Just home from Ireland .....

Cathy · Post by **Cathy** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 10:09 pm

Hello All,
just back from Ireland, so some quick details.
Arrived Monday. Too late to do anything.
Tuesday, went to Magilligan Point. (Poor Record from Mitchell states GGF
Henry Park was from Magilligan).
Drive up past big Prison and through Army Training fields, yes, live bullets going off. Arrive at glorious, empty beach. Went to only pub for lunch. Tried to engage with barman, but he obviously didn't want to be there, and neither did the barmaid.
On leaving, at the end of the road, there is a teaching centre for local schools, so popped in to enquire about where local records were kept.
The staff of four were brilliant. Invited us in, brought out old maps, Griffiths thingy,(there on first page MY Bernard Parke, father of Henry). This was too much of a coincidence for me, so I kind of poo-pooed it, as I couldn't prove it at this stage. They also got out the local phone book, and photo-copied all the Park and variations for me, and suggested where we should find other details.
Headed for the Giants Causeway. Beware the £5 all day parking fee.
There is nowhere else to park, double yellows are far as the eye can see.
It is free to clamber the stones and well worth a visit, but I'd rather have paid entrance, when no-one is going to spend all day there on a blustery
October. There is a bus inside (£1.80 return) if you don't fancy the
10-15 minute walk. This
was worth it for the blarney of the driver alone.

Wednesday we headed off for Derry, found the Genealogy Centre, handed over £40 and were told 2-3 week wait.
Walked the walls of Derry (the wrong way for me, all uphill, passing all coming downhill). Seeing some of the things you only ever see on telly can be a bit strange, all too political for me.
Found the Library, and they have a small Genealogy section, and loads of old maps. Could have spent days here (but put me anywhere near books and thats how I am).

Thursday decided to go back to Magilligan, and find St. Aiden's Well.
Well, well, well. Happy Birthday to me. I'm snapping away, and up drives the priest. He's come to deliver some pamphlets.
I politely ask if he keeps Old Parish Registers.
"Follow me" he says. So we drive after him to his abode, and out he comes with two books. He doesn't recognise the name Park, but starts looking and they're jumping off pages. You couldn't make it up.
Yes my people existed in the area, but the place is known as Tircrevan.
He photo-copied several for me, and a death I found for a Bernard Park.
I haven't yet worked out which one he is, but I know he's mine.
Feeling that we'd taken up enough of his time, we decided to head back to the church graveyard. The priest had offered if we were coming back tomorrow, to show us around, as the old lairs weren't marked.
The ruins of the original church are on the site.
The first gravestone we see is James Park! We believe this is a brother to Bernard. We didn't find a stone for Bernard, but I believe he is in this cemetery, along with other Parks.
Friday, and here I am. Picked up the post from the doormat, and my
2-3 week £40 report is in the pile. It got here before me!
The reseacher had access to the OPR belonging to St. Aiden's. He sent a copy of the 1831 census with Bernard Park, and possible bonus- a Patrick Cunning.
Since beginning my research, I had Bernard's wife as Mary Cunningham.
All the children's births name her as Mary Cunning.
I will be going back there at some point. May be months, may be years away, but I will go back.
I am going to try and scan some info and photos for anyone interested.

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 10:26 pm

Hi Cathy
Sounds like you had a great trip with quite a few brilliant finds and it looks like you have made some real progress - really pleased for you!

best wishes
Lesley

Post by **emanday** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 10:39 pm

Cathy, your post has been a real incentive for me. I've been giving a fair bit of thought to a trip to Ireland, mainly in and around the Belfast area for one line and Londonderry for another.

I think I will be seriously starting to make more definite plans now.

With Irish online records being a bit difficult to work through, and also a bit expensive, I'm beginning to think a concerted effort "on site" so to speak, is my best option.

But then, there is also my need to visit Glasgow and Edinburgh as well

Travel agent here I come!

Cathy · Post by **Cathy** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 11:27 pm

Hi Lesley and Mary,
It really was unreal bumping into the priest.
Mary, I'd say Ireland first. I was fortunate that Magilligan was named on a Poor Record. But like everything else, it could have been a false lead, and the place was actually called something else.
With Glasgow and Edinburgh, at least you know WHERE the records are.

Post by **emanday** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 11:52 pm

You know what, Cathy? I hadn't thought about it in those terms. You're right, of course.

I already have a list, (ever growing), for the Scottish rellies and, as you say, I know where the records are, or are most likely to be.

The Irish rellies WILL be more of a challenge and will likely require a fair bit of moving around. At the moment I have only one definite place, Carnmoney in Antrim, which I know could be helpful, thanks to a very nice lady vicar I emailed. The rest will be - Well! Phew! Who knows!?

Thanks

IanS · Post by **IanS** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 12:50 am

Hi Cathy, I'm absolutely delighted for you. A brilliant trip. You're just meant to go back

pinkshoes · Post by **pinkshoes** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 3:44 pm

Cathy wrote:Hello All,
there on first page MY Bernard Parke, father of Henry).

Well, well, well. Happy Birthday to me. I'm snapping away, and up drives the priest. So we drive after him to his abode, and out he comes with two books. He doesn't recognise the name Park, but starts looking and they're jumping off pages. You couldn't make it up.

Yes my people existed in the area, but the place is known as Tircrevan.
He photo-copied several for me, and a death I found for a Bernard Park.
I haven't yet worked out which one he is, but I know he's mine.

The ruins of the original church are on the site.
The first gravestone we see is James Park! We believe this is a brother to Bernard. We didn't find a stone for Bernard, but I believe he is in this cemetery, along with other Parks.

Friday, and here I am. Picked up the post from the doormat, and my
2-3 week £40 report is in the pile. It got here before me!
The reseacher had access to the OPR belonging to St. Aiden's, but has named only two children, when we found at least four. He sent a copy of the 1831 census with Bernard Park, and possible bonus- a Patrick Cunning.

You're absolutely right Cathy - you couldn't make it up

Now which of your ancestors was orchestrating that little trip, I wonder

Congratulations on a really successful visit!!

Best wishes
Pinkshoes

Post by **marilyn morning** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 4:34 pm

Headed for the Giants Causeway. Beware the £5 all day parking fee.
There is nowhere else to park, double yellows are far as the eye can see.
It is free to clamber the stones and well worth a visit, but I'd rather have paid entrance, when no-one is going to spend all day there on a blustery
October. There is a bus inside (£1.80 return) if you don't fancy the
10-15 minute walk. This
was worth it for the blarney of the driver alone.

Cathy, did anyone snap a photo of your face when the priest drove up and showed you the OPR's?

Please share any other information about the giant causeway, my 6 x great grand father, Adam Mornin was the first settler of Bengore, according to THE TALE OF ADAM MORNIN OF AIRD .

THE FIRST SETTLER OF BENGORE .

This interesting story is reprinted from the rare volume of Dr. Hamilton’s letters , a book which did much ( in 1784 ) to make The Giants Causeway known to the world . Portrush , August 13th 1784 .

I have a copy of the book (not the rare one, but my 4th cousin owns one)
and perhaps I'll post the story on another thread.

Regards
Marilyn

sheilajim · Post by **sheilajim** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 8:37 pm

Hi Cathy

What a great trip!

Your post was an enjoyable read.
Glad that you got lucky.
I know how difficult those Irish ancestors are.

Regards

Sheila

Cathy · Post by **Cathy** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 9:24 pm

Thank you all for replies.
I have pics of the Giants Causeway. But as usual don't know what I'm doing with them.
Have got them on screen from camera, don't know how to get them to Gallery.
I have scanned some documents. I think first one got off okay, but now have a message telling me I'm out of space. Where's the teenager when I need her?

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Just home from Ireland .....

Just home from Ireland .....

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