James Whelan and Sarah Callaghan, Ballynahinch

"There were quick moves after her death to have their younger daughters found destitute and sent to live at the Parsontown's industrial school for girls - even though there was still family in the area that could have taken them in. Is there anything more I can learn about that locally? "

Christie, you might google the industrial schools and the "Crueltyman." The Crueltyman was paid for finding inmates for the often abusive industrial schools. So even if there were relatives in the area, he may have deemed them incapable of caring for the children. Sometimes a widowed father had his children removed from his care. Sometimes an unmarried mother had her child taken away; I think that's why the grandmother sometimes lied and said the child was hers, so that it wouldn't be taken away. There's a very good novel set in the industrial schools: NAILER by Irish novelist Tom Phelan. I hope this is helpful.

Christie,

A presentation was given to the Clare Roots Society, Ennis by John S Kelly on February 21st 2019 on the history of the Bodyke Evictions.

If you contact the Secretary he may be able to put you in contact with him.

Regards,

Patricia,  thank you for this - I had not come across the "cruelty man" before in any of my research, but that would explain things.

McCoy - thanks, I'll reach out! 

Dear Christie:

Many thanks for your post to the message board.  I am a member of the local Tulla Reaching Out heritage group and we will be delighted to meet with you and to assist you.  Please email me directly at:  tulla@irelandxo.com and we can make further arrangements.  

All the best,

Jane 

By the way, Christie, I am the Chairperson of the Clare Roots Society who arranged the talk given by John S Kelly.  I will be able to assist you if you have any questions around that, as well as see if we can arrange a meeting with John S himself.

Let me know at the email address that I gave you in my previous post.

All the best,

Jane 

Hi Jane. That would be amazing! Thanks so much for the offer. I’ll email you today.

That's great, Christie!  I'll wait to hear from you.  I'm glad that you saw the message.

All the best,

Jane