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Recent Posts
- When John met Sarah – convict courtship
- Would you like to start genealogy blogging?
- My ancestor was from London – where do I start?
- Some happy finds
- The Factory above the Gaol – women convicts in 1818
- What did Mary do on Monday? Women’s work
- The cook, the thieves, the prostitute and the postillion – convicts transported to Australia
- Wealth for Toil – Australia Day challenge for 2012
- Family myths, cover-ups – what did Nicholas Delaney really do?
- What else was happening in Australia?
Past posts
Link to ‘A Rebel Hand’ website
Category Archives: 1798
Some happy finds
Sometimes I come across a batch of lucky A Rebel Hand-related discoveries on the net and it’s good to share them, so here’s a round-up. The Convict Maid Following on from my last one, about women convicts and the early … Continue reading
Posted in 1798, A Rebel Hand, Australia, Convicts
Tagged A Rebel Hand, Australia, Billy Byrne, Convict, Ireland, Irish Rebellion of 1798, Secret River
5 Comments
1798 – the television programme
Here at last! A link to the episode of BBC TV’s Story of Ireland which deals with the Rebellion of 1798 and the United Irishmen. Earlier this year, this four-part series presented by Fergal Keane took us at some speed … Continue reading
Posted in 1798, Ireland
Tagged A Rebel Hand, BBC, Convict, history, Story of Ireland
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The song that inspired ‘A Rebel Hand’
At Boolavogue as the sun was setting O’er the bright May meadows of Shelmalier, A rebel hand set the heather blazing and brought the neighbours from far and near. That’s the first verse of the song Boolavogue, which tells the … Continue reading
Posted in 1798, Nicholas Delaney
Tagged 1798, A Rebel Hand, Boolavogue, Boys of Wexford, Carnew, Father Murphy, history, Ireland, Nicholas Delaney, Wicklow
7 Comments
More about Boolavogue
The lyrics to Boolavogue were written by Patrick Joseph (PJ) McCall and set to the Irish air Eochaill, or Youghal Harbour. There are many versions of this well-loved song on the net. Probably the best-known is the one I heard … Continue reading
Posted in 1798, A Rebel Hand
Tagged 1798, A Rebel Hand, Boolavogue, Fr John Murphy, history, Ireland, Music, Nicholas Delaney, Songs, Wexford
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The day we met the President
The Irish presidential election is in the news these days – it takes place on Thursday, 27 October 2011. There are seven hopefuls in the race, some more controversial than others. It reminds me of the day, 13 years ago, … Continue reading
Posted in 1798, Ireland
Tagged 1798, A Rebel Hand, Convict, Heritage, Ireland, Nicholas Delaney, Wicklow, Wicklow Gaol
1 Comment
Two surprise finds
I’m excited by this. OK, perhaps I’m easily pleased, but it was a real delight to find the clip of Graham Norton’s Who Do You Think You Are? in which he learns about his yeoman ancestor in Carnew, just days … Continue reading
Posted in 1798, Blogging
Tagged 1798, A Rebel Hand, Biddy Dolan, Bridget Dolan, Graham Norton, Heppenstall, Nicholas Delaney, trial, Twamley
1 Comment
Questions
Some follow-up thoughts over the past few days. Story of Ireland Bob commented on Story of Ireland: 1798, wondering why the last episode of Story of Ireland was rescheduled. It was moved from its regular slot at 1900 on Monday … Continue reading
Posted in 1798, Nicholas Delaney
Tagged 1798, A Rebel Hand, Bridget Dolan, history, Ireland, Nicholas Delaney, Story of Ireland, trial
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Story of Ireland: 1798
BBC TV’s Story of Ireland series reached 1798 last week and devoted 13 of its 59 minutes to the United Irishmen and the Irish Rebellion (or Revolution, as presenter Fergal Keane refers to it). To be fair, the programme covered … Continue reading
I’m staying in on Monday 30th…
and not even answering the phone. Why? Because tonight (the 16th) a new TV series, Story of Ireland, began. Presented by Fergal Keane, it’s a five-parter and tonight’s episode raced from the earliest beginnings to the eve of the Norman … Continue reading




