October 25, 2012

Sepia Saturday 149: Riverstick

Pink Pub and the Belgooly River
© Neville Goodman and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons License.
I'm off to soak my feet in the Belgooly River and enjoy a pint at the Pink Pub this week. This photograph is from the website, Geograph: Photograph Every Grid Square.(1) The Geograph Ireland project is out to collect photographs of every square kilometer of Ireland. This a boon to those of us who would love to partake the waters (or ale) but live too far afield. An armchair tour with a pint in hand is as close as we might come!

John Mahoney (1818-1904) lived in Riverstick, Cork, Ireland within the same grid square as the Pink Pub.(2) Though I doubt it was the Pink Pub in the 19th or early 20th Century. As I follow the Mahoneys back in time, I'll have to brush up on Irish geography. I can't think of a more diverting way than to explore on Geograph. I'm already encouraged that the area is sparsely populated even today so perhaps there will be only one John Mahoney haunting the area. (Could I be so lucky?!)

20th Century records give John's residence as Riverstick, Curroragh Townland.(2) His marriage and the baptisms of his first 5 children occurred in Ballymartle (Clontead or Belgooly) Parochial Area, Cork & Ross Catholic Diocese.(3) Curroragh Townland is in Ballymartle Civil Parish.

Using Ask About Ireland, "Griffith's Valuation" map overlays, Riverstick lies partly in Curroragh, Curra and Boulaling Townlands.(4) Ask About Ireland maps are under copyright but are easy to create using the Place Name Search entering Ballymartle (step 1) and Cork (step 2). These maps confirm that the various locations in most family records were in or near Riverstick.

The only surprise is John's son, Patrick (1860-1948). Patrick was baptized in the "Ballingarry (Clontead or Belgooly) Parochial Area."(5) Patrick is surely from the same family as his baptismal record names the same parents. Patrick corresponded with his family in Ireland after immigration to the United States. Some letters from his brother, William, survive and are in the family collection.(6)

What makes Ballingarry so intriguing are the possible ties between the Mahoneys of Ballingarry and the Mahoneys of Ballymartle. It appears I will be following the twisty country roads of County Cork to Ballingarry to unravel the mystery of Patrick's baptism.

Country Road in Co. Cork near Fartha, Ballyfeard, Tracton and Ballingarry, Cork, Ireland © Hywel Williams and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons License. (7)

The Sepia Saturday photograph of the week sent me on a metaphorical journey to Ireland, the Belgooly River and the Pink Pub with a not so metaphorical pint.  Definitely preferable to taking the waters! For more journeys inspired by an Irish stream and curative waters, see Sepia Saturday 149.

Sources:
(1) Goodman, Neville. "Pink Pub and the Belgooly River." Digital image. Geograph: Photograph Every Grid Square. http://www.geograph.ie/photo/2116920 : 2012. Image copyright Neville Goodman and licensed for reuse under Creative Commons License.
(2) Ireland. Cork. 1901/1911 census of Ireland. Digital images. John Mahony entry (1901); William and Margaret (sister) Mahony entry (1911). National Archives of Ireland. Census of Ireland 1901/1911. http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/ : 2006; Ireland. Kinsale District. Death Records. 1904, vol. 5: 245, John Mahony. General Register Office, Dublin.
(3) Ballymartle Parochial Area (Ballymartle, Cork, Ireland). Clountead, Ballingarry and Ballymartle Parish Records, Cork and Ross Diocese, 1836-1880. Database and digital images. John Mahony-Catherine Knowles marriage (1841); Andy Mahony baptism (1842); Margart Mahoney baptism (1845); Cors Mahony baptism (1848); John Mahoney baptism (1854) and William Mahoney baptism (1857).   Irish Genealogy: Explore your Family History. http://churchrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/ : 2009.
(4)  An Chomhairle Leabharlanna. "Griffith's Valuation." Ask About Ireland. http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/ : 2003.
(5) Ballymartle Parochial Area (Ballymartle, Cork, Ireland). Clountead, Ballingarry and Ballymartle Parish Records, Cork and Ross Diocese, 1836-1880. Database and digital images. Pat Mahony baptism (1860).   Irish Genealogy: Explore your Family History. http://churchrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/ : 2009.
(6) Filios, Norma. Mahoney History and Genealogy. N.p.: The Author, n.d.
(7) Williams, Hywel. "Country Road in County Cork,near to Fartha, Ballyfeard, Tracton and Ballingarry, Cork, Ireland." Digital image. Geograph: Photograph Every Grid Square. http://www.geograph.ie/photo/2773538 : 2012. Image copyright Hywel Williams and licensed for reuse under Creative Commons License.

27 comments:

  1. The Geograph project sounds really interesting. I wonder whether there is anything like that in the U.S.

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    1. Since I discovered this site, I have been thinking of what image captures the essence of the square kilometer where I live. Definitely a different perspective!

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  2. This is very interesting ... great idea, and I like the spot that you chose to share with us.

    Kathy M.

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  3. My great-grandmother came to the US from County Cork, so it was fun to see some of her possible stomping grounds.

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    1. Warning Wendy, Geograph is addictive. I found myself plodding all over County Cork exploring the photographs. :)

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  4. I really like the idea of the Geograph and enjoyed your post very much. The picture of the twisty country road totally drew me in. Hopefully you stopped for your "pint" at the end of that road!

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    1. I'd love to ride my bike down that twisty country road.

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  5. What a great idea - the Geograph. I can imagine it would be almost as good as being there. Great for armchair travelers.
    Nancy

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  6. I've been looking at Geograph for years. You can find all sorts of stuff on an area that you visted years ago without a camera. Who would be able to resist the Pink Pub?

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    1. @Bob, Isn't it great! I spent more time than I care to admit looking for the perfect stream in Co. Cork. So what are the other great photograph sites I've been missing for Ireland and England?
      Liz

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  7. This is so lovely, I knew nothing about this and admist you had me there, I thought you were off to the site. But this is the 2nd best way to go, taking us all along. Geograph is new to me, I will have to check it out; when I get some time at the screen to sit and browse. Is it like Google Earth?

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    1. It is not at all like Google Earth. You can't fly along or view streets, etc. This is more like a collection of photographs tagged to a specific square kilometer. Some are really quite breathtaking.

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  8. Hope that one day you can bring the Mahoneys of Ballingarry and the Mahoneys of Ballymartle together. And when that time is there your not so metaphorical pint is well deserved :)

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    1. Peter, If I bring the Mahoneys of Ballingarry together with the Mahoneys of Ballymartle, I'll celebrate with a trip to Ireland and a pint at the Pink Pub. :)

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  9. I agree about Geograph - I used it myself this week! Good luck with your genealogy search.

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  10. I always like how the Irish paint their pubs is such a variety of colours. What a great way to 'walk' on the same road as your ancestors. I find Geograph addictive too, you look for one thing and somehow find yourself browsing lots of grid squares. I didn't know they did one for Ireland too, I think I'm off to relive my holiday in County Kerry.

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    1. I had to re-hike the Pembroke Coastal Path. Nothing to do with my research but definitely fun to relive the moment.

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  11. This project sounds very interesting, a great and easy way to travel. You don't have to pack and wait for a buses or airplanes, just a click and you can enjoy wonderful landscapes.

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  12. What a beautiful area! Geograph sounds like a very interesting concept for a website. Do you know if it is only specifically for Ireland or is there a Geograph website for other areas of the world?

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    1. Jana, Geograph started in England and even more of their grid squares have been covered.

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  13. I had never heard of Geograph. Is there room in my life for another addicting activity?

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  14. Don't you love where the internet can take you in your search. I'll be joining you in a non-metaphorical pint, by the way!

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  15. A pint at the Pink Pub sounds like fun! The old country road is really lovely, and would be marvelous to explore. I too had never heard of Geograph, this is really worth checking out!

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  16. A very suitable choice for this weekend's theme. I tried the "Ask About Ireland" map and was intrigued to find my great-grandfather's name there, so I am inspired to start my own family search. Thanks for the link.

    As to mapping every kilometer, I'm worried it won't stop there. With more smartphones and cameras it will soon become Map Every Square Meter! I think I'll just walk there.

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    1. Mike, Good luck researching your great-grandfather!

      I don't think there is any danger of covering every square meter anytime soon. Have you driven across Kansas or Oklahoma or Texas lately? :)
      Liz

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  17. An armchair tour was certainly a fun idea as an introduction,
    but I am now intrigued. Wouldn't mind traveling through these regions.
    :)~
    HUGZ

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