Library Forum

Absolutely, Sheila. The Wolfe Tone Hurling Club of Brooklyn made the intelligent and rational decision not to attend the Olympics in St. Louis in 1904. In early February 1904, they were promised a national hurling tournament with teams competing from across the country. When the tournament was down ...

Hi Sheila, I concede that my prior comment that “hurling appears to have been an organized form of Irish faction fighting” was somewhat hyperbolic. However, I will double down on my theory about the difficulties in getting the Wolfe Tones to the “Olympics” in 1904. For Wolfe Tone captain Joseph Henc...

Hi Sheila, My initial comment that hurling appears to be an “organized form of Irish faction fighting” was prefaced by “I’ve never been to a hurling match”. The Scariff versus Bridgetown hurling match of 10 July 1898, when Thomas O’Neill was instantly killed from being hit by a hurler, was my sole i...

Hi Sheila, Congratulations to Clare for winning the All-Ireland Hurling Final against Cork. I found match highlights on youtube and it was indeed very exciting and a great atmosphere in the stadium. Very fast moving compared to American football or baseball. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoViqHOY-...

Hi Sheila, Thank you for providing the sheet music for On Raglan Road , but both excluded the notes for the bass keyboard of the accordion. So I had a further search on-line and was able to find the accordion sheet music. Not sure why it is entitled “Raglan Road / Ennis Reel” but the piano keyboard ...

Hi Sheila, Thank you for the added information on Patrick Kavanagh. I was especially interested that “On Raglan Road” was often the first tune learned by Irish accordion players. I was taking piano accordion lessons a few years back now at an accordion school which used the Palmer-Hughes manuals whi...

Patrick O’Dea (≈1797 – 1890) and Mary _______ (≈1811 – 1876) of Carrowkilla, Kilchreest Civil Parish, Continued, 7.0 Patrick O’Dea (<1846 or ≈1851 – 1930 in Carrowkilla) Pat ODea , age 28, farmer, of Kilchreest, son of Pat O’Dea (living) , married Ellen McMahon , age 21, daughter of farmer John McM...

Hi Sheila, Thank you for sharing the poem “Epic” by Patrick Kavanagh which I enjoyed very much. I’m probably not the only one who is now curious about your field covered by briars and blackthorn which in years past was protected by a police hut. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLISXyxKf7k Patrick Ka...

Hi Sheila, Yes, I agree that the O’Dea headstone likely states “Nancy”. An “N” in an old weathered headstone can look like an “M”, and if the “y” was clearly visible, “Mary” would be a very good bet for the transcription. The first verse of “Kilkee the Grand” is very pompous and I suspect was never ...

E93. Sacred to our honoured parents JAMES MACNAMARA AND MARY NÉE O’ DEA and to our little brother Martin In life eternal crowned with bliss Be ye so gently good in this E’en distant days with pride will tell Your noble traits revered farewell Michael and Mar y Michael A MacNamara B.L. Died 12 May 1...

Susan Donohoe McNamara, who died sometime after 1911, erected a headstone to honor her husband, Sinon McNamara (≈1839 – 1907) at Kilchreest Graveyard (transcriptions donated by Ballynacally I.C.A.): E52. Erected by Susan MCNAMARA Leimnaleha In memory of her beloved husband SINON Who died 26th Mar 19...

Happy Easter. Hi Sheila, absolutely, please take care of yourself. And I am certain the search for the missing Thomas McNamara of Glandree will still be ongoing when you get back. If there is some topic of particular interest to you being discussed while you’re away from the forum, or a mistake you ...

Hi Sheila, good work in discovering that “Didacus Mac Connara”, age 35, of Friary Lane in Athlone in the 1911 census, was the same as “Michael McNamara”, age 25, of Multyfarnham in the 1901 census, both in County Westmeath. The two men are definitely one and the same. Sheila, I know you didn’t want ...

Hi Sheila, Thank you for your feedback and also for pointing out that my explanation for the missing James McNamara baptism entry in 1875 was incorrect. I reviewed the Doora baptism register of 1861-1881 for any possible mistakes by the priest or unusual transcriptions without success. Andrew McNama...

A GOOD EXAMPLE. (Special to Bassett’s Daily Chronicle). Tulla, Sunday. The tenants of Glandaree in this county, the property of the eminent Irishman, Sir Robert Kane, Author of the Industrial Resources of Ireland, have reason to congratulate themselves on having such a humane and paternal landlord....