October 1, 1995                        Irish and Scottish Newsletter 


QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:

Q. With regard to Scottish research, what is the difference between a regular and Irregular
marriage?

A.  "Discovering Your Scottish Roots"   by Alwyn James published by Clarke, Irwin ISBN
0-7720-1400-0 states that an irregular marriage was a civil rather than church marriage, very
common and quite respectable.


Q.  Of what use are the Tithe Applotments in researching

A.  Since only the head of the household is listed  in the TA's, they really aren't going to tell you
much EXCEPT that you know the family was there in that time period.  Take a look at Griffiths'
Valuations to determine who the landowner was where your family lived.  THEN go to Hayes
Manuscript sources for the history of the  Irish Civilization, under Vols 5 & 6 on LDS film #1440941
and look at estate records.  See if you can locate a set of estate records for that landowner.  If you
can, they are marvelous records! 


Q.  How do I find list of County newspapers? I need Galway, Leitrim and Limerick.

A.  Irish Genealogy, A Record Finder edited by Donal Begley Heraldic Artists, Ltd., Genealogy
Bookshop, Nassau St., Dublin 2, Ireland has an excellent list of County newspapers.


Q. How do I find records on County Cork?

A. Write to: Martina Adherne, Parish Center, 27/28 Bank Place, Mallow, Co. Cork, Ire.  Most of the
records for Co. Cork have been computerized.


Q. Is there a listing of Heritage Centers in Ire?  Interested in Galway.

A. Write to: East Galway Family History Society Co., LTD., Woodford Heritage Center, Woodford,
Co. Galway, Ire. OR Galway West, Co. Galway Family History Society, Unit 3, Venture Centre,
Lisbawn, Tuam Rd., Galway


Not too long ago, someone asked about films about Sheriffs in Ireland.  Linda found the following
film:   High Sheriffs of Counties [FHL# 0100139]


NAMES OF THE MONTH

This month the Irish surname taken from EDWARD MacLYSAGHT's book IRISH FAMILIES Their
Names, Arms & Origins, SciPrint Limited, Copyright Irish Academic Press Limited, ISBN #
0-7165-2364-7 is:

BARRY        Though not peculiar to Ireland, Barry is one of the names introduced into the country
following the Anglo-Norman invasion - like Burke, Roche, Fitzgerald, etc. - which can now be
regarded as essentially Irish.  As early as 1179 Philip de Barri obtained extensive grants of land
in Co. Cork (in the baronies of Barrymore, Orrery and Kinelea).  Philip's posterity prospered and
multiplied, and the several branches of the family formed septs somewhat in the Irish fashion, the
chief of which were the important Barry Mor, Barry Og, Barry Roe, while minor branches became
Barry Maol (bald) and Barry Laidir (strong).  The Barrys of Rathcormac, Co. Cork, adopted the
surname MacAdam, taken from one Adam Barry.  Adam being a common Christian name in
Anglo-Norman families.  The baronies of Barrymore and Baffyroe were so named from the two
most important of these septs.  The former is very large and the latter very small, due to the fact
that by Elizabethan times when the boundaries of the baronies became stabilized, the area of the
Barryroe lordship had been very much reduced.

The name, since the twelfth century, has always been principally associated with Co. Cork, and
modern statistics indicate that quite fifty per cent of the Barrys in Ireland belong to that county,
the majority of the remainder being also from the province of Munster.  In this connexion it should
be stated that there is a Gaelic surname 0 Beargha belonging to a sept which, at one time, were
lords of a territory in the barony of Kenry, Co. Limerick.  Except in cases where a pedigree is
preserved, or a family tradition exists, it is not possible to be certain of the origin of the Barrys in
Co. Limerick and north Cork, but it is probable that even there many, if not most of them are of
Norman stock - though, of course, continued intermarriage with their Gaelic neighbours has made
them indistinguishable from the older race.

One of the leading descendants of Philip de Barry became Baron Barry in 1490, and his family
was advanced in the peerage as Viscount Buttevant in 1535 and Earl of Barrymore in 1627.  The
Four Masters record that in 1507, Barry Roe, accompanied by the chief men of his people, went
from Cork on a pilgrimage to Spain and that all were lost at sea on the return journey. Among the
most distinguished Irishmen of the name are two soldiers of the 1641 war - David Barry, Earl of
Barrymore (1605-1642), and Gerald Barry who was also an author of note -the former was killed
in that war and the latter outlawed and exiled to Spain.  There was a Capt.  Barry in the Irish
Brigade in France who would have been arrested for his anti-revolutionary sympathies at the time
of the French Revolution but for the fact that the letter he had written, expressing these views, 
was in the Irish language and there was no one among his captors who could translate it.  
Kevin Barry (1902-1920)  may also be included in that category for he was an active member of
the I.R.A. in the Irish War of Independence and was hanged for his part in it.

In the field of literature "Lo" (probably James) Barry (b. c. 1591) is regarded as the first Irish
dramatist; while John Milner Barry (1768-1722), Sir Samuel Barry (1696-1776) and Sir David
Barry (1780-1835), all physicians, wrote widely on medical subjects; while James Greene Barry
(1841-1931), did valuable work as a historian in his native Co. Limerick.  In art James Barry
(1741-1806), was a celebrated painter, and Sir Charles Barry (1795-1860), was the architect of
the London Houses of Parliament.  Spranger Barry (1719-1777), himself a fine actor, built
theatres in Dublin and Cork.

The most renowned of all Irish Barrys did not, like most of the foregoing, come from Co. Cork: he
was John Barry (1745-1803), who was born in Co. Waterford and is known as the "father of the
American navy". He is one of the very few individuals who have been commemorated by the
issue of an Irish postage stamp. Another who made a name in America was also born far from
Co. Cork - Belfast-born Patrick Barry (1816- 1890), leading horticultural authority in the U.S.A.
Gerald de Barri, or Barry (c. 1145-c. 1220), better known as Giraldus Cambrensis, though famous
for his commentary on twelfth century Ireland, was, of course, himself Welsh not Irish.

From Robert Bain's "The Clans and Tartans of Scotland", Fontana/Collins, Glasgow and London, 
c1968 ISBN # 0 00 411117 6

BARCLAY

CREST BADGE : Out of a chapeau azure turned ermine a hand holding a dagger, proper.

MOTTO : Ant agere aut mori (Either action or death).

The Barclays in Scotland are claimed to have descended from the Berkeleys who came to
England with William the Conqueror.  In 1165 Walter de Berkeley was Chamberlain of Scotland,
and in the I2th and I3th centuries the Berkeleys were numerous in Kincardineshire and the east
of Scotland.  The Barclays of Mathers traced their descent from Alexander, who obtained these
lands in I35I on his marriage to the sister of the Great Marischal of Scotland.  His son was the
first of the clan to spell his name Barclay.  The lands remained in the possession of the family
until David Barclay, born in 1580, was compelled for financial reasons to sell his estates.  The
chiefship passed to the descendants of James Barclay of Mill of Towie in the 19th century.

The Barclays of Urie are descended from Colonel David Barclay, who had served under
Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, and who purchased the estate of Urie in i647  Robert, his eldest
son, became the celebrated apologist of the Quakers.  In 1682 he was appointed Governor of
East Jersey, but he did not go out, although his brother John settled there.  Robert died in 1690.
Other important branches of the family were the Barclays of Collairnie in Fife, the Barclays of
Pierston, and the Barclays of Ardrossan.  The Barclays of Tolly, in Aberdeenshire, remained in
possession of the lands from the I2th till the 18th century, and from this family was descended the
famous Russian General, Field Marshal Prince Barclay de Tolly, who died in 1818.


 CONTRIBUTIONS

TAKING A TRIP TO IRELAND ?? As many of you know, my husband and I just returned from
Ireland.  Here is some helpful hints, tidbits and general information, for those of you planning
your own trip there.  We rented a Volvo, it cost IRP 21 (Irish Punts), which equaled $42.00
American to fill it up with gas.  A Big Mac was IRP 1.68 equaling $2.69 American.  

In the big cities, (Dublin, Galway etc) when crossing the streets if you look down at the road they
have painted the words " look this way" - with an arrow) for traffic.  Every where there are signs,
"sorry we no longs accept sterling" which is the British money.  The only thing we found the Irish
people adamant about was that they ARE NOT part of the British Isles.  They worked and fought
hard for their freedom, are proud of it and consider being referred to as part of the British Isles a
serious insult.

We got our best exchange rate at the Shannon Airport.  However, if you are shopping at the duty
free shop at the airport or at Blarney Woolen Mills you will get an even slightly better exchange
rate when using American money.  Keep in mind, the small towns, villages and hamlets will not
accept American money.  They really have no way to convert it.

To those of you going. I just know you'll love it as we did.  From the moment we stepped off the
plane until the moment my husband dragged me (kicking and screaming) on to the plane to leave,
we felt as if we had come home.  We felt as if we belonged and the Irish people all over were
truly glad to have us there.  To those of you who have not planned to go yet, do go if and when
you can, you'll never be sorry you did.

Joyce