Comments on: Connolly Family History, my Dad’s recollections.

By: Nat

Nat — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 16:41:34 +0000

My great-great uncle fought in the Easter uprising. Your relative who fought in the Easter uprising might have known him. Thomas Clarke first man to be excuted for Easter uprising

By: peteconnolly.co.uk » Blog Archive » Jim Harpur’s Active Service Unit Certificate

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:16:18 +0000

[...] peteconnolly.co.uk HomeConnolly Family History, my Dad’s recollections. [...]

By: pete

pete — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:47:32 +0000

Hi Brian – thanks for that link, I’ve bookmarked it and hope to add to it as I can. I’ll ask Ma about her school days when I call her later – she did indeed go to Holy Faith.

I remember the house on the Swords Road, mainly from visiting it as a wee lad to visit my Gran, Mae Harpur. I believe I even cut the grass there in an unenthusiastic manner once or twice! I’m going to add a picture of a certificate I have relating to Jim Harpur – it might be interesting to see if any of the names listed are familiar to you.

By: Brian Keogh

Brian Keogh — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:04:04 +0000

Hi Pete, Many thanks for your comments etc. I have found another Harpur connection. It is http://bluwiki.com/go/Holahan_Family click on the Patrick Holahan link. Then click on the Johanna Harpur link. By the way I visited Jim Harpur’s house with my Dad Patrick (Paddy) Keogh on the Swords Road in about 1959/60. I also visited and am very familiar with all the Harpurs (my Dad’s cousins) when I was very young. I also believe my wife went to school with your mother in the Holy Faith in Glasnevin. I’ll contact you by email if these facts match.

By: pete

pete — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:32:27 +0000

Hello Colette, Con and Brian

I’m very pleased to make all of your acquaintance and I’m glad that you’ve found my Dad’s notes (http://www.peteconnolly.co.uk/blog/wordpress/connolly-family-history/ ) interesting or useful. Please feel free to drop me a line at any point, and I’ll do my best to get Jim Harpur’s notes scanned and published on the site – they might be very relevant for you Brian.

Con, I spoke to my mother (Eithne, who still lives in Dublin) on Sunday and she mentioned that my Dad and yours got on very well, being of similar ages, and my Dad always thought very highly of yours. I’m sad to say that Dad passed away on 16th November 2006 from cancer, but I’m glad that he managed to write this account before he went.

Colette, I’m glad that this little article was able to give you some insight into the activities around that time, but no doubt it doesn’t do Jack any justice whatsoever. I still remember going around to see him and Auntie Al in the house in Cabra, and Jack being on the phone to the bookies – about 20 years before telephone betting was invented! I also have memories of him singing while playing the piano perfectly. A hell of a character, bless him.

Brian – great to make your (virtual) acquaintance and it’s marvellous to meet another member of the family. I hope the notes are interesting and useful and I’ll make it a priority to get Jim’s account to the National Library scanned and posted ASAP. It’s a very interesting insight to the times and to the various actions that he took part in (such as the burning of the Customs House, his time in jail and his arrest by the “Igoe Murder Gang”)

Sorry for the delay in replying, but despite working with computers for 25 years, I still can make a mistake. The stupid web server was meant to email me if anyone left a comment on these notes. Not once did it even try to, despite my best efforts.

Thanks for taking the time to comment, and I look forward to corresponding with you all.

Regards

Pete Connolly

By: Brian Keogh

Brian Keogh — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:43:21 +0000

Hi Pete, another relative has come out of the woodwork. My Paternal Grandfather, William Keogh’s mother was Johanna Harpur. He was a step brother of the Harpurs. Johanna’s first husband Patrick Keogh died and she remarried John Harpur. My sister Marie is currently researching my Dad’s side of the family and spotted this posting when she googled Jim Harpur. I’ll be in touch when we get some more information.

By: Con Connolly

Con Connolly — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:47:27 +0000

Hi Pete,

Hello Pete, My name is Con Connolly. I am a son of Sean Connolly and Chrisse Connolly (born O’Driscoll). I am therefore a grandson of Neilus Connolly. I just came across your article by accident. Good to meet a cousin on-line. I have left my email address if you would like to contact me.

Thanks Con.

By: Collette Seale (nee Harpur)

Collette Seale (nee Harpur) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:36:16 +0000

Hi Pete, I came across your article while doing some family research. Jack Harpur was my Grandad. Colm who replied to you above is my Dads (Padraig Harpur) younger brother. I have the newspaper report of the Funeral of James, but have been unsucessful up till now in tracing their involvement in the uprising, so was very excited by your family recollections.

By: Sarah Lowe

Sarah Lowe — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 19:10:07 +0000

Hi there, i am trying to trace my family tree back, i was told by my grandmother that my great great grandfather was a school teacher in ireland during this time and was hung froma tree by the black and tans for teaching about the ira to school children, The rest of the family fled to west derby in liverpool. They were lowe, The names i have are James Lowe whom was the fther of my grandfather John Francis lowe. I just wondered if you had an information about this? or anything relating to the black and tans in cork around this period. Thanks Sarah Lowe

By: Sean Barrett

Sean Barrett — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:29:08 +0000

very interesting and well recorded my father and his family were involved in the struggle as they say from deepest west cork (goats path) and i’m so proud of them for that………..