GUESTBOOK 2009

To send us your messages for all you have to do is email your greeting, name and where your from to: ballinacree2008@eircom.net
We would love to hear from you.

DATE	26 September 2009
SUBJECT	Bobsgrove
MESSAGE	Hello,my great Aunt,Louisa Hepenstal,lived at Ballinascarry House and in the troubles in the 1920's,she escaped across the fields with her maid, to Bobsgrove to Lady Nugent's(as told by Mrs Hirschberg to an old lady,who recently died.)She relayed the story to my cousin when she was visiting Ireland. I wondered if there are any pictures of Bobsgrove. Hoping that you can help. Peggy Ashby, Australia Email: ashp@chariot.net.au
DATE	24 September 2009
SUBJECT
MESSAGE	good afternoon i am trying to trace my gt grandfather henry joseph mcginn born 5th june 1896 i have found an entry on your web page for a michael mcginn who is trying to trace the same person but his email address is no longer active. do you have an alternative contact for him please charlotte harrison-dreghorn nee mcginn Email: mediclotte35@yahoo.co.uk
DATE	9 September 2009
SUBJECT	Browne Family from County Meath
MESSAGE	My name is Sharyn Cannon. My maiden name is Broadbin but my grandmothers maiden name was Margaret Browne . I happened to have seen some old postings on the Balinacree website. I am trying to find out information about my family. My grandmothers name was Margaret ( Madge) Browne Broadbin. She was born in County Meath. Came to America as a teenager --settled first in Bronx, NY and then in Conn, married and she had 2 children Leo and Joan. My Dad's name was Leo. I know her Dad's name was James. In the postings on the Balinacree website I have read some information about Bea, Nell and Luke and Peter and Win ( who I believe were my grandmother's siblings) but in Lukes diary that is on the website there is no mention of my grandmother so I am not sure if I have the right family. Perhaps she was from another marriage? If I do have the right family I was wondering if you have any information as to how they are related and any information about my great grandfather James. Unfortunately my grandmother died years ago and I did not write anything down that she shared about her family. My died passed on as well so I looking to find out more information. Thanks Sharyn Cannon Email: shcannon@aol.com
DATE	7 September 2009
SUBJECT	John Kearney
MESSAGE	Good afternoon, I wonder of you or any of your members have any information on John ‘Jack’ Kearney, a soldier in the Irish Army from Oldcastle. His granddaughter has recruited me to find out more about him. He married Elizabeth Daly of Kildare Town (born 1925) where he later ran a bicycle shop. He also owned holiday homes in Curracloe Co Wexford. With best wishes Turtle Email: turtle@turtlebunbury.com
DATE	21 August 2009
SUBJECT	Ballinacree
MESSAGE	A big thank you to all involved in the Ballinacree Historic Society, I have enjoyed all the photos and the guest book, lots of familiar names all the way through. I can’t claim much connection to Ballinacree only the graves of a great number of our loved ones draw us there; we belonged to Mountnugent and the old Garrysallagh NS . I wonder if there are any school photos of our time still around if so please can you put them on your web site. The period of most interest to us would be 1945-1960. Ross school has some so hopefully there are still a few surviving of our little group. The article written by Vincent Coyle was a joy to read, what a talent he has of telling it the way it was, I can relate to so much of what he has written and could add a lot more memories like going off in the early morning to pick mushrooms long before the tunnels were introduced, you could travel over ditches and hedges through many different farms and no word of trespassing then. We had great fun meeting up with more and more children as we went along and racing each other if we spotted a cluster, but you had to be out while the dew was on the grass or all you would find were stalks left behind by the early birds. We would play skittles on Ned’s crossroad and no danger of being run over; try that now if you dare? The lake was our favourite place for gathering and taking a dip, not a swimmer among the lot of us, the water was fresh and clean then. We lit a fire at the lake shore to boil our eggs on Easter Sunday, climate change seems to have put paid to that custom. It wasn’t all fun and games, we had our tasks to complete before we were allowed our freedom, child labour began as soon as we could carry a bucket or yoke the ass to head for Ross bog but as Vincent says wasn’t the tea worth the trip. The journey to Mass was another adventure where we met up with the Ross wans and were told to wait back after the 11oclock for catechism that brought great rivalry as we pitted our wits against the opponents, it was important not to let your school down. The football championship was another time to have a go at them; the teasing was some crack when the two counties were playing against each other. Hope some one will help me out here and get Garrysallagh School included, I know most of us emigrated and lost touch but isn’t this a great opportunity to catch up. You can’t all be shy .All the best to your Society. Regards from Mary Collins and all my sisters and brothers (Masterson) Seamus Collins Email: seamusacollins@hotmail.com
DATE	3 July 2009
SUBJECT	GG Grandfather
MESSAGE	Fr. Devine Looking for any information you can give me on Hugh Kenny. Born 03/24/1797 Parish of Oldcastle, Co. Meath . Father name Patrick? Mother name, where the lived etc. Thank you Bob Kenny Email: bob.kenny@hotmail.com
DATE	18 May 2009
SUBJECT	Canada
MESSAGE	Hello Ballinacree, congratulations on your new football field and clubhouse. The entire Plunkett family were there for the official opening on Easter Saturday, Anne from Canada, Marian from Australia, Margaret from England together with Mother Bridie, brothers, Pat, Joseph and George and all the nieces and nephews. What a great job. Keep up the excellent work. Anne in Canada Email: dbrumley@shaw.ca
DATE	18 March 2009
SUBJECT	Loughcrew House
MESSAGE	From Ken Ryan, 70 Raheny Park, Dublin 5 Tel 01-831 4995 Email: kensryan@eircom.net Dear members of Ballinacree Society. I came across your web page when browsing Oldcastle. My reason for doing so was to find out more about the background of the second wife of my grandfather’s elder brother. She was Jenny Booker, daughter of Thomas or Nathaniel Booker and Lucy Castre. Lucy, who was born in Wolverhampton, came to work in the household of Captain Napier of Loughcrew Estate in the 1870’s. She later married Thomas Booker, who also worked on the estate as a harness maker. If you have any information about the above or could direct me to a suitable source, I would be very grateful. Does the row of terraced cottages, that once housed the harness maker, the blacksmith and estate electrician still exist? I am a member of the Raheny Heritage Society. Best wishes Ken Ryan
DATE	31 Jan 2009
SUBJECT
MESSAGE	Hello, It was great to come across your website, and I have been really grateful as it has helped me to contact cousins of my father that I did not even know existed. We have exchanged family photos and stories which has been lovely for all of us. My father, William Alldritt was the son of Ellen Gaffney. Ellen's family came from the Mount Nugent and Oldcastle areas, her father was James Gaffney and mother was Bridget Farrelly. Her brother Matthew Gaffney was a blacksmith in Oldcastle and another brother, James, worked on the shores of Loch Sheelin. There are surnames in my family tree that are also in school photos on your website. I would love to hear from anyone with connections to Gaffney, Farrelly, Farrell, or Caffrey. Thanks for your interesting website. Karen Alldritt karen.alldritt@sky.com Manchester
DATE	12 Jan 2009
SUBJECT	Gaffney Drowning
MESSAGE	Hi there, Does anyone know the first name and Townland of : Gaffney, aged 78, drowned in Lough Sheelin on 1st December 1826. Also any information about Paddy Maguire, also drowned in Lough Sheelin in September 1838. His widow, Margaret (Peggy) Cullen married my GreatGrandfather, Charles Gaffney from Conleen Townland, on the 10th February 1841at Kilbride, Co.Cavan. I would be most grateful for any help or advice about these people. Thanking you, Regards, Vinny vinnysheridan@yahoo.co.uk Blackpool. UK.