I have never smuggled anything over borders before or since and I was extremely nervous, but our car was not searched on the way over. The return trip was a different matter. Continue reading
Filed under Australian-Irish history …
The Elusive Fenian
While his comrades John Devoy, John Boyle O’Reilly, and Michael Davitt achieved international renown over decades, Cody was so shadowy that historians lost track of him after the celebrated Catalpa rescue of 1876. Continue reading
Ghosts of Irish Australia: Mary Kirwan
My name is Mary Kirwan, from Wexford, Ireland. Hello to my newly-found descendants in South Australia. I would never have guessed that tragedy in my daughter’s early married life would have resulted in my DNA ending up at the bottom of the world. Continue reading
Assisted Irish Migrants to New South Wales in the 19th century
Was the period between 1840 and 1869 the one when the influence of the Irish, at least, numerically, was strongest in colonial Australia? How do we account for the fluctuations? Continue reading
The Magic of DNA: two stories
It was deeply emotional for me to be able to tell Judy the name of her father, something she had longed for all her life. I emailed a photograph, not being able to imagine the emotion of seeing a photograph of your father for the very first time. Continue reading
Bernadette Thakur Award-Winning Book
While there is good storytelling throughout the book, in relating the story of the Hayes family, the author showed real strength and artistry with the storytelling from her research. Continue reading
What’s in the name ‘Sheila’? new research
According to Diarmaid Ó Muirithe, the name Sheila derives from Cecily, ‘the English form of the Latin name of the…virgin martyr St Cecilia…The Anglo-Normans brought the name to Ireland and in time it became in the Irish language Síle.. Continue reading
Ghosts of Irish Australia. Bridget Gorman
Stood up at the altar, assisted migrant from Thurles, Bridget Gorman became the matriarch of a large and successful Irish Australian family. Continue reading
The Nation writers emigrate to Melbourne
It is a remarkable fact that three writers associated with The Nation newspaper emigrated to Melbourne in the mid-1850s: Edward Hayes, Charles Gavan Duffy and Gerald Henry Supple. Professionally diverse, they shared a deep love of poetry and song. Continue reading
My Irish Story
From Limerick and Wicklow, now with a street named after a member of the family. Continue reading
Tinteán 