November 1, 1997 Irish & Scot Newsletter Take me home to Shamrock Hill The glorious place of my birth Where the glens are green and the heather grows - Tis the prettiest place on earth - The wind blows free and the air is fresh And I still hear a rippling rill. My heart is sad, but it could be glad - Take me home to shamrock Hill. Author Unknown SURNAMES OF THE MONTH - This month the Irish surnames taken from EDWARD MacLYSAGHT's book "IRISH FAMILIES Their Names, Arms & Origins", SciPrint Limited, Copyright Irish Academic Press Limited, ISBN # 0-7165-2364-7 are: (0)COFFEY, Cowhig In Irish this name is O Cobhthaigh, pronounced O'Coffey as in it is probably derived from the word cobhthach, meaning victorious. Coffey is one of those surnames which have not resumed the prefix 0, dropped during the period of Gaelic submergence. Several distinct septs were prominent in medieval times, of which two are still well represented in their original homeland. These are O'Coffey of Corcalaoidhe in south-west Co. Cork, where local pronunciation often makes the name Cowhig or Cowhey, as in the place name Dunocowhey, called afted them. This sept is of the same stock as the O'Driscolls. A second minor sept was a branch of the O'Maddens of Ui Maine, whose descendants are found to-day in Co. Roscommon. A third, once of considerable importance but now scattered, belonged to Co. Westmeath where they were famous as a bardic family. The most distinguished of these was Dermot O'Coffey (fl. 1580), the Gaelic poet. Six other poets of this family are represented in Gaelic literature. In more recent times the Leinster Coffeys are represented by Charles Coffey (1700-1745), dramatist and actor, the first to introduce Irish airs in a play. George Coffey (1857-1916), the archaeologist, though his family has long associations with Dublin, was descended from the Munster sept. The placename Rathcoffey occurs both in Co. Kildare and Co. Leix. (Mac)COGHLAN, O'COUGHLAN, (Cohalan) There are two quite distinct septs of Coughlan, one being MacCoughlan (MacCochlain) of Offaly and the other O'Coughlan (O Cochlain) of Co. Cork who were not the same, it should be observed, as O Cathalain (anglice Cohalan and Culhane) also of that county. Down to the eighteenth century the former were far the more important of the two, but since then they have dwindled and become dispersed. MacCoughlan country comprised the modern barony of Garrycastle, Co. Offaly, where they had many strong castles in the Banagher Clonmacnois area: no less than ten of these are mentioned in the sixteenth century by the Four Masters. The head of the sept, which was by origin Dalcassian, was known as Chief of Delvin MacCoughlan (to be distinguished from Delvin or Delvin Mor in Co. Westmeath). Sir John MacCoughlan, so styled, died in 1590. They are prominent in the Annals from the twelfth century; and even after the destruction of the Gaelic order the family remained influential in their native territory for nearly two centuries. A MacCoughlan represented Banagher in the Irish Parliament of 1689 and another held the same seat in 1790. In 1665 two MacCoughlans possessed 3,400 acres in Co. Offaly. In 1828 they were still found as landlords at Cloghan, near Banagher; but fifty years later they were no longer there. The Coughlans of Co. Cork belonged to the baronies of Carbery and Ballymore where, as they are to-day, they were numerous at the time of Petty s census. Even then the prefix O had in their case already been almost entirely lost. MacCOLGAN In early mediaeval times the prefix O was found with Colgan as well as Mac. O'Dugan, who died in 1372, mentions O'Colgan as lord of a territory in the modern barony of Tirkeeran, Co. Derry. This was the homeland of one of the two distinct septs of Colgan. Later, when somewhat reduced in influence, they were erenaghs of Donaghmore in Inishowen. In the course of time these O'Colgans became MacColgans, influenced no doubt by the fact that the more important sept, located in Offaly was MacColgan. There is a reference to these in the Four Masters as early as 1212. Rev. John Colgan (d.1658), Franciscan friar, professor of theology at Louvain and author of Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae etc., was of the Tirkeeran (Derry) O'Colgan sept, but his relative a hundred years later, who was Bishop of Derry and suffered severely in the penal times, was known as John MacColgan (d.1765). MacColgan, as we know from tombstones and other records, was the usual form of the name in Counties Derry and Donegal up to the beginning of the nineteenth century. Another notable missionary prelate was Most Rev. Joseph Colgan (1824- 911), Archbishop of Madras. He came from Westmeath, not far from the ancient seat of the chiefs of his sept, which was Kilcolgan in Offaly. This sept was of the same stock as the O'Dempseys and the O'Dunnes of Leix and Offaly. The name is not common in Ireland to-day: it is found chiefly in Offaly and also to some extent in northern Ulster. This month the Scottish surnames taken from Roddy Martine's "SCOTTISH CLAN AND FAMILY NAMES Their Arms, Origins and Tartans", Mainstream Publishing, Edinburgh and London, 1992, ISBN # 1-85158-418-8 are: GRANT A main branch of the 'SiolAlpine' of which Clan Gregor is chief. The originator of the Grants is said to have been Gregor Mor MacGregor, who lived in the twelfth century in Strathspey. Sir Lawrence Grant, Sheriff of lnverness in ~63, is the first recorded ancestor, although it is believed that the family may have originated from Nottinghamshire, where their lands adjoined those of the Bissets, into which family they had married and who came north in the service of Henry of England. The Grants of Freuchie were given a knight-hood by James V and I. 1704, Sir Humphrey Colquhoun, 5th Baronet of Luss, obtained a new patent with original precedence giving remainder of his title to his son-in-law, James Grant, who subsequently became 6th Baronet. Through the marriage of Sir Ludovic Grant, 7th Baronet and both Chief of the name, to Lady Margaret Ogilvie, daughter of the Earl of Findlater, the earldom of Seafield was later acquired by the 8th Baronet. The 7th Earl was created Baron Strathspey in 1884, and when the last Earl died in 1915, the earldom devolved upon his only daughter and his brother succeeded to the Strathspey title and also the chiefship. GRAY HUGO DE GRAY is recorded in Scotland in the thirteenth century and his family are believed to have come from Normandy. The surname is now common all over Scotland, but in 1377 the lands of Fowlis passed to the Gray family. 'through marriage to a WiI daughter of the Maule family, who had received them for military services from David I. Huntly Castle at Longforgan, now incorporated into an industrial school building, was built in Adz for Lord Gray of Fowlis, Master of the Household to James Il. At one time the title passed into the earldom of Moray. Francis, last Baron, who died in Adz, was Postmaster-General for Scotland. GRIERSON THE GRIERSONS of Lag, Dumfries-shire, descend from Gilbert, second son of Malcolm, Dominus deMacGregor, who lived in the fourteenth century. Gilbert Grierson had a charter of lands in the Stewartry of Kircudbright from Princess Margaret, daughter of Robert, and widow of the 4th Earl of Douglas. IRELAND/SCOTLAND Watch in this section each month for something to do with Ireland and Scotland. Some months it may be history, others geography or anything else we happen to think is useful. We hope you enjoy the variety of information we put here. IRELAND What Was The Hanging Gale? In 1845 Ireland was an overcrowded country of over 8 million people. Most lived on the land as subsistence farmers, paying high rents to their landlords. Some landlords were fair but others, both English and Irish whether absent or living in Ireland, tried to extract the maximum rents from their beleaguered tenants. Half of all farms were under 5 acres, and the system of sub-division and sub-letting led to total dependence on the potato. Tenant farmers usually held a very short lease. The landlord was able to hold the threat of eviction over the tenant especially as the rent was payable 6 months in arrears. This system of rent in arrears was the notorious "Hanging Gale". These rental agreements were often nailed symbolically to the rafters over the heads of the tenant. In the event of eviction, tenants were forced to leave the estate. Many died on the roads. Others went to the poor-houses, badly run and debilitating institutions, where families would be separated. Irish Famine Book FAMINE BOOK IS 25th PUBLICATION FOR CASTLEBAR AUTHOR, MICHAEL MULLEN Over two-hundred people attended the official launching by the Minister for Tourism and Trade, Mr. Enda Kenny of the latest book by author Michael Mullen, "The Darkest Years" which took place at the Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar. THE publication by the Connaught Telegraph, from which the day to day Famine reportage was taken, has been dedicated to the journalists who chronicled the Great Hunger. Minister Kenny said he was delighted to be asked to launch Michael Mullen's latest book, The Darkest Years, which deals with the Famine and its effects in County Mayo. Minister Kenny stated: "Mayo, as you probably are aware, was the county most effected by the Famine. We are all too familiar with the phrase "Mayo, God Help Us". "But the Famine is nothing for us to be ashamed of. It is part of our history, and a harsh reminder of how a people can be reduced to squalor and death by a Famine. "It has been concluded that in no other Famine in the world was the proportion of people that died as large as in the Irish Famine of the 1840s. "The Famine caused untold suffering among our forefathers and released a stream of emigration that changed the face of Ireland. "In Mayo the Famine, and its repercussions, will forever be etched in the haunting, yet beautiful landscape of our county. "We are fortunate in that a number of reputable scholars have provided us with an immense amount of material on the Famine, thereby re-asserting its role in modern Irish history. "Michael Mullen's book is another contribution to that wealth of material." Minister Kenny said in the opening pages he paints a picture of life in Castlebar in the1830s, shortly before the Famine struck. The Castlebar of the pre-famine years was a densely populated, but relatively happy place. He quotes the writer Inglis as saying that the town had one good street and that there was a good demand for work. Inglis also noted that he could purchase as much poteen as he wanted for 3s and 4d per gallon! "It's probably a little more difficult - but not impossible I'm told - to procure it today!" he joked. TERRIBLE STENCH Minister Kenny said Michael Mullin vividly portrays the first signs of a potato blight and the worries of the people. He quotes the Connaught Telegraph: "Several persons, residents of Castlebar, have informed us that while digging potatoes on their gardens, they encountered a terrible stench, which after examination, the found to proceed from the putrid state of the esculents they were in the act of unearthing ..should this fearful malady spread among the crops of the rural population, dreadful indeed, must be the consequences to the poor..." The Minister added: "And dreadful they were. Michael Mullen goes on to recount the devastation and death that stalked the land for the next few years. "People began to kill and eat everything in sight - horses, donkeys, anything they could get their hands on in order to eat their flesh to survive. With hunger and death came fever, with many dying of typhus and other diseases. Westport, which heretofore had been lauded for its beauty, was now ridiculed for its filth. "The hunger continued until the early 50s when the potato blight passed, there was a level of Government intervention, and high emigration all helped to reduce the rate of death. But the toll had been huge. Two million Irish people had disappeared - one million had died from starvation and disease, and another one million had emigrated. "Things had improved by 1853, the year that gas-light arrived in Castlebar. With the gas light, as Michael Mullin points out, came hope. There was some positive effects from this scourge. For example, our President, Mary Robinson, a Mayo woman herself, described the Famine as follows: "The events which, more than any other, shaped us as a people. It defined our will to survive. It defined our sense of human vulnerability. It remains one of the strongest, most poignant links of memory and feeling that connects us to our Diaspora. It involves us still in an act of remembrance which increasingly, is neither tribal or narrow". Minister Kenny said he was particularly pleased last year when my colleague, Minister of State Avril Doyle, who has responsibility for the Famine Commemoration, travelled to Co. Mayo to announce that the National Famine Memorial is to be located under Croagh Patrick and which will be unveiled in July. John Behan's Coffin Ship was an appropriate piece of sculpture to commemorate the Famine and would be an everlasting reminder to us and the generations that come after us of the darkest chapter in modern Irish history. In her address , Minister Doyle quoted another Mayo man, the author and journalist John Healy, who pointed out the contribution made by those who were forced to emigrate, but send home money and parcels to help those at home. "The world will never know how much these scared, brave, sometimes ignorant but always loyal emigrants to the New World sent home in dollars and parcels to the old people in the old country. No one will ever know the full extent of their sacrifices and how much they kept hidden from the old people who thought that America was indeed the golden land of opportunity where the streets were truly paved with gold". "I would like to pay tribute to the author Michael Mullen on the publication of this, his twenty-fifth book, which must be a record for a Mayo man! Many of you will have read his previous books including "The Hungry Land" which is regarded a classic on the Famine era. "Writing a book takes a great deal of time and personal dedication and Michael deserves our appreciation for his detailed research. I strongly recommend that you now purchase this book and read it." Dr John F. Connolly, managing director, Connaught Telegraph welcomed the Minister on behalf of the Connaught Telegraph and author Michael Mullen He praised the production by Mr. Mullen and teamwork between Mr. Mullen, an eminent author and the production staff of the Connaught Telegraph, a publication which had been serving the public since 1828. Dr. Connolly stated: "The Famine was one of the most important event in our history and the echoes of that sad event can still be seen in our culture and society. "Trends set in the Famine, particularly emigration, continue to damage our society bearing in mind that the population of Mayo prior to the Famine was approximately 390,000 compared to 111,000 now, a decrease of 72% "It is sad that the Irish Famine should ever have happened as the massive number of deaths could have been avoided. It is sadder still to thing that in this day and age when the world has so many resources and so many other facilities to deal with catastrophes that famines still happen regularly throughout the world. "We must all work together to ensure that they do not continue to happen and perhaps this will be done through the publication of this book by Mr. Mullen and such tragedies avoided may be avoided in the future." Author Michael Mullen said it was a labour of love in tackling this book. It began when he began to research the Famine period from the files of the Connaught Telegraph for articles he prepared last year. These in turn developed into the "The Darkest Years" He thanked the Minister for his attendance and all those at the Connaught Telegraph who had made the publication possible, particularly, production manager, Johnny Jordan. He also thanked his wife Deirdre for her assistance and loyalty and all those who attended the launch and photographer Frank Dolan for the excellent Famine ridges cover picture for the book. SCOTLAND Scotland is one of four constituent nations which form the United Kingdom (the other three are England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland forms the northern part of the island of Great Britain. Scotland is 31,510 sq. miles in area; it is 274 miles long from North to South and varies in breadth between 24 and 154 miles. The official language is English, although Gaelic is spoken, primarily in the North and West of Scotland. The Scots language (which has many similarities to English, but also draws on French and Gaelic) is also spoken. Whereas Gaelic is the language of the Highlands & Islands, Scots is the language of the Lowlands. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS Scotland is divided into three main regions; the Highlands, the Midland Valley and the Southern Uplands. The cities of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee together with numerous towns, most of the population and the majority of Scotland's industry is located within the Midland Valley. This broad valley averages 50 miles across and runs WSW to ENE across the centre of the country. It is geologically distinct from the surrounding regions, being composed of Devonian Old Red Sandstone, peppered with ancient volcanoes, as against the older sedimentary rocks forming the Southern Uplands or the ancient metamorphic melange, comprising the Highlands to the north. Scotland includes 787 islands, of which most belong to groups known as the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland. Only 62 exceed three sq. miles in area. Of 26 rivers flowing directly into the sea, the most significant are: Tay (188 Km or 117 miles long) Spey (177 Km or 110 miles) Clyde (170 Km or 106 miles) Tweed (154 Km or 96 miles) Dee (154 Km or 96 miles) Don (132 Km or 82 miles) Forth (106 Km or 66 miles) Of these, the Clyde, Forth and Tay open into significant estuaries and support three of the major cities of Scotland (Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee respectively). Scotland is well known for its mountainous and beautiful scenery. Much of the upland within the UK is contained within the borders of Scotland, along with the highest peaks. The highest mountains in Scotland are: Ben Nevis - (1343m or 4406 feet high) Ben Macdhui - (1309m or 4296 feet) Braeriach - (1296m or 4252 feet) Cairntoul - (1293m or 4241 feet) Cairngorm - (1245m or 4084 feet) Ben Lawers - (1214m or 3984 feet) Scotland is also noted for its lochs (this name is generally used for lakes in Scotland). Much of the west coast of the country is intersected by Sea Lochs, the longest of which, Loch Fyne, penetrates more than 40 miles inland. NOTABLE FRESH-WATER LOCHS INCLUDE: Loch Lomond - (27 sq. miles in area) Mean depth is 37m (121 feet) and maximum depth is 190m (623 feet). Loch Ness - the one with the Monster (21.8 sq. miles) Mean depth is 132m (433 feet) and maximum depth is 230m (754 feet). Loch Awe - (14.8 sq. miles)Mean depth is 32m (105 feet) and maximum depth is 93m (307 feet). GOVERNMENT AND COMMERCE Government in Scotland is currently in two tiers. National goverment is via the UK parliament in London, through the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Scottish Office based in Edinburgh. Local government is divided into 29 unitary authorities and three island authorities, having been subject to a major reorganisation in 1995. Scotland has its own legal system, judiciary and an education system which, at all levels, differs from that found "south of the border" in England and Wales. Scotland also has its own banking system and its own banknotes. Edinburgh is the second financial centre of the UK and one of the major financial centres of the world. HISTORY The Midland Valley of Scotland represented the most northern extent of the Roman conquest of Britain after 79 A.D. Remnants of the Antonine Wall, which the Romans built between the River Forth and the River Clyde to defend this frontier, can still be seen. The lands to the north (known to the Romans as Caledonia were occupied by a war-like tribe called the Picts. Little is known of the Picts, whether they were a Celtic or Germanic race and what language they spoke is still debated. The more famous Hadrian's Wall which is over 100 miles long and lies close to the current border between England and Scotland was built by the retreating Romans (having been harried by continuous Pictish attacks) around 119 A.D. In the 5th Century the "Scots" came from their home in Ireland and settled in the West of Scotland. The Scots, partially christianised when they came, had Saint Columba as their great missionary, and through him and his followers, built on the work of Saint Ninian converting the Picts and other tribes to christianity. Saint Columba is buried on the sacred island of Iona off the west coast of Scotland. After centuries of wars with the Picts, they put the crown of Scots and Picts on the head of their king, Kenneth MacAlpin, in 843. The reign of Malcolm Canmore (1057 - 93) was a time of great social, political and religious revolution. Malcolm had spent much time in England and he and his queen, Margaret, encouraged the introduction of english customs, civilisation, the english language and settlers. Many Normans (the normans having conquered England in 1066) brought French culture to Scotland. Scotland was a wealthy country through until the beginning of the 14th Century, when Edward I of England (known as the "Hammer of the Scots") was determined to incorporate Scotland into the English crown. The defeat of Edward II at Bannockburn in 1314 was a great victory, reflected in the songs and spirit of Scottish nationalism until present times. The desire to preserve independence was embodied in a plea to the Pope, known as the Declaration of Arbroath. Long, bloody and destructive wars over the succeeding 300 years ensured that, while Scotland remained free, it was also poor. John Knox, the Edinburgh churchman, played his part in the reformation in Scotland, which adopted a Presbyterian tradition losing the link between church and state (which is retained in England). England and Scotland were linked through James VI of Scotland acceding to the English throne in1603, following the death of Queen Elizabeth I. Elizabeth had persecuted (and finally executed) James' mother, Mary Queen of Scots, but died childless. Succeeding English monarchs were not as well disposed towards Scotland as James had been. Following the formal Act of Union in 1707, displeasure particularly amongst Highland Scots, supported the rebellions of 1715 and 1745 which attempted to restore respectively the Old and Young Bonnie Prince Charlie Pretenders to the throne of Scotland. USEFUL WEB PAGES Below are some Web pages you may want to visit to help with your research. They contain a lot of useful information as well as links to other Web pages you can visit. If you like what you see here and want to go back, make sure you add them to your Favorite Places before you leave. SHRU - Worthy Links (This is Scottish Historical Research) Every Celtic Thing on the Web (Lots of good links from this one) http://celt.net/og/ Local Names (Irish names) http://names.local.ie/cgi-bin/index.cgi Ireland - Welcome to Local Ireland http://www.local.ie/ The Irish Times Home Page http://www.irish-times.ie/ ON THE WEB Subject: Irish to US A list of passengers from Sligo to New York, sworn 29 March, 1804. Wm. Jeffers farmer Loghadill Alex Griffith farmer Loghadill John Hodman farmer Loghadill Geo. Taylor labourer Loghadill Robt. Griffith labourer loghadill Jno. Low labourer Moghean Robt. Elliot labourer Moghean Archd. Elliot labourer Moghean David Ellis farmer Tilton Thos. Armstrong farmer Tilton Andw. Taylor labourer Tilton Geo. Young labourer Tilton Michl. Farrill labourer Tilton Jno. McMorrow labourer Cloghfin Peter Brady labourer Cloghfin Jno. Carty labourer Ardnaston Patt McDonogh labourer Ardnastran Andw. McNossen clerk Ardnastran McDonogher labourer Ardnastran James McDonogher labourer Ardnastran James McDonogher junr. labourer Ardnastran Robt. Cracy labourer Loghfin Edwd. Crawford labourer Loghfin Edwd. Crawford labourer Loghfin Ben Caffry labourer Loghfin Jas. Caffuny labourer Loghfin Wm. Vaugh clerk Loghfin Henry Dowler clerk Barton Jno. Duffy labourer Barton Hugh Crawford labourer Barton Thos. Pattinson labourer Barton Hugh Davis labourer Barton Subject: Local Ireland If anyone is seeking info about particular counties in Ireland you may be interested in the Local Ireland Project. At the moment there are four counties on board and more are to follow. Each of the counties has a similar structure and each has it's own noticeboard. The following are the counties already up and their URL's Longford - http://longford.local.ie Kerry - http://kerry.local.ie Cavan - http://cavan.local.ie Wicklow - http://wicklow.local.ie John Mc Gerr Subject: Re: Local Ireland If you use http://www.local.ie/ and then use Local Post selection instead of choosing Counties, you can Post Local in ALL 32 counties (including NIRL) Bill Walters FROM OUR MEMBERS Subj: Scots-Irish Information When I was in Edinburgh this summer I went to the Genealogy section in the Edinburgh Castle and found a great book with tells all about the various Scots Army regiments. My earliest Ancestor to live in Ireland, went there with the Scots Army in 1642 and I feel pretty sure it was with the Argyle Regiment. Perhaps there are other folks who have dates when there folks may have been in the Scots army - if so I would be more than glad to look up information for them. This book has the history etc or all of the Scots regiments right down to the modern times such as the Faulkens War. I am enjoying your newsletters by the way!! From the Editors: Thanks for the info Bettie, and also the kind words :) I have a web page for Donnan's. It's http://www.clis.com/donnan Bob Donnan maintains the web page. Bob has taken a document that was compiled by N. Donnan back in the 1920's and 1930's and has transcribed and put on the web page. N. Donnan attempted at that time to trace the Donnan's that had left Scotland and Ire to make their way to America. Donnan descendants, of which I am one, are now attempting to update the document with their ancestors and GEDCOM files. I had very little info on my Donnan ancestors but thanks to the document, I have now found a letter that was written, in 1922, by my ggrandfather's sister, where she provides info on our section of the family. -- What a blessing!!! Regards, From the editors: Thanks for sharing this with us Priscilla. :) We are sure it will help a lot of people.