Hi Ann-Marie F and Nitsuj,
We had a very successful fundraiser on Sunday last. A small committee headed by your cousin John Goodman are trying to have a memorial erected to all who fought or were involved in any conflict concerning both Wicklow men and woman, of all religions. There was an exhibition with lots of photos, I must say mainly of men in uniform, and some good stories. This is the first of many we hope to have in order to eventually open a museum in the town.
At one stage there were three Celtic Crosses and two of them are still visible on the roof of St. Patrick’s Church. The third was a much bigger and heavier cross about 6ft tall, which stood on the 2nd terrace in the front of our church. Local lore said ‘it was meant to be put on top of the church but was too heavy to lift on to the roof’. We have pictures of it, but for some reason in the 1950's it was removed.
During Fr. Blake’s term of office as P.P. in Wicklow (1949-1959) he did a lot of very good work in the parish church and grounds. The church was surrounded by very large trees which he had removed to open up the dark and dismal grounds. Rumour has it that he “did not like the ‘Sheila-na-gigs’ on this granite cross”, so had it removed and buried in the church grounds: where exactly is not know at the moment. A lot of people remember it but cannot say where it was buried. With the permission and encouragement from our present P.P. and the help of Dr. Greame Warren, Lecturer in the College of Arts & Celtic studies, School of Archaeology, Belfield, Dublin, we are endeavouring to locate it. If anyone out there has any idea where it is buried we would be grateful.
To get back to genealogy, is S M still working on the family tree? She visited the Library on the IOM some years ago and gave them information on Thomas Philip (bc 1884 IOM) who married Julia (Bab) Evans. She and I exchanged information a long time ago but have since lost touch. I would be nice to get in touch with her again.
I would love to know more about Bab (Julia's) husband Thomas Philip. Where in the IOM was he born? His father Jack was killed by Ramsey Lifeboat, he was one of the launching crew when? I would also like to know something about Maggie & Joseph Morgan's children - Your Aunts and Uncles - to place you into this tree please.
Nitsuj what was your mother's christian & maiden name also your Grandmother Elizabeth ? I have lots of gaps in the tree that I would love to fill.
Julia
*Name edited my moderator
