From Minnesota to Peafield and Glenarousk, Co. Cork in search of ancestors
Jessica Flynn and her family were visiting from Minnesota, USA, and wished to locate the areas in Co. Cork where her ancestors emigrated from. Jessica says;
We were planning a family trip to Ireland and wanted to be able to see and learn more about the area in Co. Cork where my ancestors came from. My great-great-grandfather and great-great-grandmother immigrated to the US in the 1860s from the townlands of Glenarousk and Peafield, respectively. Based on prior research done by a family member, as well as a genealogy research firm in Ireland, I had this information about what townlands my ancestors came from, including current-day maps that were supposed to help me find the former family land and house locations. Despite this, I felt a little helpless, and I knew we would get more out of the experience if we could find someone local who knew about the area.
Luckily, a few weeks before our trip to Ireland, I found the Ireland Reaching Out website, and placed a request for a meet and greet. Almost immediately, I got a response from IrelandXO volunteer Kieran Jordan, who told me he lives within walking distance from where my great-great-grandfather lived and farmed! He was also familiar with the nearby townland where my great-great-grandmother came from.
Kieran contacted me with updates a few times before our trip. He was doing a lot of leg-work to prepare for our visit. He had met with the current landowners in both Glenarousk and Peafield, and with their help, determined more accurately where my ancestors’ houses would have stood.
When we arrived in Castlelyons, it was a rainy day, but that did not deter our hosts. First, we met with Kieran, who shared some additional family information he discovered that could help us with future ancestry research. He also shared packets of information (valuable historical information of the area) from the Castlelyons Community Council. He also shared information on the churches in Castlelyons and Lisgoold, where my ancestors were married and baptized.
Next, Kieran brought us to meet with Jim, who owns the property adjacent to the Peafield land where my ancestors lived and farmed. Despite the rain, Kieran and Jim were more than willing to walk us down the road, across a pasture, over a stream and to the exact location where they determined my ancestors’ house would have stood (cutting brush and bramble away as we went!). They pointed out the large, old trees on the site that perhaps my great-great-grandmother played on as a child, and walked us along the route my ancestors likely took to get to town. It was so special to meet and talk to Jim, and to have him take the time to personally show us around the land.
Next, Kieran brought us to Glenarousk to meet with Marian, who owns the land where my great-great-grandfather once lived and farmed. She was able to show us where the house likely stood, and fill in some gaps in our knowledge about the land. She even had us in for tea and buns! It was so lovely for our family be welcomed into her home and to be able to visit with her and Kieran.
After visiting both ancestral lands, Kieran brought us back to our accommodation, and made sure that we felt satisfied with what we had seen and learned during our time together before he departed.
The following day, on Kieran’s suggestion, we continued to explore the area on our own using the Castlelyons Heritage Trail packet that he provided. We visited many sites, including the church of my ancestors. With the written information provided by Kieran, we were able to learn so much about the history of the area during our visit.
It was such a pleasure to be able to meet and talk to Kieran, Jim, and Marian. We cannot believe how generous everyone was with their time, and in welcoming us to the area. It made our trip and our experience so much more meaningful! It was a very special experience to stand where my ancestors once stood, and look at the land they once lived on, and imagine their house standing where it once stood. We cannot thank Kieran, Jim, Marian, and Ireland Reaching Out enough!
