Gremlin’s Fireside Chat

The Irish National Archives have today released the 1901 Irish Census – and I could not help but take a dive and have a look at my mothers side of the Bartleys. I knew that in 1911 they lived in Whistlemount just outside Navan. The census results for 1911 shows :

My Grandfather Joseph (a kindly but tough and pious man) is the 7 year old mentioned and his Parents are Joseph and Jane.

In 1901 in the same place both Joseph and Jane are mentioned:

But Joseph’s parents Pater and Kate are there also along with Joseph’s and Jane’s daughter Eliza aged 2 months. Eliza must have died at a young age (May the Lord have mercy on her soul) but isn’t in the 1911 one.

You will also note that Joseph is in 1911 aged 40 and in 1901 is 25! From the scan of the census record I see that the age entry for Joseph is in a different ink than the rest. I wonder what the story was for this..

Happy new year all,

and what a xmas – its been quiet mostly because we have all suffered from one cold or another. New year was fun because her family came to visit and food and drink was shared.

After the new year snow arrived – the worst in Ireland for 30 years. I remember the one 30 years ago, but I was in England at the time – and I remember the fun of six foot snow drifts that lasted for weeks and digging snow tunnels, school being cancelled and the roads so bad you cannot drive on them. I remember fantastic snow covered vista’s. We lived in the country in a small English village miles away from most so called “civilization”.

One of the main things I remember is using sledges full of food which we teenagers pulled to out-lying houses containing old people who needed our help.

Back to the present and we see Ireland brought to a stand still by a prolonged cold spell (>14 days) and a meagre 2cm of snow – that and a lot of dangerous black ice on the roads. Funny thing is the government has run out of road salt (blames local council’s and the “rare” condition). Everyone is angry at the government’s incompetence in handling any crisis – before the snow it was the flooding, banking, housing etc. No imagination or planning with our rulers.

Ireland is one of those places that goes nutty over christmas – not that we get much snow here which is a pity. When I went out to lunch and I saw the following snowman on the move.

Made me laugh out loud – something good on a miserable day like today.

As part our recent holiday to Sligo we went to the IRISH RAPTOR RESEARCH CENTRE; and we had a great time watching and looking at the eagles, hawks, owls and vultures – some of whom are massive.

One of the things I have always wanted to do is hold a raptor – and this centre allows you to do this. I had the fun of having a piece of meat in my hand and have the raptor fly to it. The following picture was taken then:

Gary at Raptor Park

We all had a fantastic time at the centre and we plan to go back – please visit and support this privately funded research centre because its a great afternoon out and deserves our support.

I am looking at the most beautiful red full moon I have ever seen rising over Dublin bay. Lots photos – but nothing to compare to seeing it. Absolutely gob smacking.