Breithla Shona, a chara!

Hi Gerry,

Thanks for the welcome on board.

From the little I've read of you on this site it sure seems like you have had an intriguing quest on your journey to discover your family roots. Many children given to adoption would have found themselves in exactly your same situation when they came to that age of discovery. I guess most would have chosen not to pursue the genealogy trail. As a smitten follower I imagine that you too are discovering what a vast reservoir of resources there are out there especially on the internet.

I come from the townland of Knockafubble halfway between the villages of Emyvale and Glaslough in north County Monaghan. I live about a mile as the crow flies from the Blackwater river which divides Co Monaghan from Co Tyrone and also Northern Ireland from Rep of Ireland. Glaslough is unique in that it is home to the Leslies of Castle Leslie where the marriage of Beatle Paul Mc Cartney and Heather Mills took place. Emyvale and Glaslough villages are just 3 miles apart and the Leslie estate stretches to the border as well.

What makes this neck of the woods so unique is the fact that the Leslie estate is also bordered by Tynan Abbey estate on the Northern Ireland side which is in Co Armagh and by the Caledon estate in in Co Tyrone. Three estates still in the hands of its original owners in three separate Counties, in two separate countries (politically) with two separate currencies, two separate EC member states.

As for my own family, we have resided for as far back in Knockafubble as I can find in a direct line to 1796.

 thank it not my name .. i am here learn .. some blog ... that all ..

Thanks Gerry,

Our Irish radio program . podcasts at http://skinnyhouli.com, new book, www.mikehoulihan.com/store, and planning another trip to Ireland . Hoping to see OUR IRISH COUSINS at The Galway Film Fleadh in July, praying we get in!
 God bless The Wild Geese!

Thank you for the welcome Gerry.

My mom was not a Stones fan and I'm pretty sure my dad wasn't either. I've asked her where she got my name from but she says she can't remember. :-)

Thanks for the info -looking forward to enjoying the site and the activities. John

Thank you for the welcome, Gerry!

Hi Gerry,

Thanks for the welcome to Wild Geese. In yur email you asked me about  my personal Irish history, along with my experience ferreting out the stories of others. 

I have been a professional genealogist based in Dublin since 1990. My background can be found at: www.heirsireland.com. My main area of practice is probate genealogy, locating rightful heirs in iinternational ntestate estates. I also spend a lot of time in the GRO research room in Dublin so I have extensive experience in civil registration. I have lectured on Irish genealogy in Ireland, the U.S., Canada and  the U.K. My husband and I will be speaking in Waltham, Massachusetts at Celtic Connections conference in August (15th and 16th).

I'd be happy to answer brief questions as needed.     

Hi Gerry I have picture of my father with  a Leitrim Pipe band taken about 1922 Also some information about the bandrrom a few years later 1934/35. How can I send these Pics to you John Caffrey

Hey Gerry!

Just wanted to say hello and to also say "Tis good to be back"!. Been away on business trips for several months and traveling the State is now calmed down for me. Finally time to gather my thoughts and catch up on what I have missed on TWG!

Danny

Thanks for your friendship, Gerry.

Thanks!

New title is better!

Thanks Gerry. You're my first friend. 

dia duit Gerry. buíochas a ghabháil le haghaidh add dom mar chara. ach níl mé in Éirinn. tá mé anseo a fhoghlaim go léir. go raibh maith agat

Hi Gerry:  Thanks for Joe's e-mail.  We'll see if he can help.

I'm enjoying the fact that many members live in Ireland.  When I first joined just recently I thought all the members were strictly from USA.  That's a lovely surprise.

Just reading your page from 2011.  Damien Shiels was asking about an actor who worked with John Ford, Arthur Shields.  Being a movie buff like my folks.  He was the brother of that adorable Barry Fitzgerald , who along with John Wayne and the still beautiful Maureen O'Hara filmed The Quiet Man.  I believe she lives in Idaho near her Grandson.

Gerry,

I am looking for a mainline publisher who would be willing to review my book with a view to publishing it. Any connections?

Bill Donohue

Hi Gerry, I've just joined and am trying to get a feel for The Wild Geese.I saw that you 'liked' my joining so I thought I'd start with you. I'm a journalist - one of my editors was actually a Gerry O'Regan, so it seems like I know you already! I've written four novels set in Ireland (three based around the War of Independence). I see that you gave a talk on the Christmas Truce, which tells me you like your history. I have a blog - historywithatwist.wordpress.com - which you might or might not like. I live in Greystones, Co Wicklow and am married, with four children. That's enough about me. Hope we can stay in touch. All the best, David

     Thank you Gerry for the help you are giving to the people entering the contest. I lost my blog and finely found it.  When I updated it somehow I sent it to 1999. I don't know how I did that but I guess I am out of the contest because I see it twice,although I only put it in once. I can't erase it because it will erase both of them. anyway thank you.  I also read about how you found your mother. My heart goes out to you and I pray she will change her mind. NancyUSA