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
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
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
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
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
Stood up at the altar, assisted migrant from Thurles, Bridget Gorman became the matriarch of a large and successful Irish Australian family. Continue reading
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
From Limerick and Wicklow, now with a street named after a member of the family. Continue reading
The Statement from the Heart won this year’s Australian international peace prize, the Sydney Peace Prize, from 200 nominations. Continue reading
(Ghost) Henry Fenton worked as a storekeeper for many years and built the White Flag pub which I ran for the rest of my life without even one breach of the licensing law. Continue reading
Tinteán 