Parnell Defence Fund contributors in Clare (December 1880)

[Paddy Casey]

Because much of the 19th century Irish census data was destroyed or lost family historians often have to rely on surrogate datasets to find their ancestors.

The attached cutting from the Freeman's Journal and Daily Commercial Advertiser (Dublin, Ireland), Thursday, December 23, 1880 lists the contributors to the Parnell Defence Fund in a number of parishes in Clare. The lists do not show the exact addresses (e.g. townlands) of the contributors and first names are usually limited to initials but nevertheless they offer clues as to the existences of individuals in those parishes in 1880.

The parishes listed are Kilkeedy, Killard, Rush and Kilnaboy (Corofin Land League), Doora & Kilraghtis.

Some of the entries are a little difficult to read - this is a scan of a 19th century newspaper, for goodness sakes - but the task can be lightened by use of the Virtual Magnifying Glass (a free little software tool that can be downloaded from http://magnifier.sourceforge.net/ ).

Paddy