30 August 2007

We're going to Galway !

Happy 87th Birthday Grandpa Raymond Maddock !


Sorry we havent made any new posts in the last few days. Alli has extended her visit and we've been very busy ! Today we are taking the 2.5 hr train ride straight across to the west coast to Galway for an overnight trip.

We'll update the blog as soon as we get back.

Slainte !

-Chris

25 August 2007

Guest Blogger: Alli Arnold on the Emerald Isle

Hello!
Here I am, guest blogger and deliriously happy guest of Chris and Kelly.

Let's recap my first 3 days here in Dublin:

I got myself a taxi at the airport and went straight to CJA and Shirl's apartment. I got in at about 9 a.m. Dublin time, but it felt like 4 a.m. to me. I was too excited to sleep so I pulled myself together and after a brief tour of their lovely home we went out into the world. First stop: breakfast at Bruxelle's.



Who says it's too early for beer?


Phil wouldn't say that.

(*Thin Lizzy are a hard rock band who formed in Dublin, Ireland in 1969. The band was originally led by bassist, songwriter and singer Phil Lynott. They are best known for their 1976 songs "Jailbreak" and "The Boys Are Back in Town", both major international hits still played regularly on hard rock and classic rock radio stations.)

After my first REAL Guinness and a bagel with cream cheese & Irish Smoked Salmon (mmm) we walked around, I bought two scarves at the market ($7 each), and I got a general sense of the City Center. Dublin is busy and bustling and very cosmopolitan! After another Guinness and more walking we came home and napped from 3-6 p.m. We went out again for dinner at The Old Vat House (fish and chips with mushy peas!) and then found ourselves in time for the second half of "Quiz Night" at the Bleeding Horse, Chris and Kelly's "local".

Then home to bed...



On my second day Shirl had to take care of some business so CJA and I headed out. We went to "DELISH" for breakfast, and it sure was. THAT is a chicken, leek and ham "pie", served with mashed potatoes and gravy, and a cappuchino. Good morning to you, sir!



After our hearty meal Chris and I walked to Dublin Castle and while wandering around the gardens he educated me about some of Ireland's history. I needed the lesson. Chris is already very familiar with his new city but even he wasn't expecting to see SAND SCULPTURES in the courtyard of the Dubin Castle! The first thing we saw were these HUGE FEET. Seeing as CJA is so fond of my feet (he calls them books because he thinks my feet are square and flat) we had to take a picture.



Here's what's at the other end of these huge feet. Gulliver!



In the afternoon we met up with Shirl and decided to buy tickets for the HOP ON/HOP OFF tour bus. First stop: the Guinness Factory. Here are Chris and Kelly enjoying their complementary Guinness in the Gravity Bar.


I, too, enjoyed my complimentary Guinness.

(*On my second night in Dublin a couple of lads told me I look like "Shelley" from "Coronation Street" (a popular night-time soap here). I had to google her to see what they were talking about, and I guess I see the resemblance....


She's holding a beer, too!



Tenderness aboard the HOP ON/HOP OFF bus.

(*Note that Chris is rocking my new scarf-looking like the European Male Model that we all know he has inside of him.)



Here is his BLUE STEEL look.



Chris had a lacrosse meeting on Thursday night and Kelly and I went out to a pub called HOGAN'S for Nuria's going-away party. That's Nuria on the left. She's on Chris and Kelly's softball team but she's moving back to San Francisco. There were lots of nice people there from this team and I am very glad we went out and met them!

All in all it's been a super-busy, super fun introduction to Dublin! I feel very welcome and I can't wait to get to know the city and its people better. Chris and Kelly are perfect, generous hosts and I feel so lucky to be here exploring this fantastic city with them. Life is good.

More soon! Next time: The Dublin Zoo!

21 August 2007

Ahh Choo

If you are going to have not one, but two Arnold siblings living in the same space for any amount of time...you'd better be prepared.


The inimitable Alli Arnold arrives tomorrow morning for a visit and people...I could NOT be more excited!! Reunited with my Shirl.

Reunited and it feels so good
Reunited and it's understood
Chris, Alli and I always have such a blast together...we can't wait to experience Dublin with our very first OFFICIAL guest!!


-k.

20 August 2007

Irish Open Softball Tournament


We're back from Limerick ! Kelly & I drove down to Limerick with friends Sean, Ashley and Suzanne to play in the Irish Open Softball Tournament at the University of Limerick. Although our team from Dublin didn't enter the tournament, we were able to get on a mixed team of University of Limerick players and players from University College Dublin.


There were about 30 teams in the tournament. It rained off and on all weekend which made for some really muddy fields, but we still had a blast. There were parties at night and a big bbq on Saturday. Our team made it to the Final Four but were beaten by our crosstown Dublin rivals the Blazzers.

(Sean,Chris & Suzanne having a good laugh)
We didn't take many pictures, because we were very busy having fun !

It is a 3 hour drive from Dublin to Limerick, another opportunity for us to enjoy the Irish countryside.

Much of the drive is on the N7 motorway, but there is still alot to see.


County Tipperary was especially beautiful. We are planning a trip back out to the Southwest part of the country very soon.

-Chris

17 August 2007

There once was a man from Nantuckett...


We are off for a three day trip to Limerick with the softball team. In honor or our destination we leave you with a few limericks:
There once was a man from Nantucket
Who kept all his cash in a bucket.
But his daughter, named Nan,
Ran away with a man
And as for the bucket, Nantucket.
But he followed the pair to Pawtucket,
The man and the girl with the bucket;
And he said to the man,
He was welcome to Nan,
But as for the bucket, Pawtucket.
Then the pair followed Pa to Manhasset,
Where he still held the cash as an asset,
But Nan and the man
Stole the money and ran,
And as for the bucket, Manhasset.


Look for a blog update on Monday.

15 August 2007

Joke for the day


Muldoon lived alone in the Irish countryside with only a pet dog for company. One day the dog died, and Muldoon went to the parish priest and asked, "Father, my dog is dead. Could ya' be saying' a mass for the poor creature?"

Father Patrick replied, "I'm afraid not; we cannot have services for an animal in the church. But there are some Baptists down the lane, and there's no tellin' what they believe. Maybe they'll do something for the creature."

Muldoon said, "I'll go right away Father. Do ya' think $5,000 is enough to donate to them for the service?"

Father Patrick exclaimed, "Sweet Mary, Mother of Jesus! Why didn't ya tell me the dog was Catholic?

(thanks for the joke go to Eileen)

12 August 2007

Chill Chainnigh ( Kilkenny ) - Part Two


Following up on Kelly's last post, here is a brief summary of the rest of our trip to Kilkenny.

We arrived in Kilkenny Station after a nice 2 hour train ride from Dublin. Kilkenny is a small city, so it was only a short walk downtown and across the River Nore to our hotel :


Berkeley House B & B, which we found through our Rick Steve's Ireland Guidebook
(thanks Megan & Ken)


The hotel was small but nice. They gave us the room on the top floor, apparently because they thought Kelly & I needed 3 beds ? We indeed used all 3 beds...for laying out our wet clothes !


After settling in briefly, we went to find Triple G's grave and the street named after him. Then we went to the biggest site to see in K-town... Kilkenny Castle !


We took a guided tour of the castle and ancestral home of the Butler Clan but we weren't allowed to take pictures inside. It was a 45 minute tour which is perfect. The interior was very impressive, you'll have to use your imagination. Fancy doors, tapestries, hand carved furniture yadda yadda yadda.


We looked over the castle wall and I said to Kelly "uhhh Kel? I've only had one beer, but I think their are heads floating in the river". Our trip coincided with the Kilkenny Arts Festival, so that explains the heads...i guess


It also explains why there were people walking about town in large costumes like these



They were very funny, walking around the bookstore making jokes..even getting behind the counter and calling the next customer "Ok who is next, i'll scan your item for ya" (In an irish accent of course)



Then we were off to the opposite end of the oldest part of town to see St. Canice's Cathedral built around 1250

Typical cathedral stuff. Impressive architecture.

Loads of stained glass


Impressive archways etc.

More stained glass, but the highlight of the cathedral was....


Its tower ! It's tall, skinny, leaning towards the Cathedral a bit, and you can climb up to the top !

You better be sure-footed when climbing tiny metal steps in wet weather !

Here Kelly demonstrates proper safety protocol...always 3 points of contact !


The climb inside is not for the fainthearted or claustrophobic. There are 6 or 7 of these staircase/ladders stacked inside the tower. Very tight space, theres no room for people to pass but plenty of room to fall to your death !


Lovely views of the graveyard of course.


When you finally get to the top, you have a great view of the city,


a commanding view of the countryside,


and a great place to enjoy the lovely summer weather of Ireland !


and of course, another beautiful view of the graveyard.

It was a wonderful trip to historic Kilkenny.

-Chris

Great Great Grandfather John Haltigan, or as we like to call him: Triple G

We recently made the oul' Haltigan pilgrimage to Kilkenny to have a gander at the evidence of my Irish ancestry. Just a few minutes walk from town we found St. Patrick's Graveyard, former site of St. Patrick's Church and still the housing the church's graveyard. Graves here date as far back as the 16th century.
Many Haltigan feet have passed this way and it felt eerie and exciting to follow in those footsteps. I felt particularly close to the generation before mine, and fancied the spirits of my parents tagging along behind us, recalling their own trip here in the eighties and thrilled to see their enthusiasm for family history alive and kicking.

John Haltigan's grave is one of biggest in the cemetery. My memory may be faulty, but I recall the citizens of Kilkenny refurbishing it about 20 years ago. I am fairly certain the original looked just like this one, so I don't know if this one is altogether new or just refaced.

I was a little disappointed to see that twenty-odd years of exposure have already taken quite a toll. Again relying on shaky recollections (Haltigans, please correct me where I am wrong) the refurbishment took place after my parents, uncles and aunts got friendly with the local population (some of whom live on Haltigan Terrace, more on that soon.) This appears to be the only updated grave in St. Patrick's.

The inscription reads:
Erected to the memory of John Haltigan by the Nationalists of Kilkenny who have known him to make a life long struggle for Irish freedom for which crime British law, aided by the informer, Nagle, consigned him to a living tomb where the fiendish torture of years shattered his vigorous form but failed to subdue his noble spirit. May his unselfish patriotism be imitated until Ireland is once again a Nation. Died 10 July 1884 aged 66 years
R.I.P.
Some close up detailing on the headstone.
On the side it reads:
Also his wife Catherine Haltigan Died January 19 1899 Aged 83 yearsMore detail.
Did my best to weed and clean the site up.
Later that day we went to the Kilkenny Archaeological Society to inquire about finding out more information on past Haltigans, and we picked up this book....
...which included a full page photo of Triple G's gravestone soon after restoration with the full inscription to the right. Also from the Kilkenny Archaeological Society we got a form to fill out for family history research but as the price was steep (starting at ninety Euros) I am going to find out more about what they offer. It's possible that they'll get the same info my father and his brothers got years ago (see bottom of this entry for what I have of that.) I don't know if the K.A.S. looks for all information about any Haltigans or just tracks down one individual for that price.

Not far from St. Patrick's is a wee little street called Haltigan Terrace. Yay!! I tried knocking on doors and demanding the occupants give me back what is rightfully mine but got only slammed doors. Kidding!! But I do I wish I had the temerity of my mother, who if memory serves, did knock on some doors and met some lovely folks living on the street named for her Great Grandfather-in-law. For those who knew Rita, can't you just picture her short little rolypoly frame and unabashedly cheery disposition at the doorstep? Who wouldn't invite that munchkin and her husband in for a cuppa?
She and my father, or maybe Aunt Helen and Uncle Phil (interchangeable couples for all intents and purposes, two Kreuder sisters who married two Haltigan brothers) became lifelong pen-pals and friends of some Haltigan Terrace residents and it was they who got this street marker erected and maybe even who instigated the refurbishment of John Haltigan's grave. I know my Uncle Lee figures into all this information gathering, visiting and friend-making but I am not sure which brother (and wife) accomplished what.

Chris will post more about our lovely Kilkenny trip, but for those who are interested I've included below the information my father's generation collected on John Haltigan, most from a genealogical researcher in Kilkenny I believe.

cheers,
-k.

John Haltigan was the eldest son and second child of James Haltigan and Margaret Jackman of Upper Patrick St, Kilkenny. He was born and christened 23rd of April, 1819. He had four brothers and and five sisters.
In 1844 or '45 John Haltigan married Catherine Keating and lived at Brownstown. His family was as follows:

James baptised 25 May 1847
John baptised 18th October 1849
Elizabeth baptised 18th September 1853
Thomas baptised 20th July 1856
Andrew baptised 20th January 1859 (my great grandfather)
Patrick baptised 6th July 1862
William baptised 25th January 1864 (died in infancy)

The family seemed to have lived at Loughboy up to the time John left Kilkenny for Dublin, 1861 or shortly afterwards. His eldest son James left for the states before him. John returned to Ireland in 1877 and died in Cork in 1884. He is buried in St. Patrick's Kilkenny.

Parish registers consulted through the courtesy of Very Rev. Fr. J. Clohosey, Adm. St. Patrick's
~~~~~~~~

In 1856 John Haltigan was employed as a printer on the Kilkenny Journal. When the I.R.B. (Irish Republican Brotherhood) was established, Haltigan was appointed Deputy Head Centre for Kilkenny and in that capacity acted as one of the four pall-bearers at the funeral of Terence Bellew McManus in 1861.

When "The Irish People," the weekly organ of the I.R.B. was established, Haltigan was appointed foreman printer, and following it's seizure by the police in September, 1865, he was arrested and sentenced to seven years penal servitude. He served four years of this sentence in Portland and Pentonville prisons. While he was in jail in 1867, the Manchester Martyrs - Allen, Larkin and O'Brien, were tried and executed - so that though Haltigan was a member of the Fenian movement he had no direct connection with the attack on the prison van that led to the execution of the three aforenamed.

After serving four years of his sentence, Haltigan was released and arrived in New York in 1873 and acted as foreman printer for his son James, who was then editor and publisher of "The Sunday Citizen." He returned to Kilkenny in 1877 and died in Cork 1884. He is buried in St. Patrick's, Kilkenny. There is a terrace named in his honour - Haltigan Terrace.

John Rutherford in his book "The Secret History of the Fenian Conspiracy" (London, 1877) says: "Another conspicuous lieutenant of Brophy's was the printer, Haltigan, the man who superintended the drilling of the Brotherhood in the city (Dublin) and who used to beard the police engaged in the observance of these doings with consummate audacity and insolence. Haltigan, an enthusiast in his way, trained his eldest son so thoroughly in conspiracy that the lad - barely sixteen - took his father's place in the Brotherhood, when he (the father) was condemned to a long term of penal servitude in 1865."

Further reading:
Savage's "Fenian Heroes and Martyrs" New York 1868
John O'Leary's "Recollections of Fenians and Fenianism" London 1896
John Devoy's "Recollections of an Irish Rebel" New York 1929
Tynan's "The History of the Irish National Invincibles and Their Times" New York 1894
James S. Stephen's "Chief Organiser Irish Republic" New York 1966
Joseph Denieffe's "Recollections of the Irish Revolutionary Brotherhood" New York 1906