and chiefs, and bishops, in various parts of Ireland. Although one of the most clever artists, however, the Gobban Saor found that whatever piece of work he executed, some captious individuals had objections to it. At length, like many an astute politician, he hoped to gage the tendency of popular opinion, and to steer his bark accordingly ; for as he reasoned, that two heads being admittedly wiser than one, by a still juster conclusion, the more opinions he heard expressed, and by a still greater number of people the more hints he should receive, and therefore profit most by such suggestions. He thought over a plan, which he deemed to be a capital expedient to put his theory to the test. Then setting to work with a will, and sparing no labour or skill on the object which engaged his attention for many weeks, the Gobban Saor made a grand box, in what he thought the best of taste, ornamented with fine carving, and painted in. the most attractive tone of colouring. Afterwards, he placed it on the middle of a cross-road, which the people would have to pass by on their way to Mass it being the Sunday he chose for that exhibition. Getting inside the box, he locked it, and waited to hear what comments might be made on it, by the people going by to attend their devotions. A crowd soon gathered round the box, when the general opinion prevailed, that it was the "finest" box ever they saw; only some thought that the legs were a little too long. Hearing this, Gobban waited until they were all gone into the church, when he got out, and, having his tools with him, he cut a small portion off the feet. "Now it must certainly please them," thought he to himself. Getting into the box again, he waited to hear what should he said by the people on their way from Mass. Then another crowd, collecting round the box, gave it as a pretty general opinion, that it was the "grandest box" ever made, only the legs were then too short; and others thought that it should look much better if these were removed altogether. Whereupon, Gobban took away the legs, to gratify his critics, and to learn again what effect that might have on the public taste and judgment. He resolved to try the experiment for another Sunday. Then he found the criticisms had taken quite another turn. Every one seemed to be of opinion, that the box was too long for its width, and that its proportions were not very good. Whereupon, the Gobban Saor, set himself anew to the task of shortening it considerably, and once more he ensconced himself within it. The following Sunday, he heard a different class of objections ; for all then agreed, that the box now looked too short, and that the sides should be narrowed to make it more shapely. The artist again remodelled his box, and once more he subjected it to inspection. He heard the first person that arrived state, that the box then looked worse than before, for its height was out of all proportion to its length and breadth, and that the lid ought to be lowered very considerably. This too seemed to be the opinion very generally entertained by all the bystanders. More disappointed and disconcerted than ever, the Gobban Saor spent that week in taking off several inches from the top, and now the box became so small, that he had barely room to squeeze himself into it, to learn what judgment the people might form of himself and his workmanship on the next Sunday. "Although there were faults in the box before" said one of the farmers, "the Gobban Saor might have let well enough alone ; for what with sawing it here, and hacking it there, scraping of the paint, and patching it together, every change has been for the worse. "I quite agree with you, neighbour," said one who was present, "and besides it is labour lost, nor does it increase the Gobban Saor's credit as an artisan." Several voices were then heard expressing various conflicting opinions, but all of these of a fault finding character, and hardly any were qualified in a favourable point of view. On hearing the foregoing remarks, Gobban could no longer restrain his patience, and got out of the box. Then, breaking it up, he said he would never try to please everybody for the future, but should have reliance on his judgment alone to plan and execute his own work.

Putting myself in jeopardy of being excoriated for this non-genealogical item, I submit the following for your entertainment: Saddam Hussein was sitting in his office wondering who to invade next when his telephone rang. "Hallo! Mr. Hussein," a voice said. "This is Paddy down in County Laois, Ireland. I am ringing to inform you that we are officially declaring war on you!" "Well, Paddy," Saddam replied, "This is indeed important news! Tell me, how big is your army?" "At this time," said Paddy after a moment's calculation, "there's meself, my cousin Sean, my neighbour Gerry, and the entire dominoes team from the pub -- that's eight!" Saddam sighed. "I must tell you Paddy that I have a million men in my army waiting to move on my command." "Begorra!", said Paddy, "I'll have to ring you back!" Sure enough, the next day Paddy rang back. "Right Mr. Hussein, the war is still on! We have managed to acquire some equipment!" "And what equipment would that be, Paddy?" Saddam asked. "Well, we have two combine harvesters, a bulldozer and Murphy's tractor from the farm." Once more Saddam sighed. "I must tell you, Paddy, that I have sixteen thousand tanks, fourteen thousand armored personnel carriers, and my army has increased to 1 and a half million since we last spoke." "Really?!" said Paddy "I'll have to ring you back!" Sure enough, Paddy rang again the next day. "Right Mr. Hussein, the war is still on! We have managed to get ourselves airbourne! We've modified Ted's ultra-light with a couple of rifles in the cockpit and the bridge team has joined us as well!" Saddam was silent for a minute, then sighed. "I must tell you Paddy that I have ten thousand bombers, twenty thousand MiG 19 attack planes, my military complex is surrounded by laser-guided surface-to-air missile sites, and since we last spoke, my army has increased to two million." "Faith and begorra!", said Paddy, "I'll have to ring you back." Sure enough, Paddy called again the next day. "Right Mr. Hussein, I am sorry to tell you that we have had to call off the war." "I'm sorry to hear that" said Saddam. "Why the sudden change of heart?" "Well," said Paddy "We've all had a chat, and there's no way we can house and feed two million prisoners!"

Searching for Patrick PHELAN b. 1838 Mountrath m. Mary STENSON l867. Father Fintan PHELAN Woodbrook, Mountrath, Laois. Any more information appreciated. June in California

A friend was talking to me tonight and said that most people won't get the gist of these bits and pieces - that you have to read them with the accent in order to really appreciate them - so, spellings as are exactly as in the text, no changes or corrections. It also gives you an idea of how words were pronounced compared to how they are spelled. This is a story to be read thinking in terms of Maureen O'Hara an her Irish brogue. I've got notes in at the end to explain some of the terms used. Jane More on Paddy Welsh from Wildes Superstitions: It was said he had found a crook of gold in one of the towers of the old barns of Ballintober, which was not more than a mile and a half distant from his cabin, and where Paddy and his son were often seen in the twilight, looking, they said, for moths and wall-flies among the old ivy, or bats and starlings to manufacture fishing materials; at least, so they said, but the people thought otherwise. We often endeavoured to worm the story out of the cunning angler, but, drunk or sober, he was always on his guard, and generally passed it off with a joke, or - "Sure, Master Willie, you don't give into the likes-'tis only ould women's; talk. It's myself that would be glad to own to it if I got the goold, and not be slaying myself, summer and winter, by the river's brink, as I am." "Yes; but, Paddy, they say you made the attempt, at all events. Cannot you tell us what happened to you ?" "Oh, then, it's only all gollymoschought. But that's mighty fine parlimint* your honour has in the little flask; 'tis a pity it doesn't hould more, and the devil a tail we are rising to keep up our spirits." "Come now, Paddy, since you know very well it will be quite too bright and dull these two hours to stir even a roach, lot alone a trout - don't you perceive there isn't a cloud in the sky, and I can see the bottom as plain as my hand: look, oven the cows have left off feeding, and are standing in the ford switching their tails to keep of the clags ? - just stick the rods, and lie on your face in the grass there, and tell me all about the night you went to look after the money in the old bawne. Do, and you'll see I'll squeeze another mouthful out of the cruiskeen." "Well, but you're mighty 'cute and disquisitive after ould stories and pishogues. I suppose I may as well be after telling it to you while the breeze is getting up ; but keep an eye to the river, avourneen, and try could you see e'er a rise; and be sure you don't miss a gray coughlin or a merrow, if e'er a one flies past you; we'll want them coming on evening. But don't be tellin' on me, nor let on at the big house* that I told you the likes at all. Sure the mistress 'ud never forgive me for putting such things in your head; and maybe it's Father Crump she'd be after repatein' it to the next Sunday he dines; in Dundearmot; and if she did, troth I wouldn't face him for a month of Sundays. Maybe it's to St. Ball or to St. John's Well he' d send me for my night walkin'." "Oh, never fear, I'll keep your secret." "Well, then, avourneen, to make a long story short, I dhramed one night that I was walking about in the bawne, when I looked into the old tower that 's in the left hand corner, after you pass the gate, and there I saw, sure enough, a little crook, about the bigness of the bottom of a pitcher, and it full up of all kinds of money, goold, silver, and brass. When I woke next morning, I said nothin' about it, but in a few nights after I had the same dhrame over agin, ony I thought I was lookin' down from the top of the tower, and that all the flures were taken away. Peggy knew be me that I had a dhrame, for I wasn't quite asey in myself; so I ups and tells her the whole of it, when the childer had gone out. "Well, Paddy," says she, "who knows but it would come thrue, and be the making of us yet; but you must wait till the dhrame comes afore you the third time, and then, sure, it can do no harm to try, anyways." It wasn't long till I had the third dhrame, and as the moon was in the last quarter, and the nights mighty dark, Peggy put down the grisset and made a lock of candles; and so, throwin' the loy* over my showlder, and giving Michauleen the shovel, we set out about twelve o' clock, and when we got to the castle, it was as dark that you wouldn't see your hand before you; and there wasn't a stir in the ould place, barrin' the owls that wor snorin' in the chimley. To work we went just in the middle of the flure, and cleared away the stones and the rubbish, for nearly the course of an hour, with the candles stuck in pataties, resting on some of the big atones a wan side of us. Of coorse, sorra word we said all the while, but dug and shovelled away as hard as hatters, and a mighty tough job it was to lift the flure of the same buildin'. Well, at last the loy struck on a big flag, and my heart riz within me, for I often heard tell that the crock was always covered with a flag, and so I pulled away for the bare life, and at last I got it cleared, and was just lifting the edge of it, when--- "was that a trout I heard lep there abroad?" "No, Paddy, you know very well it wasn't. Go on with your story. Didn't you see a big goat with four horns and terrible red eyes, sitting on the flag, and guarding the gold. Now tell the truth." " Oh, what's the use in tellin' you anything about it; sure, I know by your eye you don't believe a word I am sayin'. The dickens a goat was sitting on the flag; but when both of us were trying to lift the stone, my foot slipped, and the clay and rubbish began to give way under us. "Lord betune us and harm," says the gossoon; and then, in the clapping of your hand, there wuz a wonderful wind rushed in through the dureway, and quinched the lights, and pitched us both down into the hole ; and of all the noises you ever heard, it was about us in a minute." M'anum san.Deowl! but I thought it was all over with us, and sorra wan of me ever thought of as much as crossin ' myself; but I made out as fast as I could, and the gossoon after me, and we never stopped running 'till we stumbled over the wall of the big intrance, and it was well we didn't go clane into the moat. Troth, you wouldn't three haypence for me when I was standin' in the road - the bouchal itself was stouter - with the wakeness that came over me. Och, millia murdher! I wasn't the same man for many a long day; but that was nawthin' to the turmintin' I got from every body about findin' the goold, for the shovel that we left after us was dishcovered, and there used to be daelers and gintlemin from Dublin, - antitrarians, I think they call them - comin' to the house continually, and axin' Peggy for some of the coins we found in the ould castle. "There now, you have the whole of it - wet the landin'-net agra and run after that beautiful green-drake that's just gone over us, while I see whether there is anything left in the bottle." NOTES: * Parlimint, used In contradistinction to potteen, or illicit whiskey. *The big house, or Teach more, is the term applied by the people to the residences of the gentry, except when they are of great extent or beauty, and then "the coort" is the word made use of. Old castles or ancient inclosures) are styled bawnes. *Grisset, a small narrow metal pan on three legs, used for melting grease, and dipping rushes in. Sometimes a fragment of an old pot is employed for the same purpose. The tongs are made red hot, and if there is no kitchen stuff at hand, a bit of fat of any kind is squeezed between the hot blades of the tongs into the grisset or its substitute, and the rushes, peeled of their outer green bark, all except one narrow stripe, are drawn through the melted grease, and laid across the stool to set. In order to permit the grease to exude with greater freedom, all the old-fashioned country pairs of tongs were made with holes In the flat of the blades. The dipt rushes were generally kept in a piece of badger's skin, hung to the roof. Rushlights are now scarcely known, nor the sconces in which they were fixed. Pieces of two dipped in resin are used instead. *The loy was the long, narrow, one-sided spade, with an unwieldy ash handle or feck, the only agricultural instrument known to the bulk of the western peasants twenty years ago.

Hello I am reposting my interests. I have HENRY QUELCH b. 1795 married to MARY PURCELL in Ireland and both born in Ireland. Mary and Henry were married (I know not where, in Ireland) in 1814. Their children JOSEPH QUELCH, b. 1816, JOHN b. 1817, HONORA b. 1818, WILLIAM b. 1821, PATRICK b. 1823, HENRY b. 1825, ELLEN b. 1827, MARY b.1829, EDWARD b. 1832, and MARGARET b. 1834. Joseph was born in Ireland (I don't know where in Ireland) but all the rest of the above children were born in SHRAGH, JOHNSTOWN, LAOIS COUNTY, IRELAND. I also have JOHN QUELCH b. 1786 in Ireland (sorry don't know where) married to MARY LYNCH in Ireland about 1816. They had HENRY QUELCH possibly born in Ireland in 1817 and HELEN QUELCH b.1819, JOSEPH QUELCH b. 1821, MARQUERITE QUELCH b. 1823 and WILLIAM b. about 1826 all born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. I do not know for sure but given the surname QUELCH is so hard to track in Ireland I suspect JOHN QUELCH b.1876 and HENRY QUELCH b. 1785 may have been brothers. I also think they may be brothers because they both moved to Montreal, Quebec, Canada and many of their children and descendants of these share common names. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF POSSIBLE IS- Does any one know of MARY PURCELL'S or MARY LYNCH'S parents or siblings? Is it possible HENRY QUELCH b. 1795 or JOHN QUELCH b 1786 parents came from England and if so does anyone know where they came from? Any help would be appreciated and I am sorry I do not know any more than I do. Judy in Canada

Dear All. To everyone out there requesting Look-Up's I have been meaning to mention this for some time now and I think now is the time. (Please see the original message at the end) Before we can do Look-Up's for anyone in Ireland, we do need a County name and/or a Parish name and/or a Village from those requesting the name of their anscestors. Otherwise, you are going to receive hundreds (sometimes thousands) of names of the person/s you are searching for from all over Ireland. I already have had my wrist slapped for sending too much data via email plus it takes longer to upload when there is a lot of data to send. Despite Ireland been a small piece of land in comparison to the USA and Australia there was at one time a very large population in the country prior to the Famine and it's not true that everyone knew everyone. Maybe in the local Village or Townsland people would have known each other, but certainly not in the larger towns and cities. So my suggestion is that you try a little research yourselves before hand and try and make life a little easier for everyone. Please remember that we are amateurs in genealogy and we do this happly in our spare time, plus we are not charging for this service. I still get a great buzz when people reply saying that they have found a long lost ancestor because of some small amount of info that we as amateurs were able to provide. Regards and good luck with your research Michael Brennan Kent England Home: michael@janbren.freeserve.co.uk I am also researching the following members of my family: All descendants of William BRENNAN, (c1800's) of Ballickmoyler, Co. Laois. IRL MORAN & LALOR/LAWLER/LAWLOR, Arless Co. Laois. IRL; KELLY/CARTER, Ardateggle, Co. Laois. IRL BULGER/BOLGER/BRENNAN, Dublin City. IRL; BORAN, WALL & RYAN, Arless, Co. Laois. IRL BRENNAN, James, IRL; BRENNAN, Martin, d1963, Belfast, N.IRL ----- Original Message ----- To: <GENIRE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, November 25, 2000 6:19 PM Subject: Re: Griffths Valulation Would SKS with access to the above subject look up John Flynn & e mail me the results direct. Thank you! ______________________________

Searching for : Thomas FINN Jeremiah FINN Patrick FINN early 1800's at County Laois, Rathdowney Thank you Gerry

Griffith's Valuation only lists 1 Switzer in Laois, John Switzer, Aghmacart Parish which is next to Durrow on bottom of Laois, Listing the town as Newton. Allan McCulley ----- Original Message ----- From: "JOANNA HOWARD" <Joanna_Howard@telus.net> To: <IRL-LAOIS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, November 24, 2000 12:28 AM Subject: Griffith Valuation Look up Request > Could SKS look up , Durrow ,Co. Laois for the surname SWITZER . The family > home was called Edmundsbury. My gggrandmother was, Ann Switzer b 1849. I am > hoping this info will reveal > Ann's parents. > > Thank you in advance, > Joanna Howard > Bowen Island > BC Canada > > > ==== IRL-LAOIS Mailing List ==== >

There is a legend which says since Satan was once an angel he cannot be wholly excluded from Christian places of worship or graveyards, but is only allowed on the north side Men and boys were once employed to go up of churche towers and shout, making a lot of noise to drive him away. In time this system was found both troublesome and costly so stone heads with open mouths were used instead. Such heads are often found on church towers or old castles so they were evidently considered effective in keeping the devil at bay. Few people bury their dead on the north side of old graveyards.

Could SKS look up , Durrow ,Co. Laois for the surname SWITZER . The family home was called Edmundsbury. My gggrandmother was, Ann Switzer b 1849. I am hoping this info will reveal Ann's parents. Thank you in advance, Joanna Howard Bowen Island BC Canada

Index to Griffith's Valuation of Ireland, 1848-1864 Cassidy, Edward County : Laois/Leix/Queens Parish : Ardea Location : Dangans Cassidy, John County : Laois/Leix/Queens Parish : Ardea Location : Killeen/Killeenlynagh Cassidy, Margaret County : Laois/Leix/Queens Parish : Ardea Location : Foundry Street Cassidy, Mrs. Mary County : Laois/Leix/Queens Parish : Lea Location : Cooltedery (Main Street) Cassidy, Mary County : Laois/Leix/Queens Parish : Lea Location : Lea Cassidy, Michael County : Laois/Leix/Queens Parish : Aghaboe Location : Townparks Cassidy, Michael County : Laois/Leix/Queens Parish : Lea Location : Fisherstown Cassidy, Robert, Esq. County : Laois/Leix/Queens Parish : Lea Location : Jamestown/Ballyteigeduff Cassidy, Thomas County : Laois/Leix/Queens Parish : Castlebrack Location : Roskeen Regards and good luck with your research Michael Brennan Kent England Home: michael@janbren.freeserve.co.uk I am also researching the following members of my family: All descendants of William BRENNAN, (c1800's) of Ballickmoyler, Co. Laois. IRL MORAN & LALOR/LAWLER/LAWLOR, Arless Co. Laois. IRL; KELLY/CARTER, Ardateggle, Co. Laois. IRL BULGER/BOLGER/BRENNAN, Dublin City. IRL; BORAN, WALL & RYAN, Arless, Co. Laois. IRL BRENNAN, James, IRL; BRENNAN, Martin, d1963, Belfast, N.IRL ----- Original Message ----- From: "Frank Osborne" <os461@pciol.net> To: <IRL-LAOIS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, November 21, 2000 12:10 AM Subject: Cassidy > Need help in finding information on DENIS CASSIDY. > All I know is that he was born in County Queens in 1826 > and came to USA in 1847. Sorry I don't have any more to go on than that. > > Does anyone know where the Cassidy's could be from in Laois (Queens) ?? > > Frank Osborne > > > ==== IRL-LAOIS Mailing List ==== > > >

According to the Index to Griffith's Valuation of Ireland, 1848-1864 there were no DONNELLY's owing property in Ballinakill during this time. I have also looked at Pigots Directory and again no DONNELLY's in Carlow Town or Ballinakill, Co.Laois in 1824. Sorry I cant help. Do have any other info that we can work on? Regards and good luck with your research Michael Brennan Kent England Home: michael@janbren.freeserve.co.uk I am also researching the following members of my family: All descendants of William BRENNAN, (c1800's) of Ballickmoyler, Co. Laois. IRL MORAN & LALOR/LAWLER/LAWLOR, Arless Co. Laois. IRL; KELLY/CARTER, Ardateggle, Co. Laois. IRL BULGER/BOLGER/BRENNAN, Dublin City. IRL; BORAN, WALL & RYAN, Arless, Co. Laois. IRL BRENNAN, James, IRL; BRENNAN, Martin, d1963, Belfast, N.IRL ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jane Coop" <jane.fiesta@talk21.com> To: <IRL-LAOIS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, November 20, 2000 8:13 PM Subject: Pigot's Directories > Has anyone got access to the Pigot's Directories for 1823-1830. I have only > just heard of these ... I don't know which areas they cover in Ireland? > I am looking for John DONNELLY Shoemaker/Cordwainer Ballinakill Co. > Laois/Carlow Town Co. Carlow or adjacent areas. He was married 1826 in > Ballinakill. Any info welcome > Regards > Jane (Saddleworth, England) > Also researching COSTIGAN, SLOWEY, CLARKE Ireland > > > ==== IRL-LAOIS Mailing List ==== > > >

Hi listers I am a new lister researching the bectons i have my great gt grandfather Patrick & his Brother Richard born in Portlaois abt 1865-70 ,my grandfather John & brother Rchard also born in Portlaois I think from info recd that my gggrand parents were & mary becton also from port laois or maryborough.I would be grateful if any listers have any info regarding the above to let me know thank you John Becton ex irishman from beautiful Murray Valley Australia

Cathal Crovederg or "Charles of the Red Hand From Wilde's Superstitions of Ireland.- spellings as in text. The ruins of Ballintober Castle are amongst the most magnificent in Connaught, and are memorable as the last strong-hold of the O'Conors. The castle, which stands on an elevated ridge by the road-side, above the little village of Ballintober, four miles from the town of Castlebar, consists of a quadrangular inclosure, 270 feet in length, and 230 feet in breadth, with four flanking towers, and one upon each side of the great entrance, the whole surrounded by a deep fosse, portions of which still retain water. Mr. Weld has remarked upon the strong resemblance which the towers of this castle bear to some of those in Wales. "No one tower, it is true," he says, "is comparable to the Eagle Tower at Caernarvon. Nevertheless, the south-west tower at Ballintober is a superb piece of architecture, and, for its general effect, amongst the most imposing remains of antiquity that I can call to recollection in Ireland." There are two localities of this name in Connaught: Baile-an-tobhair-Phaidraig, the town of the Well of St. Patrick, in Mayo, and Baile-an-tobhair-Brighde, that of St. Bridget, now under consideration. This place is, among other things, memorable as the birth-place of the celebrated Cathal Crovederg, or "Charles the Red-Handed," the illegitimate son of Turlough-More O'Conor, the brother of Roderick, and last of the Irish monarchs. About this prince, who was born in the latter end of the twelfth century, -and who, says the Ulster Annals, was "the best Irishman, from the time of Brien Boroma, for gentility and honour; the upholder, mighty and puissant, of the country; keeper of peace; rich and excellent," there are many romantic tales and superstitious legends, still lingering with the people in the vicinity, which, were they woven into a novel, would far surpass most modern works of fiction. When we have a novelist not only acquainted with Irish history and antiquities, but possessing the power of fusing the ancient legend with the drama of modern life and impulse; making the feelings that influence the lover or the hero subservient to the chronicle; picturing the part, through the knowledge of the human heart at the present-then, and then only will Irish history be known and appreciated. Cathal of the Red Hand was the son of a beautiful girl of very small stature, named Gearrog Ny-Moran, of the Muhall territory. When the queen heard what had occurred, she, like Sarah of old, commenced a bitter persecution against the king's mistress, and had, as was customary at the time, recourse to witchcraft and Sorcery to prolong the sufferings of the unhappy maiden. Like Juno, before the birth of Hercules, she, with the assistance of a noted witch, set a charm, consisting of a bundle of elder rods, tied with a magic string, knotted with nine knots. This she hung up in her chamber and watched with great care. Stratagem, however, achieved what humanity could not induce. The queen, while walking on the terrace, was accosted by a female (the midwife disguised), who entreated alms for a poor women who had just been confined in the neighbouring village. On hearing who it was, she was so enraged, that she instantly rushed to her apartment, and cut the charm into pieces. The spell was broken, and the bond-woman's child was born. For several years after, the people protected Gearrog and her son from the jealous fury of the queen; and both were long harboured in the monasteries of Connaught. As time wore on, however, the Church was insufficient against the wrath of the offended queen, and Cathal was obliged to fly to a distant province, where, in the garb of a peasant, he supported himself by manual labour. At length the King of Connaught died; and the people declared they would have no monarch but his son, Cathal Crovederg, if he could be found. Heralds were sent forth, and proclamations issued, according to the fashion of the times, yet still no tidings of the elected king. One day, as harvest was drawing to its close, a Bollscaire, or herald, from the Court of Ballintober, entered a field in Leinster, where some of the peasantry were at work reaping rye, and told the oft-repeated tale of the missing monarch of Connaught. Cathal, who was among the reapers, heard the story, and stood for some minutes lost in reverie. He then, removing the cover with which he always concealed the mark, held up the red hand, and throwing down the reaping-hook, exclaimed- "Slan leath a corrain anois do'n cloideam" -i.e., "Farewell, sickle; now for the sword!" The Bollscaire recognizing him, both he, and the men who were along with him in the field, prostrated themselves before him, and proclaimed him King of Connaught. He was afterwards crowned at Carnfree, near Tulsk, by the chieftains and the coorbs of Sil-Murray, and "Cathal's Farewell to the Rye" is a proverb and an air still well known in Roscommon and Galway.

Does this list have an Administrator? please and thanks..... Jane

After posting my interest for Denis Cassidy born 1826, County Queens, I searched the IGI for info. Denis named his first son John Thomas. I know that his father-in-law was Thomas Lee (probably from County Cork). Therefore, it is possible that the name John was in honor of Denis's father or grandfather. I did not find the father John, but did find a John Casidy born Jan 1824 in Mountmellick to Christy Casidy and Mary Mc Donald and am wondering if this John could be a brother to Denis....I realize this is nothing more than a guess.....for now. Does anyone else have any ties to Casidy and Mc Donald in Mountmellick? Frank in (ridiculous) Florida