THE COTTAGE

I traveled to Ireland in April 2001 with the mission to find the cottage.  From the letters, I knew Knocknalomon was between Rathmore, County Kerry and Millstreet, County Cork.  My partner, Jim, and I started from Kilkenny by car and drove to Millstreet.  The woman at the Post Office was helpful and directed us to a gas station along the road to Rathmore, about halfway between.  Once there, we asked the young girl working there if she knew of Knocknalomon and she did not.  But another customer overheard our conversation and directed us up the dirt road that led from the gas station toward the mountains about 3-4 km.

We spotted the cottage after a few minutes' drive.  It was next to a home and a barn with a dairy operation.  I went to the house and met Molly Sullivan.  She told me a man living in Tacoma, Washington owns the cottage and it turns out he is my second cousin.  Ms. Sullivan fondly remembered my great grandmother, Jude Suggrue.

Ms. Sullivan eagerly showed us the Cottage.  Downstairs was a kitchen area, living room, and a bedroom.  I imagined my grandmother reading and writing so many of her letters here.  The half-split door that my Aunt Nancy remembered was no longer there.   Upstairs were two bedrooms, each with a fireplace as well.

The Fireplace downstairs

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