Category Archives: Ireland

Andrew Gilmore Irvine: A bootmaker from Killyleagh.

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The fourth pregnancy of Sarah Irvine in the farming community of Ballytrim townland was no doubt a difficult time for her with three surviving children aged eight, four and two around her feet as this time her pregnancy felt different.[1] Husband James was a bootmaker in the nearby village of Killyleagh on the shores of Strangford Lough in Co Down and when Sarah gave birth to twins on 31 March 1849 it would have called on all the strength and … Continue reading

‘Shivering to atoms’: Ireland’s night of the Big Wind.

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By Jennifer Harrison. Recently many Australians have reeled from drought to flood, bushfires to mice plagues and of course, all this mayhem occurred during a global pandemic.  Is the world coming to an end?  Is it possible to maintain a comfortable existence with the natural world?  Obviously, these events are not unique to any particular country or time period and the same questions have been posed before – just ask the stunned Irish in 1839. Following the successful passing of … Continue reading

Celebrations of Space: the Irish History and Society series

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By Jennifer Harrison. Following the wonderfully successful Irish seminar GSQ conducted in October 2020, it occurred to me that members might benefit from knowledge of a series of books currently in production in Dublin which provide wonderful contextual material for those researching individual counties.  Since 1985 Geography Publications have produced substantial volumes under the collective title of History and Society.  Each book ranging between 500 and 1000 pages examines an individual county.  By the end of 2020 with the issue … Continue reading

Francis Irvine – Immigrant, Bootmaker, Shopkeeper & Baptist elder.

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By Rod Irvine. Edited by Bobbie Edes Within our Killyleagh siblings, the eldest two brothers John (b 1841) and Francis (aka Frank, b 1844) were likely responsible for the Irvine family coming to Queensland; they were the ‘trend-setters’.[1]&[2] On Saturday 13 May 1865, just as the American Civil War was in its final convulsions, they departed Liverpool on the modern clipper Melmerby arriving at Brisbane in September of that year.[3] It is not unlikely that John and Francis heard directly … Continue reading

Killyleagh Siblings – Alexander and Sarah Irvine.

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Alexander Irvine Alexander son of James & Sarah Irvine of Ballytrim was the couple’s 11th and final child born on 4 April 1859 according to the family bible. The two-week-old baby was baptised on 19th April 1859 at 1st Presbyterian Church, Killyleagh, Down and noted as being 14 days old.[1] Alexander travelled to Australia with his aged parents and older brother John Irvine, who had returned to Killyleagh to escort the party on the long journey to Australia in 1888. … Continue reading