In truth, the Scottish Clearnaces, for which Ireland was mere stop over for the vast majority involved both the Highlanders and the Lowerlanders. The Lowlanders were for the most part herders and sod-workers and kelp harvesters. The Highlanders were from the Warrior Class and their women folk did all the heavy hauling. I believe that is still true today. The Scots knew very little if anything about farming in the olde country, that was a skill they picked up in the "new world" whether they wanted to or not. A great many were very good at it, but what they were really good at was fighting in their various hired out regiments. And damn good they were. The Irish joined the Union Army straight off the immigrant ships and later helped kill off the Plains Indians. While the Scots collected Kelp the Irish grew and collected flax and beat it into linen. The linen provided shirts and undergarments and the kelp provided the alcaline for leather factories. After the final stages of the war of 1812, practically everyone was out of work, then they all came over here. We love them one and all. Canada will take another million. Eric As in all genealogical endeavours, The further back you look, The further back you see. From: "David Hall" <hallmark1@utvinternet.com> To: <cotyroneireland@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2009 3:42 PM Subject: Re: [CoTyIre] History behind our history Then there were the landlords in Scottish highlands that cleared their tenants too....these people only knew farming so where were the opportunities for them then? Ireland was one!