Thank you John Sloane and also to Bruce Sloan (for an earlier posting) for excellent explanations of the Sloan etc name and whether it has its origin Ireland or Scotland. I'm facinated and amazed to think of anybody rowing 16 miles to church especially in the cold Irish sea although admit it is very beautiful in the summer. I had asked the original question because of finding out that my ggrandfather Robert Sloan although married and lived in Dalry, Scotland was in fact born in Ireland to John and Margaret Wilson, but I don't know where. Both John and Robert are in the iron industry being a foundry worker and an iron moulder respectively. John M. Sloane, was this sort of work done in Co. Cavan, or Killeyleagh or Downpatrick where you say there are a lot of Sloan/es? I have heard from another subscriber, Pat Mullen that her/his Sloans were iron moulders from Ballymagoegh, Kileel Parish, Co. Down. Thanks to all for some really interesting corresponence and long may it continue. Anne Sloan from Oxon.