Hi Everybody, I add my thanks, Jane, for the interesting information you've posted. My husband's grandfather Richard QUINLAN (born about 1890) was from Ballinakill. He, his brothers and at least one sister emigrated to the US around 1900 and settled in New York City. The brothers were John, James, Michael, Andrew and George and the one sister I know of was Mary Ann. Richard and Mary Ann arrived in New York City in Oct.1904 and joined John who was already living in Manhattan. I'd love to learn the name of their parents and more about the town of Ballinakill. Once here in New York, Richard met and married a girl from Dublin named Margaret Elizabeth Lennox (from the area Rathmines area of south Dublin City). There's a family legend that she was scheduled to sail on the Titanic but changed her plans at the last minute. She finally did sail in 1915 - if the story is true it's not surprising it took 3 years to get her on another boat ! I have some pictures of the Quinlan family taken shortly after they arrived here and one of John QUINLAN labeled "in the IRA" wearing a uniform. Genealogy has been a hobby of mine for 1 1/2 years and I've learned lots of fascinating things about my own roots - from Ireland but here in the US since around 1700. I'm just now starting on our more recent immigrant ancestors and am finding it a whole different process in tracing them abroad. Any tips or hints from any fellow researchers are greatly appreciated. And any descriptions of the area by those of you fortunate enough to live in Ireland would be great too. Those of us who have only had a long-distance taste of Irish culture envy those who can sample it firsthand ! The closest I've ever been to Ireland is going Celtic festivals here in the US or listening to Chieftain albums and a tape of "Riverdance". Thank you for sharing. Happy Hunting Maryanne Butler Walsh Long Island, NY USA