County Carlow-Ireland

I had a wonderful opportunity to return to Ireland in December,1999. This trip was to be a very short one but also proved to be a very profitable one in genealogical research.

I arrived the morning of December 2, 1999 and after the 7 hour flight went to the National Archieves to prove some information.

This place never ceases to amaze me. Housed here is a wealth of information and genealogists that are always willing to help your search.

Jet lag started to claim me after doing some book shopping and visiting Trinity College. I made my way to lunch with friends in Finglass at 2. I almost feel asleep on the bus and would have missed my stop if not for a kind soul on the bus.

After some sleep, Friday we were off to Co. Carlow where I called cousin John Keogh at the Institute of Technology. He sounded great and I thank him for all his pre trip help. We weren't able to connect this time but surely will meet again some time.

Hidden away in Carlow I finally found Mary Moore and the Co. Carlow Genealogy Project. Her massive under taking is to index all parish records from every parish in Co. Carlow and enter them into a searchable database. Her office is hidden away on College Street in Carlow (503-30850) and they want to keep it that way for awhile.

What fun talking to the girls that learn clerical skills as they plug in the information. I had fun talking to them and telling them about the importance of what they were doing for genealogy researchers as myself. They wanted to know about the "Jerry Springer Show". As my daughter, Katie (19) had gone to Chicago this fall, I got to tell them that the whole thing was staged and that we were not all crazy AMERICANS. It's no wonder that's what they think when all they get is our trashy TV. They were delightful.

PAYDIRT!!!

I contacted Mary prior to arriving in Carlow to give her time to do a little research. Mary found the marriage record of our Patrick and Bridget Kehoe and the baptism of TWO of their daughters; Anne and Margaret. And now we had the CHURCH. St. Lazerian's in Leighlinbridge. We did not know anything about Anne. It was quite a find. Cost 40 pounds or about $55.00USA WONDERFUL FIND!

Co. Carlow has 14 parishes and Kilkenny has 27. Mary thought we might want to check the Rothe House, in Kilkenny, where all the Kilkenny Records are held, on Parliment Street (056-22893)

So off Paul and I went to Leighlinbridge to find the church and cemetary.

What a find! At the corner of the church and town, this beautiful St. Bernard guarded the street. Funny how there are many Kehoe's buried in St. Bernard's cemetary in Wisconsin. So many similiarities.

We found the church and chatted to a parisioner who directed us to the priest's house. After the priest finished dinner we met at the church and he was back in a room with vaults. This is where the records are kept. The information from Mary had the volumn number and record number. The priest found the girls birth record but couldn't find the marriage record. It was indexed wrong. We went line by line and finally did find it. We were able to make copies and I left the priest 40 pounds or about $55.00 US for his time and help.

On the side of the church is this memorial to Parish Priest Patrick Kehoe. What do you think the connection is? I wish I knew. He most likely was at this church when my Patrick Kehoe married Bridget Byrne November 22, 1820. I would love to piece this together.

He did direct us to the cemetary that was most likely to have the tomb stones of Kehoe's or Byrnes at Tullow.

Then it was off to Kilkenny to join PMPA-AXA for their Christmas party. What fun to finally meet all the wonderful people, I have spoken with on the phone the last two summers. They were delightful.

"True Irish Time"

Cocktails were to start at 7:30, so we all met in the pub for drinks until our group was called. At 9:30 we were served hot mulled wine punch that was wonderful. Dinner was to start around 8 and about 10:30, soup was served. I dined on vegs, salmon, spuds and wonderful Christmas Pudding with Brandy Sauce.

I had my first experience with "Irish Crackers". What fun to see a room of 200 adults enjoying themselves popping the crackers, wearing funny hats, blowing on horns, adorning themselves with confetti and sharing the silliest of jokes from the prizes inside.

[Party]

After dinner the dancing began and I bowed out at about 1:30am. Others partied on until 4:30 or so. I dont know how they did it.

I slept until 9am and felt great. The others joining us for breakfast, rolled in bit by bit.

Shopping was the order of the day as the group of us went to Kilkenny and wandered into antique stores and jewelry stores. I found Crackers at Dunnes and picked up odds and ends at the grocery store. What fun!

After a light lunch it was off to Kilkenny Castle for the last tour of the day. Pictures were not allowed and I can only tell you that it is a sight not to be missed. They are restoring the Castle as best they can to it's original grandure, by trying to repurchase all items sold at auction in the mid 1900's. Brian C. was an exceptional tour guide and we had so much fun.

Out to dinner in a "French-Greek" resturant that was definately a bit Irish too. What fun! The group was down to around 11 and it was a grand time. We went to a pub for just "one" and it was packed. The "older" crowd went back to the hotel lobby for nite caps and we sat there for hours enjoying the activities of the lobby. There was a wedding going on complete with pipers and another "grand party" like the one we attended earlier.

The next day it was hard to believe but up and out and off to the airport for the return flight home.

It was a wonderful trip. I met some wonderful people and definately want to continue those relationships. I left for home and it was back to reality. What a wonderful trip.

Thanks Mo Gra'!

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Last updated: January 30, 2000