Books
Breakout
(Historical Fiction)
Based on the true stories of four men; John Lahy, Henry Smith, Michael Lawless and Richard Herring, independently convicted in 1830s United Kingdom and sentenced to transportation to the penal colony of Australia. There they met on a prison ship and planned a daring escape, bush-whacking the local residents as they went. This is the story of their lives and their bush-whacking adventure. Real dialogue reported by newspapers and court records are used where possible.
Sheelin
(Historical Fiction)
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Based on a true story of two young women from rural Ireland in the late 1800s. They lived near Lough Sheelin, and this story is based on Newspaper reports at the time. Both women wanted to ‘better their prospects’ one by marriage and the other by emigration. Life was hard in Ireland at this time, poverty was rife and prospects were bleak. Mary Jane married a Roman Catholic and was consequently shunned by her family, so she elected to emigrate to Connecticut with her alcoholic new husband. They tried to start a new life, but soon the alcoholism took its toll and both were regularly arrested and jailed (despite having 6 kids along the way). Very soon the American dream became a nightmare with bleak prospects to escape from the vicious cycle of drink, fighting and incarceration. Her cousin Elizabeth tried a different tactic, eloping with a rich (much older) local Gent who became estranged from his first wife. Despite objections from her Doctor father, they ‘lived in sin’ in Rural Donegal until his first wife died. However, Elizabeth got dumped on Grafton Street, the day before the wedding, with her prospective husband developing cold feet and disappearing off to England. She was distraught, but tracked him down to reconcile. Elizabeth persuaded her new husband Thomas to alter his will in her favour, however soon his children discover this and a literal ‘battle of wills’ ensued.
The Cavan Leahys 1800-1950
(Factual)
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The second Volume of a history of the Leahy / Lahey / Lahy family from County Cavan, Ireland. The first Volume examined possible origins and described the 'Top of the Tree' of the earliest known Lahys in County Cavan, whereas this Volume continues the stories of those families from about the year 1800 to 1950. There are descriptions of the main family branches and individuals who 'stood out' including many who emigrated to the USA and Australia. I've included newspaper reports, court proceedings and handed down stories, as well as maps of where they lived and photographs of some individuals where possible. Its a summary of 10 years of research (hence the large size) which I've tried to make as interesting as possible.
The Cavan Leahys: Origins
(Factual)
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The Leahy / Lahey / Lahy families of County Cavan have a long history in the County. They are a distinct group of 'Leahys' isolated from the other concentrations of Leahy families in Ireland. Several theories of their origins are explored along with rationales and what little evidence that exists to support them. After many years
researching the Leahys in Cavan I have come to the conclusion that they (and Leahysin neighbouring counties) are all related. I have studied Church and Civil records along with census data, Wills and most importantly Land Deeds records as well as some private collections and have been able to create a 'Top of the Tree' structure that fits in with all the known data. I present what I see to be the most accurate Leahy family tree in County Cavan from the late 1600s to about the year 1800
