In Slater's 1846 Directory of Ireland, Bruff is described as "a pleasant post village, in the Parish of the same name, barony of Coshima... situated on the mail road between Cork and Limerick.... a delightful and fertile part of the country." The town consists of one long street, with several lanes branching from it. In 1841 the Parish contained 2,900 inhabitants, and the village 1,398 of that number...... all sounds much the same as it is today really!! >From recent posts to the list I find it amazing that we have so many Bruff residents leaving this very small village in the 1840s and coming to Australia!! Why did they leave then? My Great Greatt Grandfather Richard BEVAN "swam" to Australia in the early 1840s. He left before Church of Ireland records began. Thankfully, I have found some family records via newspaper reports. His father James BEVAN, died November 1824, followed by his mother Elizabeth (nee FRANKLIN) in October 1826, meaning Richard was an orphan by the age of about ten or eleven. I found some interesting information about Bruff in this time frame, which other researchers may be interested in, both relating to Godfrey MASSY, but includes some local history. http://www.limerickcity.ie/media/Media,4091,en.pdf http://www.limerickcorp.ie/media/Media,3945,en.pdf which will help explain why so many left this little village back then. How many are actually on this list, living in Australia, with ancestors from Bruff, County Limerick?? LET'S MAKE A LIST!! I am Margaret SMITH (nee O'CONNOR) from Mardi, NSW, and my Great Great Grandfather Richard BEVAN came from Bruff, County Limerick, to Australia about 1841. Your turn! I am ... Cheers Marg Smith