Portlaw

A special welcome to Anne Balog from New Jersey, USA,  a recent visitor to this site, who located the Blog while researching her Irish ancestors. They hailed from both Brown Street and Queen Street, and emigrated from Portlaw in 1872 to work in a cotton-mill in Massachusetts. The surname was COX, and their house number in Queen Street was 6, obviously a very different house from those in Queen Street at the present time.

It’s quite possible that the Malcomson-owned business here, which more-or-less closed in 1875, was already going downhill, and the people in question decided to get out in time. It is also possible that other families emigrated from here to the same place, or to England where the cotton industry was thriving, although that location had it’s ups and downs also.

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A special welcome also to Gerry & Denise Dignan’s  group, from all over the USA, who came to Ireland this month (July 2012) on a ‘Celtic Spirituality’ tour, and whom I had the pleasure of leading on a day-trip to ancient Christian sites in the Glen of Aherlow. This was followed by a great evening of music and song in a local Portlaw house, where about six local musicians and singers entertained them for some hours.  See Gerry’s website at:

www.gerrydignan.com

In the Glen, on the same trip, I had the pleasure of meeting Robert Taylor of York, U.K., who was also visiting and photographing these ancient sites. Robert has a wonderful website devoted to Viking objects, which are sold to customers worldwide.   Why not check out his website at:

www.jelldragon.com

Then there was the lady from Belgium, whom I met in the same area, who has been holidaying in the Glen of Aherlow for the past fourteen years! Yes, there’s lots to see and do in that part of Tipperary – The Galtee mountains, ancient holy wells, churches, abbeys, other antiquities, tales of rebels, rogues, fairies and banshees, the local people, also traditional music and song. Take a look also at:

www.aherlow.com

Finally, ‘Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir’ to those local landowners and others who were most welcoming and helpful!

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The graphic at the top of this page is from a photograph taken at Clonagam, Portlaw.
Most images on this site will enlarge with a double left-click!