JULY 25th 2012

As if in a dream . . . there it was in a local field . . . a Dublin city double-decker bus, 100 miles from home. 

Maybe the driver got lost?

Registration number, for those interested in the history of transport, is: 

90 D 1005

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8.06 pm

Someone rang me to say the driver is gone to Specsavers, and a large group of Dubliners are being catered for in a local hostelry, while the local Red Cross members are tending to others!

A special welcome to Anne Balog from New Jersey, USA,  a recent visitor to this site, who located the Blog while researching her Irish ancestors. They hailed from both Brown Street and Queen Street, and emigrated from Portlaw in 1872 to work in a cotton-mill in Massachusetts. The surname was COX, and their house number in Queen Street was 6, obviously a very different house from those in Queen Street at the present time.

It’s quite possible that the Malcomson-owned business here, which more-or-less closed in 1875, was already going downhill, and the people in question decided to get out in time. It is also possible that other families emigrated from here to the same place, or to England where the cotton industry was thriving, although that location had it’s ups and downs also.

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A special welcome also to Gerry & Denise Dignan’s  group, from all over the USA, who came to Ireland this month (July 2012) on a ‘Celtic Spirituality’ tour, and whom I had the pleasure of leading on a day-trip to ancient Christian sites in the Glen of Aherlow. This was followed by a great evening of music and song in a local Portlaw house, where about six local musicians and singers entertained them for some hours.  See Gerry’s website at:

www.gerrydignan.com

In the Glen, on the same trip, I had the pleasure of meeting Robert Taylor of York, U.K., who was also visiting and photographing these ancient sites. Robert has a wonderful website devoted to Viking objects, which are sold to customers worldwide.   Why not check out his website at:

www.jelldragon.com

Then there was the lady from Belgium, whom I met in the same area, who has been holidaying in the Glen of Aherlow for the past fourteen years! Yes, there’s lots to see and do in that part of Tipperary – The Galtee mountains, ancient holy wells, churches, abbeys, other antiquities, tales of rebels, rogues, fairies and banshees, the local people, also traditional music and song. Take a look also at:

www.aherlow.com

Finally, ‘Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir’ to those local landowners and others who were most welcoming and helpful!

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The graphic at the top of this page is from a photograph taken at Clonagam, Portlaw.
Most images on this site will enlarge with a double left-click!

INACCESSIBILITY!

Since April 30th last, I have been unable to access the Blogger dashboard to upload new images and text on my own desk-top computer.   Hopefully, this can be fixed in the near future.

I havenow found that I can access the site on a different computer, but that is not very convenient.

If you have any suggestions on what the problem might be, an email would be appreciated.

24 June 2012

T H A N K S !

Thanks to Chris Morley from the U.K. who suggested I change my Internet browser, which I did, from Internet Explorer to Google Chrome.

Lo and behold, I'm back in business!

Chris is a descendant of the Portlaw Morleys of Milfort House.

23 July 2012

After still more weeks of Internet and computer problems, I seem to have got back to normal, but this time with a different computer.

All images for the Eucharistic Congress Bell page have now been uploaded, with the addition of over thirty more.

I may add some text later.

I now intend to upload some recent news and images before reverting to the Martin Hospital fund-raising day images. 

Dolmen Active Retirement Association

The annual Bealtaine Festival, running for many years, celebrates creativity in older age and is organised by Age & Opportunity/ Older & Bolder. Active Retirement Ireland, with over 23,000 members in over 500 ARAs (Active Retirement Associations) throughout the countrty, plays a major role in the event.

Dolmen ARA, catering for actively retired people (over 55 years of age)  in East Waterford, somewhat pre-occupied with other events last year (2011), is now back in full swing for 2012, and presenting their 'wares' at the Tramore Coastguard Station Arts Centre on the dates mentioned above. The Centre is located at Love Lane, Tramore, but is also accessible for pedestrians from the Doneraile Walk.

Looking forward to seeing you there! The Centre has a newly-opened Coffee Dock . . . rapidly becoming the 'in place' to meet, have a look at the current exhibitions and a chat over a 'cuppa'. 

Dolmen ARA, ten years of age this year (with a big celebration to come in June), has had a 'full house' for the past number of years and was unable to admit new members, resulting in a waiting list. However, in recent weeks, some new applicants from the Portlaw area have been admitted and made most welcome.  Portlaw is more-or-less in the centre of the catchment area, which stretches from the city outskirts to Kilmacthomas and Fews, and from Clonea-Power toward Fennor, There is a number of other branches in the county and about five in the city area. Some of the other branches have waiting lists also.

A double left-click on the image will show an enlarged version, making it more legible!

Martin Hospital

The Fund Raiser held at the Cotton Mill Lounge, Portlaw, on Saturday 24th March, was a great success. To date around €6,000 has been raised through the raffle, cake sale, tea/coffee morning and donations.

Management would like to thank everyone involved and especially those who baked the most delicious cakes. Our thanks also for the generosity of Maggie Rockett in providing her premises for the event. We are indeed extremely grateful to her.

(from 'The Bridge', Fiddown Union monthly newsletter)

Pictures to follow!

Daffodil Day 2012

Daffodil Day this year was held on March 23rd.

Voluntary collectors/sellers were out in their thousands nationwide.

The entire proceeds go to the Irish Cancer Society.

The results of this year's collection is not yet known.

Outside the collection-point at the Bridge St./William St. junction, Portlaw,

were Mrs. xxxxx Power and Johnny Crotty with 'customer', Mark Wick.

Outside Bláthanna on Malcomson Square, were volunteer collectors:

(to be named)

Biddy Hanlin and Peggy Cuddihy having a laugh with 'customer', Jim Duggan,

outside the Centra collection-point this year.  

(4th April '12:  The above picture was published in this week's 'Munster Express')

Marie Dee, popular local bar-maid, pictured at the Centra collection-point in 2011, which I forgot to upload.

With regret, I overlooked calling to the collection-point at Kiely's, Brown Street.

Apologies to you all there!

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig!

St Patrick's Day Greetings to all you visitors to this site.  Tomorrow, 17th March 2012, is the feast-day of Ireland's patron saint. and is a national holiday. This day is celebrated around the world by the Irish disapora, and is as much about culture nowadays as it is about religion.
This fine window at Lorrha church (R.C.), north Tipperary, which has an equally fine window depicting St, Ruadhán, a local saint, has no maker's name thereon, but was obviously designed and manufactured by Watsons of Youghal, whose work I am familiar with, and which is always profusely illustrated with Celtic motifs. There are many great examples of Watson craftsmanship in the Waterford area and further afield.

Well worth looking out for by Celtic art practitioners!  

At St. Patrick's Church, Portlaw, 2008.

Statue of St. Patrick at St. Patrick's Church, Portlaw, at end of 150th anniversary celebrations, with Maurice Nugent, Portlaw's oldest resident, now heading towards a century! 

                                                                                                                                                                        Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh go léir!

Portlaw Pipe Band, having played outside St. Patrick's Church, before and after Mass,  then travelled down to Malcomson Square, and played a great selection of airs there

Captivating, youthful Shauna Maher put on a great performance again this year to the delight of onlookers! 

Keeping a critical eye on happenings, as usual, was Willie Maher.

Paul Power, who also played solo at St. Patrick's Church.

Shauna Maher, once more, with her father, John, a drummer also.

Mothers' Day came immediately after St. Patrick's Day, so the majority of shops (70% approx. nationwide) stayed open to, hopefully, increase sales during these recessionary times.

Bláthanna (meaning Flowers), Portlaw, done likewise and was actually getting orders from some distant lands, in addition to local custom, thanks to publicity in FaceBook!

Kathleen Gilman and son-in-law, Liam Walsh outside Bláthanna, Portlaw.

Colette Walsh, the 'driving force' behind Bláthanna, on her busiest day of the year!

Check out Bláthanna on Facebook at:

www.facebook.com/pages/Bláthanna-Florist/120156144729854?sk

A double left-click should enlarge the images, but the top image is somewhat erratic in it's behaviour! 

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As the Stained Glass window seems to have a permanent enlargement problem,  you can view it by clicking on link hereunder instead.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mazurka666/6829669384/in/photostream