Bridget O'Reilly (nee Doherty)

Hi Pat, the site admin has asked me to look at your query as I cover the Drogheda area where your ancestor lived for awhile. There may be no volunteer currently available in Ardara. I would suggest you contact the Donegal library initially at http://www.donegallibrary.ie/culturalservices/ or a letter to the local paper may elicit some information, the Donegal Democrat is the local paper here https://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/section/455/contact-us or the local radio station should have a magazine section http://www.highlandradio.com/

If you are interested in the Constable of the RIC there was a history of the RIC published about 4 years ago and may still be available, however there is an excellent Facebook Page very well moderated on the Royal Irish Constabulary 1816 to 1922 A Forgotten Irish Police Force, only yesterday there was a photo of a Constable Leonard in Drogheda from about 1900, uniform shown and a serious looking man. The author of the history is a regular contributor and questions are taken, I understand the note books and records of the RIC are availalbe in Kew in London.

The old station in Drogheda was finally vacated by the police (Garda) about 20 years ago and is currently in use as an art centre, a good photo and potted history here https://www.droichead.com/about-droichead-arts-centre/barlow-house-venu…;

I also see there is an Ardara Genealogy site but you are probably aware of this, http://ardara.ie/genealogy/ There may be assistance here.

If you have more queries or follow up please feel free to ask and we will endeavour to assist. 

Regards

Pat

(I am a male as it has confused people often)

Dear Pat,

I notice you explain your name Pat as I often have to. I am a female Pat and figure if people know me, they'll figure it out. But online is a different thing.

Thanks so much for your research and reply. You have given me plenty to dig into. I actually found my greatgrandfather's RIC "warrent", which was helpful only in showing me where he was posted. I read the wonderful book "The Irish Policeman", which explained so much about the life of the RIC and finally revealed the answer to a family mystery--why did grandfather keep saying he was a baker from Louth. Because he was born in Terminfeckin, as were several of his siblings. I even found a newspaper clipping out of Drogheda about an arrest Sgt. Reilly made of a man stealing food from a landlord--mixed feelings about that.The Sgt. and family left Louth in 1875 and retired to Ardara, where they had several other children. So I doubt he ever served in Barlow house. An earlier barracks was burned in the civil war.

I may check back with you before my next trip to Louth to try to find the outline of their life there from Jan. 1859 to 1875. The newstory said Sgt. Hugh Reilly was from Mell. Mellifint?

Again many thanks to you and your site administrator for putting me on to you. I'll see if I can wake up the Donegal crowd.

Regards,

Pat Reilly, Marshall, VA (female)

Dear Pat,

I notice you explain your name Pat as I often have to. I am a female Pat and figure if people know me, they'll figure it out. But online is a different thing.

Thanks so much for your research and reply. You have given me plenty to dig into. I actually found my greatgrandfather's RIC "warrent", which was helpful only in showing me where he was posted. I read the wonderful book "The Irish Policeman", which explained so much about the life of the RIC and finally revealed the answer to a family mystery--why did grandfather keep saying he was a baker from Louth. Because he was born in Terminfeckin, as were several of his siblings. I even found a newspaper clipping out of Drogheda about an arrest Sgt. Reilly made of a man stealing food from a landlord--mixed feelings about that.The Sgt. and family left Louth in 1875 and retired to Ardara, where they had several other children. So I doubt he ever served in Barlow house. An earlier barracks was burned in the civil war.

I may check back with you before my next trip to Louth to try to find the outline of their life there from Jan. 1859 to 1875. The newstory said Sgt. Hugh Reilly was from Mell. Mellifint?

Again many thanks to you and your site administrator for putting me on to you. I'll see if I can wake up the Donegal crowd.

Regards,

Pat Reilly, Marshall, VA (female)

Hi Pat, interesting stuff, I have been trying to find a previous query I was dealing with from a lady who was interested in the RIC in Termonfeckin but do not see it under that parish queries. Maybe it was yourself anyway. It was the RIC barracks in Termonfeckin that was burned rather than Drogheda I believe, Drogheda would have been the regional HQ and is in the town so difficult to attack. The building in Teronfeckin is still standing I will photo it when I am next out there if you wish. Termonfeckin (means well or river of Feckin as in St Feckin, very close to a cuss word here so a bit of fun attached to the name by children) it is a lovely village about 5 miles from Drogheda but getting a bit developed recently as it is a desirable place to live, close to the sea etc. There is a wonderful site about its history maintained by a local man. http://www.termonfeckinhistory.ie/ 

Mell is on the road in from Slane to Drogheda and is now on the outskirts of the town (Drogheda is the largest town in Ireland so not even on the outskirts now). Mell is the Gaelic word for "honey) and it is believed the monks of Mellifont may have set up there more than a thousand years ago. Further out of town are the ruins of Mellifont Abbey, set up by French Monks. See https://mellifontabbey.ie/history/ and this is near the world heritage site of Newgrange, also Dowth and Knowth. The recent very dry winter has uncovered may more henges etc from aerial surveillance in the nearby area too. If you come this is at least a half  day tour when you arrive. https://www.newgrange.com/ 

Interesting about the baker, Drogheda was heavily industrialised when your ancestor was here and during the famine was the 2nd largest migrant port particularly from Mayo and the west of Ireland, the migrants would have come in through Mell and a local historian tells us the would have passed 5 bakeries alone coming through Mell. Stories locally of their plight are terrible. (1845 to 1848) There are no records of those using the port at the time as they were going to Liverpool and it was all owned by the Crown. 

Going back to Adara would I am sure being a bit like leaving New York for rural Wisconsin or some such. If you want any info before coming if you do come you can always ask about transport and accomodation etc and as I assume that is your email on the query, are you really using your age 18 !!!!!!!!!!!, I am retired, you can email me direct at my site email which is stpeters@irelandxo.com and I will help in whatever way is possible without breaking the law. Drogheda is more a history place than a holiday sun and drink destination, we can guarantee drink but as for the sun you will have to take your chances but they would be better than Adara for the sun, do not plan to come this August as Fleadh Ceoil is on around that time and there will be no accomodation, about half a million visitors expected over the period of about 10 days, I can check the dates if you are coming then.

Keep Smiling,

Pat

Regards

Pat