This beautiful photo of the Irish Jaunting Cars was taken outside Muckross House at Killarney. These Jaunting cars carry passengers from the town of Killarney to Muckross House, a few miles away, and is a delight for the tourist.
These pages present a peep in the lives of our forbears who came from Ireland and Scotland to prepare the way for our Australian families who are proud to be Irish, Scottish and patriotic Australians. The background is varied and interesting, which I trust will make for exciting reading.
First to arrive was ELIZABETH RAFFERTY, who arrived in Sydney in 1797. She was convicted for treason in Dublin in 1795. However a pardon 'for good behaviour' was forthcoming, shortly after her arrival. Elizabeth's remarkable story can be seen on a page 5.
Next to disembark at Port Jackson was JANE FLETCHER who was an orphan and victim of the Great Famine in Ireland. Her story of deprivation, hard work and family are a great story for any reader, who loves the Irish lifestyle.
WILLIAM DELAHUNTY, a man of whom we know very little, arrived about the same time as Jane Fletcher. He came from Co.Kilkenny, where lush farmland is abundant.They married in Sydney and worked on farms in the New England district while raising a large family, who are spread across this nation and New Zealand.
Then a man, JOHN MALTMAN with high expectation and enterprise made his way to the goldfields of Australia where he could begin a new life and support his loving family. His life was full of great adventures, which crossed the paths of many who had their little piece of fame.
About the same time a nurse whose family were Innkeepers in Ireland, decided to make this land of opportunity her home. LETITIA ROSE MULHOLLAND nursed those who needed her aid on the voyage out from Cork and departed the ship at Maryborough Queensland. There she met JOHN MALTMAN, whom she married and together they worked hard to raise a family and bring goodness and compassion to those around them, throughout their lifetime.
Lastly my (Thelma's) Scots links are a united nations effort. My grandmother GRACE JAGO SARKIES was born at Kilsyth, Stirling, SCT. Her Scottish mother Helen Sarkies who married in Melbourne Australia to John Sarkies (Armenian b.Iran) was visiting her parents John McKay & Isabella Crawford, Glasgow. John's sister Margaret McKay married Josias Coke JAGO. In 2000 we found this JAGO family of Devon has links to the Guinness (Whiskey) family.
We trust you enjoy all these stories which in some part have inspired us all to achieve and enjoy a sense of accomplishment in our own lives. It is for the grandchildren or today's generation to learn anew the great things which are recorded from their forbears.
Matthew and I have travelled extensively around our great Australian continent and shared some marvellous times in Britain, Scotland and Ireland. We have included some special photos in these pages. We love Irish music and videos, with Daniel O'Donnell - Mary Duff being favourites. To top all that, I am a 'hooked on' cross stitcher, which I find great pleasure in, after about 15 years of research. I have so many projects to complete, while the days and years seem to rush along regardless. Matthew has a greater interest in the technical part of our hobbies and when retirement arrives in a year or two he will spend more time developing skills on the computer and with family research.
Do email us if you wish to ask anything. Thelma Birrell
"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail"
