18th March, 2008
IT IS ALL VERY EXCITING, A
VERY SERENDIPITOUS DAY.
I have just spoken with
Jim Kirkwood whose cousin Alan sent me all this incredible documentation
about the Balinafad farm families, They had a reunion 2 yrs. ago at the
Balinafad church. We are right. The Balinafad community was
totally independant of Georgetown - the poorer sister. But very vibrant.
All evicted crofters
Two quotes:
''Life was not easy in
those years but they were fortunate to live in a community of relatives
who were noted for helping each other when needs arose''
''I knew the family to be
one most highly regarded and respected in the community, good old
Scottish presbyterian stock, who with a number of other families, formed
a nucleus of the community of Ballinafad, that was the very bedrock of
society. He and his family carried on the tradition of gracious
hospitality of the McKay family of the previous years. The pictures of
Donald and Jessie are very significant.
To save Fallbrook
as a last memory of that Scottish community takes on even more urgency.
We are trying to get these
documents to you for the heritage meeting. Alan has them in Erin. |