Photos, Not Just Ancestor Photos

[AShruleEgan]

This is the gravestone in St. Joseph's cemetary in Shrule, Ireland. It has filled in a lot of information for the family tree.

It reads: LORD HAVE MERCY
ON THE SOUL OF
MARY EGAN
WHO DIED 1ST JUNE 1862
AGED 72 YEARS
THOMAS EGAN
DIED 9TH MARCH 1867
AGED 74 YEARS
ANNIE EGAN
DIED 22ND SEPT 1899
AGED 23 YEARS
AND NORAH EGAN
DIED 9TH MAY 1900
AGED 66 YEARS
PATRICK EGAN DIED FEB 14TH 1907
NORA EGAN DIED JAN 25TH 1946
AGED RESPECTIVELY 70 YRS AND 30 YRS
PATRICK EGAN
DIED 9TH AUG 1952
AGED 76 YRS

R.I.P.
ERECTED BY PAT EGAN

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[AShruleEgan]

This is the original lead sign from Egan's Grocery store in Shrule, Ireland. It has been restored and now hangs in my cousins townhouse in Shrule. Eventually, it will be brought over to New York City and will be hung up on the wall of their restaurant, Annie Moore's Irish Pub and Restaurant, near Grand Central Station.

It reads, from the left: Players please (referring to the cigarette's)

The main section: Egan's Grocery, licensed to sell tobacco

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[CelticRoz]

Mike! You have some very interesting photos! I loved the one of the gravestone. Did you take that photo or did you find that through your search. I keep forgetting, but have you been to Ireland to see all this wonderful knowledge you have of your family heritage? You are lucky to have found out so much information and history!

[AShruleEgan]

No, I haven't been to Shrule yet. I will be there in late April. I get to stay at one of the two townhouses that the Egan's still have there, all for free. I just need to get to Ireland and rent a car.

Shrule is one of those little towns that you shouldn't blink your eyes, cause you just drove past it, type of town: http://www.shrule.com/_shrule/_display_ima...d=index&pid=507 and yes, that is a castle at the lower section of the pic, Shrule Castle, http://www.shrule.com/_shrule/_display_ima...p?fid=6&pid=213 .
There happens to be three pubs in that little town. Guess they know where their priorities are.

[CelticRoz]

Mike! How so very beautiful! I saw the castle in the photo. You are very lucky to know this part of your heritage. You must be so proud. I can't wait till you get to go to Ireland and see all what you want to see. It will be here before you know it! How long will you be staying when you go?

[AShruleEgan]

I will spend nine days in Ireland. Shrule is pretty much in the center of the country and each morning, I can set out in any direction and get to where ever in the country. It's only 2 1/2 hours drive in any direction to reach the coast.

[CelticRoz]

Oh lucky you, Mike! I am so happy for you! I bet right now you think that April is long way off and you can hardly wait! It will be here before you know it! Can't wait to hear all about it.

[maggiemahone1]

Is Shrule in County Galway? I would love to visit Galway Bay! I'm green with envy that you get to visit your ancestors homeland. I know you must be so excited and to be able to stay free that's even better!

maggiemahone1

[AShruleEgan]

Maggie, Shrule is in County Mayo. If you go back and look at the picture of Shrule that I posted, near the castle, is the Black River. On the other side of the river, is County Galway.

Galway City is about a 30 minute drive from Shrule.

[maggiemahone1]

Thanks, first mistake I've ever made!

maggiemahone1

[AShruleEgan]

Here's a view of Shrule, Ireland to give you some idea of the style of the old houses along the main street.

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[CelticRoz]

Nice photo, Mike! Thanks for sharing!

[Haldur]

Wow, Ireland is so beautiful! I've seen many pictures of Ireland and they all give me goose bumps because it is so stunning. I'd love to go one day but as my finances look right now doubt if that would happen. I do have a friend on here, Aaediwen, who is also planning on going to the Emerald Isle sometime around April 2005! It's amazing to think that you can get from one end of Ireland to another in about 2 1/2 hours...really puts things in perspective!

[dfilpus]

Here is a photo of a painting of my grandfather Marttila's childhood home in Finland. He immigrated to Michigan in the early 1900's.

The homestead was used as a refugee camp during the Russo-Finnish wars. Refugees could stay in the house for free, but military on their way to and from the front had to pay for their room and board. A military officer staying at the house painted the house as payment for his stay.

The house was home to three siblings, two unmarried sisters and a much younger brother. The brother went to the big city (Helsinki) for schooling and came back married to a city girl. The older sisters were scandalized that an landholder would marry a CITY girl. The sisters moved to one wing of the house and the brother and wife raised their family in another wing, each with their own servants. The entire family would meet only for holiday meals.

The house burned after the war, in the early 1950's, but the painting was saved. In the early sixties, my mother unexpectedly received a large parcel in the mail. It was the painting. The letter accompanying the painting explained that the family was fighting over who would get the painting, so one of the sisters shipped the painting to an American cousin for safe keeping.

My mother has willed the painting to me when she dies. I took the photo this Christmas.

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[AShruleEgan]

This is a picture I took of the house in Ballinapark, where my grandfathers sister lived when she was married. It was basically, a two room farmhouse, about 15 ft x 20 ft.





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