Glengarriff, View Across Bay 1897

Grandmother

While sailing on the 'Caronia' we visited Queenstown in order to allow the passengers to visit Glegarriff. Whilst there my father (also a crew member) took me up a narrow lane into the village. At the top of the lane there was a post office/shop run by a family named Docharty or Doughety (I'm not sure of the spelling) who my father said were relatives via my grandmother (a Docharty or Dougherty). She married a man called George Edward Murray some time in the late 1880s or early 1900s (he may have been born in Eire or England but his parents were Irish). They came to live in Liverpool, England where my father was born in 1908. My grandfather worked on the Liverpool docks until injured and died sometime in the 1940s or 1950s. My grandmother died in Huyton, Liverpool in the 1950s. I am planning to visit Queenstown this year and would be grateful for any help tracing any relatives or members of the above family.

Connemara

My grandmother (name of McDonagh, nee Faherty) lived in a place I believe is called 'Ryn' (not sure of the spelling) in Connemara. She had a beautiful cottage a short walk from the sea. I would like to be able to take my husband to visit this area and catch up with family who I have sadly lost touch with who may still be there. I'd be grateful if someone could please let me know if I have the right place and indeed spelling. More importantly, if anyone knows anyone they think may be a relation, please get in touch.  

My roots in Co. Wicklow

18th July 1959 my honeymoon was spent in Bray, County Wicklow. We stayed with Mrs Madge McGrath, a cousin of my father (Joseph Devlin). My strongest memory is the friendliness of the people, and my husband enjoyed the Guinness.

Holiday Memories Dublin 1958

For a 9 year old boy from Edinburgh the travel arrangements for our family holiday to Dublin in 1958 were quite an adventure.
Embarkation on the steamer at the Broomielaw in Glasgow and our billet turned out to be in the hold along with up to a 100 or so others. In view of this the tension between my parents on the voyage over the Irish Sea was palpable but Dad, being the stoical, ex-Military type he was, would quip "Time to visit the Engine Room, son!", giving Mum time to cool her ire.
Our B&B accommodation was provided by a Mrs Cagney whose house was quite near Phoenix Park.
Midway through our stay in Dublin I remember being asked if I would like to stay with Mrs Cagney and her son for a few days while Mum and Dad went off to 'visit'.
It was only in later years when I was in my 20s I realised this 'visit' had in fact been an attempt by my mother to research her roots in the SW of the Republic - Mary Katherine Deery - but very little of what was found was to be heard by my ears. I can only guess at some of the horrors which were unearthed!
On a lighter note some of the minutiae of that holiday still remain. The train ride down to Dun Laoghaire on an elctric train, Dad buying an Agfa camera for himself and a first watch for me from Clerys, Mum buying up all the tins of John West salmon she could cram into her suitcase and cowering in case we were sussed at the customs!
It always seemed to be raining that summer and I remember falling into a water feature at the Japanese Gardens and Mum exclaiming that "It's only water", as if somehow that made everything OK.
Our last evening in Dublin I remember was a swanky affair, a slap up dinner in O'Connell Street and later watching 'Carve Her Name with Pride' at a nearby cinema, then a taxi back to the B&B.
I always look back fondly to that holiday and now that I have an appreciation of what my maternal forebears must have endured in 19th century Ireland I thank providence that some of them got out when they did so that I may have a life.
I am hoping to visit Dublin again soon. At least they have a tram system up and running. Edinburgh's is 3 years late at the moment and will probably cost twice the original estimate but that's a story for another time.

Honeymoon in Bray

I spent my honeymoon in Bray and also stayed with a Mrs McGrath who was related to my father (Joseph Devlin). Do you have any photos of the family or the house or address as I will be visiting Bray this year tracing my roots. The name Curtis is also a connection. Can anyone help in any way at all? Thanks.   Ann