Hi Steve,
I know, it does seem strange (not knowing why things were like that). I do know, from James' daughters, that James was a very strict and proper man. a Provost sergeant in the Irish army, who whilst at home expected the floors to show his reflection in them. Also, his girls had to be very proper in appearance and behavior. No makeup or modern fashion dressing up. My mum told me that if they where to walk into town (in cork) that James would give them strict instructions that when they got near a protestant church (that was on the high street) they had to cross to the other side of the road and under no circumstances were they to look at it. My mum recalls that he used to clean his gun religiously and when finished would ask her to look down the barrel, she said it would shine like gold.
They are some trivial things, but at the same time may give a little insight into James' personality and character.
I wonder if having left the rural environment in Wexford, at that time, and having moved into city living had anything to do with him being reluctant to acknowledge his family roots when he was in Cork and England. Or maybe there was some kind of falling out with his family in Wexford that prompted him leaving there.
Cheers,
Patrick.
