GUESTBOOK  2006

I enjoyed reading your Guest Book, and this brought back many memories of my early days in Ballymacad. My father was Christopher Smyth, and I know that the last family member Jimmy Smyth is buried in Ballinacree graveyard. Unfortunately the headstone simply states Smyth.  I would appreciate receiving any information which you may have relating to the Smyth family. My cousin Jim “Dutcher” was from the  same family line of Smyths. I will stay tuned into Ballinacree.

Sincerely, Maureen Smyth   mattmonaghan@shaw.ca

I am the 3rd of 4 daughters of Anthony Boylan, he is well and living near his other daughters and is now 71years old (soon to be 72) He spoke to me only last week and was full of stories about his school mates and the fact that the broken window had been broken for years and probably still is!

Is it possible to have a copy of this photo and perhaps any others you may have with my father or fathers family in.  He only has one photo.  I would also like to know if you can assist me or point me in the right direction for a family tree specialist.  For those who may have known my fathers family I will update you.  My father is the last of 3 but he has an uncle or cousin in Australia (Des Boylan) not to be mistaken with the Des Boylan that went to the USA.  I believe that my sisters and I were the last to reside in Ireland even though it was for short periods of time only.

I would be pleased to hear from anyone that knew my father as a boy. Thanks.

Rosin Boylan      Roisin.boylan@follettstock.co.uk

GOOD LUCK TO THE LADS ON SUNDAY IN THE FINAL

hello to all in ballinacree. i'm caroline walsh,one of the many walshes that lived in the cottage next door to lords shop. youll probably remember better brendan, in the wheelchair,kevin,geraldine,pat,cathy,now cadden,me and last but not least cyril, my younger brother.after many years in manchester,i returned to dublin where i still live with my 3 daughters. im a self employed beautician and down home regularly to visit my mum,sadie, now fitzsimons,dromone.dont recognise ballinacree or many in it now but have taken my kids to show them where i got my brains and my old home.i was the last child born in that house. has anyone ever organised a school reunion?i left after my grandmother died in 1978.i was 14yrs old and was in master concannons class with mary blake, geraldine cullen, angela manley, enda coyle, dermot and declan clarke, patrick collins george plunkett. do any of you still live around? id love to catch up. best wishes to anyone who knows me. kep up the great work, ballinacree looks well.   cwalshtony@yahoo.co.uk

Dear Ballinacree Historical Society,
My name is Dwayne O’Neill from Canada and I noticed your internet site for Ballinacree and was impressed with its content.  My great-grandfather was Richard Lord (father was Patrick Lord) who was born in 1847 and married Elizabeth Hopson in 1872 in Oldcastle, Co. Meath, Ireland.He was from Bobsgrove, Mountnuggent at the time of his marriage. I’m wondering if you may have some information on the Lord Family from this area or know of any people that may have similar interested in the Lord Family history.
Best Regards,
Dwayne O’Neill
Sarnia, Ontario, Canada  oneill@ebtech.net

I would like to ask if anybody has a list of people buried in Old Killeagh Cemetery?  My grt-grandfather Philip Coyle, his wife Anne (nee Cleary) and his grandson Philip were buried in the cemetery and although I visited the cemetery recently the headstones were almost unreadable and so could not find my ancestors grave.  Anne Cleary was from the townland of Wooddown, Mullingar and any information would be much appreciated.
Kind regards
June Oates (nee Coyle)  june.oates@ntlworld.com 

"The venues are intimate ... the atmosphere is excellent..." Tony Clayton-Lea (The Irish Times)

Tuesday 1st August
Poetry reading with Medbh McGuckian & launch of Pip Sides Photo exhibition - 8:30pm Oldcastle Library - admission free

Wednesday 2nd August
Jazz with Resistance Trio at The Boolies - Tickets €12, Doors Open 9:00pm

Thursday 3rd August
Theatre: Greenstick Boy by Maggie Cronin The Red Room Caffreys - Tickets €10, Euro 8:30sharp

Friday 4th August
Street entertainment - The Square, Oldcastle From 7pm
Republic of Loose, [LOST], The Spikes at Creans - Tickets €22, Doors Open 8:30 pm
Ronnie Drew & Eleanor Shanley at The Onyx, Oldcastle House Hotel - Tickets €20, Doors Open 8:30 pm

Comedy with Joe Rooney and Special Guest: Fred Cooke - Tickets €10, Doors Open 8:30 pm

Saturday 5th August
Saturday afternoon 2-6pm - Family day at Loughcrew Gardens with young writers workshop (10-13) with award-winning children's author John Quinn; Rangoli (Indian Sand-drawing) with Shyamala Sathiaseelan for 7-11 year olds; Alice in Wonderland garden tour with the Moonman. admission €3 (accompanying adults free)
booking for workshops through festival box office.
Art Exhibition Loughcrew gardens open all day
Director, Delorentos, The Marshals at Creans - Tickets €16, Doors Open 8:30 pm
Samba and street entertainment - The Square, Oldcastle From 8pm
Death Disco with DJ BP Fallon plus Sickboy, Subzero & Straglers at The Onyx, Oldcastle House Hotel - Tickets €12, Doors Open 8:00 pm

Funny Girls Featuring Ann Gildea, Sue Collins and Pom Boyd - Tickets €10, Doors Open 8:30 pm

Sunday 6th August
The Blizzards, The Immediate, Staccato at Creans - Tickets €16, Doors Open 8:30 pm
Roesy, Fiona Melady at The Onyx, Oldcastle House Hotel - Tickets €16, Doors Open 8:30 pm
Comedy line-up including PJ Gallagher, The Funny Girls & Joe Rooney. The Red Room @ Caffreys - Tickets €15, Doors Open 8:30 pm
Walk and talk at Loughcrew Megalithic Cairns 3pm
Art Exhibition Loughcrew gardens open all day
5-6pm guided tour of Loughcrew Gardens
Fireworks display at Oldcastle House Hotel Grounds 10pm
An Evening of Gospel Music with The Boardsmill Gospel Choir St Brides Church, Oldcastle 8:30pm (Proceeds to ISPCC)
PJ Gallagher, Star of RTE's 'Naked Camera' with Special Guest: Bernard O' Shea ('The Liffey Laughs') - Tickets €15, Doors Open 8:30 pm

Monday 7th August
Cowboy X, Weapons Inspectors, The Inventors of French, The Cherries and guests at Cantys - Monday night (Proceeds to ISPCC)

Tickets, times, venues and other updates at www.lecheile.com - Check out http://www.myspace.com/lecheile   culturegap@eircom.net
Tel 087-6370034 - Le Cheile 2006 supported by Meath County Council Arts Office and Oldcastle House Hotel

hi
I filled in the guest book some time ago to try and trace my family so far I have that James Murphy worked on a farm in ballinacree and as did his son peter.  peter married Mary Jane McClelland and it would appear she was the daughter of a farmer in that area his name was Hugh McClelland some times spelt McClellan his wife may have been jean I thinly the children's names were Mary Hugh Archibald in the parish of drumaheglis it lists James Murphy renter of house from William Moore it may be of interest that the above peter won the Glasgow corporation medal for bravery and if any relations are out there I will send photo the names of peters children were Mary /Elizabeth /Hugh/peter/ (all born Scotland).

This is all I have after six years can any one help
Peter Murphy   peter_murphy@blueyonder.co.uk

I am looking for any information pertaining to Matthew McCann (1768-1835),his family Patrick (1799-1875, Thomas (1801-1881), Mary (1805-1880) and Matthew (1809-1883).  The article by Stephen Gammells account of Killeagh Cemetery was impressing. Would it be possible for him to e-mail me a copy of the list of headstones in the cemetery. I will pay any necessary fee.
Eugene McCann genemc2000@yahoo.com

Dominick Fitzpatrick born 1877 Mount Prospect, Cavan his parents Michael Fitzpatrick and Ann Tuite 1849 from Fennor, Oldcastle in 1874 at Oldcastle.  They lived at Mount Prospect before moving to the Tuite family farm in Fennor, Oldcastle c1915.  Ann Tuites Twin Rose married Patrick Grace also in Oldcastle.  Dominick Fitzpatricks sister Rose married into the Gilsenan family from Mount Nugent, Cavan.The Gilsenan family also moved to fennor, it would be great to hear from any of the family. 
Regards David C Fitzpatrick dfbowling@yahoo.co.uk

Attached are 2 photos:  Dominick Fitzpatrick and his family 1910 in Dumbarton, Scotland after he moved from Mount Prospect and Fennor and the other one is a family tree photo

Hello Balinacree Historical Society. What a find!

Although my father came from (guess where), it was only last year that I made my very first visit to Ireland. This was on a familiarisation trip courtesy of the Irish Tourist Board. On one of our trips out we visited Gardens near Old Castle. Realising that this is a place name that my father had mentioned, I asked our guide if he knew of Balinacree, to be told, yes its only two miles away! Unfortunately we weren’t able to visit but at least I now know where Balinacree is. I have made casual enquiries in the past and tried to find you on maps but had no success. Dad died in 1990 and we often talked about a visit to Ireland but unfortunately it never happened. Our guide and comes from Navan, said he would make enquiries about my family connection with Balinacree and made contact with Oliver Balfe who said he would like to hear from me. Unfortunately Peter didn’t give me any contact details for Oliver even though I E mailed him back for this information on several occasions. Anyway, not to be deterred, I wrote to Oliver but was only able to put Oliver Balfe, Balinacree County Meath hoping that it may just by chance reach him. I think I posted the letter just after Christmas but so far haven’t heard back.

Anyway, as you may have guessed Dads name was Balfe (Bernard). He was born in 1918 and was from a family of 6 Children. I have a tape on which he narrated some of his childhood years in Balinacree and his first job in Kinaloch. Dad moved to England looking for work just after the war and settled here, first getting a job as a bus driver in Coventry (which he didn’t like) but moved on to greater things ending up as production manager at Jaguar. I believe that most of his brothers and sisters (my aunts and uncles) also moved to England in the late 40s and early 50s.

 Due to family circumstances, which are long and complicated (aren’t they always), I didn’t see dad from when I was 7 years old until I was  ??? years old! But when we did meet again after all this time we got on very well. Anyway, very sorry to waffle on so much but I suppose it’s the excitement of finding your web site and a link to my roots! If anyone there can help with anymore information on the Balfe connection I would be very grateful. 

Very best regards
Tony Wright (formerly Balfe - Wright is an adoptive name)  tonybwright@tiscali.co.uk

Greetings from Scotland.
Can you help me my relation James Murphy came from ballincree i believe as he was the witness of the marriage of his son peter to marry Jane Mclelland in 1861 at the ballymoney registrars office.  The address for James Murphy was given just as the ballinacree in the parish of ballymoney and Hugh Mclelland in the bendcooragh can you help.
Thank you peter Murphy (a point the couple peter and Mary Jane came to Glasgow after the wedding in 1861 and had four children and we are still here for our sins. 
Peter Murphy, Scotland   peter_murphy@blueyonder.co.uk

Hello to everyone in Ballinacree, 
Joanne, Dawn and Dorothy Hussey here in New York. We were just checking out the web site and thought we would drop you a line. We hope you are all keeping well. We are all doing fine over here, working away! We would like to wish you all a belated Happy St. Patricks Day. We hope you all enjoyed the day. Take of yourselves. Hope to see you all over the summer. 

Dorothy Hussey    Dorothyhussey@yahoo.com.

Dear sir
am trying to find out details of my grandma Mary anne caldwell (Nee Murray) died july 1973 she lived in cummerstown collinstown co westmeath.  Also to find information on John Kelly and wife Jane (Nee Robinson) lived in sweetmount ave Dublin hope you maybe able to help.
My best wishes to you.
J D KELLY  james@donkelly.freeserve.co.uk

Dear Friends
I am trying to locate the manufacturer of the black shawls worn by the women street sellers of the 1900's in Cork. Also, the colourful plaids and speckled ones worn by travelling women.  All the factories here have closed down and nobody seems to know.  I'm locating all woollen mills from the historical sites on the web and hhope you can assist.  The Moore St., and all poor people in Itreland wore these shawls.  i am doing a Folklore project in UCC, and would appreciate your help for my essay.
Sincerely Treasa Healy   ntreasahealy@eircom.net

Good Afternoon To You All
I was just playing around the Meath historical sites when I found your site.  

What a pleasure it was to see Sean McCabe in the photograph. Sean has been very helpful to me while I was researching my recently self published novel "Kate's Journey". Sean along with Joe Moynagh gets a mention in the introduction. 

Sean knows all about the book and has read the Irish section for me. Plenty of red ink in the first draft and many changes later the book is about ready to launch in Ireland. 

I will be in Oldcastle and environs in May when I intend to launch "Kate's Journey". No firm date as still waiting for the proof from the Dublin printer who assures me all will be in readiness. 

As soon as I am able to set some dates I will send more information and images of the book.

Sincerely Graham Wilson  g.wilson@bigpond.net.au