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This site contains photos and from the Downey Family Trip to Ireland 5 June through 13 June 2005. Mike Downey and Peter J. Downey from Australia searched out the family tree. Diana Downey worked with Eileen of Executive Tours in Ireland planning a memorable Family Reunion and bus tour around the country for 38 from the U.S. We had a 7 June Downey Family Reunion Dinner and Craic...Irish for Party, with an 8 June visit to the Cemetery and Downey Family Farm...where we will begin.

To walk where they walked...the Downey Farm...Ballyfowloo Back to Top

We learned about the Irish Potato Famine of 1845 through 1849 where about 1 million died of starvation. This began the great exodus of the Irish from the island as the population began to shrink from 8-9 million to 4 million as the land could not support them. The eldest left to make their way in new worlds. John Downey, the eldest son of James Downey and Catherine Hayden, walked up the path from the Downey cottage in 1851 along with his wife, Mary O'Meara, and headed to America...finally settling in Vail, Iowa. In 1853, James Downey walked up the path, and headed South around the Cape of Good Hope, and East for the long trip to Australia. Patrick, the youngest brother, stayed at home on the farm. On June 8, a few of the descendents of John, James, and Patsy gathered on what is now the 40 acre Downey family farm, Ballyfowloo, south of the town of Cashel...for the 154 year reunion of a few Downey cousins...Detail names.

The original cottage was in the lower field through the gap in the trees above. The Downey cottage was probably located with a group of other cottages to form Ballyfowloo.

Paddy Downey, Tina Cummins, and Patrick Downey stand in the lower field in front of the site of the original Downey Cottage in the distance...near the bushes between Tina and Patrick.

Paddy2 is a Cashel Councilman and Deputy Mayor...rotating to Mayor next year. Tina was a primary contact for Mike in organizing the party with the Irish relatives. Patrick is Tina's brother with 3 other siblings born on the farm to Paddy1...the elder Paddy who is currently in an elder care home.

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Jean Keenan in front of Downey Farm home number 2...a classic stone cottage.

The second house on the farm was built halfway up the path to the road...now an outbuilding on the farm. Built by Patsy's son Cornelius...who then had Paddy...father of Tina and Patrick.

Paddy the current Councilman is the 4th in a line of Patricks from Patsy to Pak to Pakie to Paddy.

Keeping all of the Paddy's straight is a challenge all its own in the Ireland Downey family tree.

The third house was built at the top of the path out on the road...the birthplace of Tina, Conor, Stephen, Patrick, and Paul to Paddy and Ann.

Our bus driver and tour guide, Gary Goddard, taking the family portrait above on the Farm. Gary went the extra mile for us and never left anyone behind.

Visiting the Family Cemetery at Tullamaine...more Cemetary Pictures Back to Top

We visited the Family plot at the cemetery south of the Farm where a small overgrown church and churchyard cemetery was located on the grounds of Tullamaine Castle.

Peter Downey from Downunder found the Cemetary where a number of our ancesters are buried on top of the hill...an unbelievably blue sky day to visit our Irish Ancestors.

The cemetery is on the grounds of Tullamaine Castle, near the town of Fethard. Tullamaine was originally built by James Maher in 1835, and is now a horse farm. Irish law allows access to old cemeteries through private land.

We must thank Peter J Downunder, shown here walking with Joe and Anne Dols, who worked with Conor Downey in restoring the Downey gravesites for our visit. Helen Downey provided flowers for the graves.

Gravestones and Plaque in the Downey Family Plot

Left: James Downey born 1723, died 1795 at age 72

Johanna Downey died in Clonmel in 1875

James Downey, husband of Catherine Hayden, father of John, James, and Patsy...died 20 June 1869 in Cashel.at 90 years old...and Cornelius Downey.

Right: Patrick "Pak" Downey died August 10, 1914 at age 32

Front: The Descendents Plaque from Peter J Downunder.

In Memory Of James Downey

Died 20th June 1869 Aged 90

Son of John Downey & Margaret English

and his wife Catherine Hayden

Died 10th April 1881 Aged 88

Erected by the Descendents of their Sons

John Thomas Downey Died 12th September 1907 Aged 89 at Vail, Iowa USA

James English Downey Died 12th July 1918 Aged 89 at Koroit, Victoria, Australia

Patrick "Patsy" Downey Died 26th June 1920 Aged 86 at Ballyfowloo, Cashel, County Tipperary, Ireland

Reunion 7th June 2005

Father Jim Purcell came from Cashel to give a blessing over our ancestors and their descendants, and to say a decade of the rosary...

...as their descendents of multiple generations pay tribute in our gathering as a family once again...154 years after John and Mary O'Meara Downey left Ireland to make their way to America. .

Jeff, Matt, and Michele Downey in front of the headstone of their great, great, great, great, grandfather...while their Irish cousin Andrew Downey looks on.

Theresa Dols, Brendan Tusha, Stephen Downey, Diana Downey, Tina in back with Grace, Andrew Downey, Greg Downey, Anna Downey, Tim Dols, Fiona downey with Philip and James, Jean Keenan with daughter, Mary Tusha, and Patrick Downey with Mark.

Thanks to Conor for the work to get the site cleared of some really thick, tough underbrush.

Mike Downey searches for tombstones in the rest of the cemetery...This is how Peter J found it a year ago as he searched with a flashlight to find the Downey tombstones flattened under the undergrowth.

Mike was elated that his family tree work and Diana's trip planning had come together. The breakthrough was his finding Peter J over the web...who had done the homework and links back to Ireland..

Paddy, Peter, and Mike Downey...Peter had traced the family tree from Australia back to Cashel, and had found the graves in 2004. He was looking for a "Thomas" Downey link to America, when Sheila Downey told him to look for John...He and Mike met through the web...and Peter asked Mike if he knew John's Father's name. Mike found that it was James through a distant cousin. After he responded to Peter he got a message..."Hello Cousin...". And here we were a few months later...Irish, Australian, and American branches...a family once again.

The 2 Peter J's finally got to meet and committed to keep the family links alive between Australia and America and Ireland...and to broaden the contacts to the rest of the family who could not be there. We will work with Mike to find the appropriate method to get the family tree on the web.

We'll rely on our spouses...Diana and Helen...who were already fast friends through email before finally meeting in Ireland..

Matt Downey gave Helen a hug and thanked her for prayers for his safe return from service in Iraq.

Tom Cummins, Tina's husband, explains family history to Anne Dols and Joanne Stone as Joe and Tim Dols look on...while Katie Downey walks with her own thoughts.

The Tullamaine Horse Farm provides a wonderful country setting for the resting place of our ancestors.

Tina with brother Paul as his wife Grace shows off their new one...Katelyn...9 months old to this day.

Fiona and Philip Downey with one of her redheads looking on.

Finally time to leave as Mike and Ed Downey escort Jean Keenan back down the hill.

Coming Down the Hill

We captured the joy of the day as as family came back down the hill with Fiona, Patrick Downey with Tom Cummins. The Downey boys provide action.

DowneyFamilyCemetary-ComingDowneyTheHill.wmv- 2 Meg...will play as streaming video on high speed link.

Finally back and ready to board the bus as our Driver, Gary Goddard, checks his schedule. For those who may want to visit again, this shows the Tullamaine Castle parking lot with the cemetery marked by the crucifix at the top of the hill.

Tullamaine Castle is a beautiful setting for our ancestors final resting place...well worth visiting if you are in Ireland.

Tullamaine is located Southwest of Cashel, near the town of Fethard, noted on the map below on Mapquest map for Cashel, Ireland area.

Yahoo! UK & Ireland Maps

Mapquest Map

We'll try to get a more precise road location of Farm and Cemetary.

The Downey Reunion and Craic at Dundrum...more Downey Family Reunion Craic Pictures

Before John and James would have left, there would have been a celebratory Irish Wake as they would never see their homeland or loved ones again. On June 7, 2005, we had a joyful Downey Reunion at Dundrum House, a 1730 Manor House and Golf Course Northwest of Cashel.

This is where the American travelers parked the bus and spent the night with dinner for 76 in the dining room, followed by a Craic in the cellar bar.

The Downey Family Reunion Dinner at Dundrum Dining Room with a great view of the golf course and family fellowship.

Dinner was wonderful.

We found the Dundrum desserts especially delicious...portrait by Jo Downey of our Bailey's Irish Cream Puffs.

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Craic in the Cellar Bar at Dundrum...more Downey Family Reunion Craic Pictures

Conor talking with Sheila Downey, who joined us from Dublin, as Mike Downey and Ann listen. Sheila was the senior person at the Reunion and was a key to Peter J finding the John Thomas Downey ancestors and Mike. Grace Downey talks with with Rosemary Downey and Fiona Downey.

We had great music from Pat Tobin on the keyboards...for good Craic.

The American Downey's were singers...

Orla Cummins, Diana Downey, Mary Wieland, Pete and Mike Downey were the Music Committee in building and publishing a combined Irish and American Family input...link here...

DowneyFamilyCraicSongbook.pdf

Orla played the guitar and tin whistle.

Thanks to Orla for a CD of Irish Reels and Polkas that we played on the bus throughout the trip.

The Irish Downey's learned that the American Downey tradition taught by Grandma Agnes Downey didn't really require a great singing voice...only the willingness to join in. Mary Rose showed Orla how to sing with GUSTO!!!

Mary Rose led an International Family Medley...

with Ireland's Call, Waltzing Matilda, America, and Let There Be Peace on Earth...for all the 3 Continents and Countries attending...and a continuing quest.

Paddy's Wife Joan, and Maria Downey's husband, Phillip Tierney joined in.

Aidan Downey, Paddy and Joan's son, led us in the singing of Ireland's Call, joined by Paddy, Joan, Phillip, and Tina. Ireland's Call...the Song of the Irish Rugby Team is becoming a new National Anthem.

The Irish Downeys were Dancers...

The Irish Downeys were Dancers...led by a toe tapping Tom Cummins and Joan Downey.

The Siege of Ennis...Click for music Siege of Ennis before viewing to get the multimedia effect..

The Irish side of the family all flooded the Dance Floor as Pat Tobin played the Siege of Ennis...and grabbed a few American partners.

Ed Downey with Paddy's wife, Joan and Paddy and Joan's Daughters...Claire and Helen joined in...as Peter J Downunder looked on...

Michael Bulfin, Margaret Downey's husband danced with his daughter. Back to Top

Mary Tusha joined with Ed while Tina tried to teach Pete in the background...Christine Downey has a natural talent.

Paddy and Tina did the twirls right...Mary Tusha and Pete Downey did the American Square Dance version. It was a little like learning the piano from grandma Agnes Downey...when you make a mistake...just keep going... Back to Top

Thanks to Jamie Skipworth for pictures of the Dancing Downeys...The Irish Downeys were pro's. The American Downeys were learners. We all had a great time learning Singing and Dancing from one another after 154 years...Having fun as a family...the way that John and Mary O'Meara Downey, and later James Downey would have enjoyed their "Irish Wake" before setting off to the challenges of their new worlds. Back to Top

We learned for Bunratty Dancing

Mike Downey and Tim Dols obviously learned from the Reunion Dancing Lesson as they were called on to participate in the Farm Dinner Dance as Joe Dols look on.

Even better...Jo Downey captured the moment of their smooth moves on Video Bunratty-FarmDinnerDance.mov ...requires Quicktime Player Download...4.4 Meg. This is a QuickTime Movie...see AOL Quicktime Hints if you have a problem playing in AOL.

Thanks to the Downeys Downunder

We give special thanks to Helen and Peter Downey... our Aussie cousins...for Peter's research, and connecting with Mike Downey in leading to the family reunion. The trip from Australia was a long one...It certainly wouldn't have been the same without them.

On the day we arrived back home after our trip, their friend, Doug Wood, was rescued in Iraq. Doug has flown home to Australia. We wish him well.

Thanks to Tina Cummins

Tina has been the Irish communication hub...along with daughter Orla for the Music committee. Thanks to her for the Irish connections in getting people to the reunion.

Thanks to Mike Downey

A special thanks to Mike Downey shown here with Paddy Downey... for all of his work in digging out the descendents of John and Mary O'Meara Downey, 377 at last count...and linking with Peter J Downunder to integrate with the Aussie and Irish branches..

Paddy thanked Mike for hosting the Dinner for the Irish Downey side.

Eileen of Executive Tours did a wonderful job in getting the overall dinner arrangements.

Family Tree

We've captured Peter's and Mike's work into an Excel Workbook with totals of 630 Direct Descendants and 938 Total Family with Spouses and other Family.

Peter J Downunder, Mike, and Peter J America will work on a way for appropriate and continuing sharing on the web. In the meantime, family members can write Mike.Downey@handera.com for a copy of the spreadsheet.

The following shows James and Catherine Hayden family…with the siblings and spouses of sons John, James, and Patrick…and the descendents at the Family Reunion

Cashel...The Downey Home Town...7 June 2005...more Cashel & the Rock Pictures.

We went from Blarney to Cashel, the home town of the Downey's, known for the Rock of Cashel. A 200 foot rock protrusion from the surrounding plain...former home of the kings of Ireland, the place where St. Patrick baptized the King of Munster. Cashel is now a bustling town with view of the Rock...with Paddy Downey as a Councillor and Deputy Mayor...rotating to Mayor next year. This is beautiful view of the old home town from the Rock of Cashel.

We walked the town, and then walked up for our tour on the rock. Joan Downey arranged a guided tour of the Rock of Cashel.

On the Bus...Making the loop of John and Mary's Ireland...more On the Bus

The Downey Family Reunion and visits to Cemetery and Farm was a part of a larger tour of Ireland. Back to Top

he American crew made the loop of Ireland...arriving at Shannon on Sunday Morning...June 5 with Jerry O'Brien, Eileen, and the Executive Tours Bus waiting.

Gary Goddard was our Driver and Tour Guide as we made the rounds of the Irish Countryside.

Day 1 Shannon to Killarney...Sunday 5 June 2005

We arrived at Shannon Airport...then traveled through Tralee where we ate lunch...then on to Dingle on the Dingle Peninsula, and finally back to Killarney where we stayed for 2 days. Back to Top

Killarney - We stayed in the Killarney Towers for our first and second nights... more Killarney Back to Top

Day 2 - Ring of Kerry...6 June 2005...more Ring Of Kerry Back to Top

On Monday, June 6, we made the full day Ring of Kerry tour on our bus

Ring of Kerry...more Ring Of Kerry

In our first stop on the Ring of Kerry Tour, we saw Brian and his Sheep Dogs... Back to Top

The famous "Ladies View" shown here. Back to Top

Killarney is known for its Jaunting Carts...shown here with some of the Downey-Dols-Stone Cousins at Muckross House.

Day 3 - Killarney-Blarney-Cashel-Dundrum Reunion Dinner-Craic

We visited Blarney Castle, just West of Cork, on the way to Cashel for the Family Reunion on Tuesday. Back to Top

Blarney Castle...7 June 2005...more Blarney Castle Pictures Back to Top

Reunion Day began with a trip from Killarney to Blarney to visit Blarney Castle to kiss the Blarney Stone. These pictures are mainly from Jo Downey and Anne Dols with some great pictures.

After Blarney, we went to visit Cashel, the Rock of Cashel, the Downey Family Reunion at Dundrum. Back to Top

Day 4 - Wednesday 8 June 2005

On Wednesday, we went to the Family Cemetary, Downey Farm on Wednesday, 8 June 2005....then we headed to Dublin Town... Back to Top

Dublin...arrived Wednesday, 8 June 2005 after the Downey Farm...more Dublin

After Cashel, the Family Reunion at Dundrum House on 7 June, and visiting the Cemetary, and Family Farm on 8 June, we finally said goodby and headed to Dublin. This is a sample of what we saw with more Pictures to be put on a separate page.

We arrived late in the day, but our hotel was just north of Trinity College. After days of family togetherness, we split up into our own groups. A number of us saw the Book of Kells at Trinity College...an ornate version of the Bible steeped in Irish History, which then leads to the old Library at Trinity. Unfortunately, no pictures allowed.

We all did Dinner separately as most of us headed to the Temple Bar area. We found the statue of Sweet Molly Malone and Grafton Street from Gary's brief tour coming into town..

Grafton Street...a shoppers paradise.

St. Stephen's Green was a few blocks north of our hotel. A city park with lakes and plantings...shown here with Elizabeth Downey.

The Dublin Post Office...the Easter Uprising

Matt, Kristy, Jamie, and Michele headed to the Post Office...the site of the 1916 Easter Uprising...and then they headed to the Hard Rock Cafe for Dinner.

1916 Declaration leading to the Easter Rebellion. Duane and Pete read it in the Library at Trinity.

Day 5, Thursday 9 June 2005

After Dublin, we headed across the country to Sligo on the Atlantic side. Back to Top

Sligo By The Sea... more Sligo Pictures Back to Top

On Thursday, 9 June, we went Northwest across the country to the Atlantic and Sligo by the Sea. Jo Downey took an absolutely breathtaking of the Sunset over the Atlantic as we were down on the beach at sunset..along with a Video Description of the event by Anne Dols. SligoByTheSea-Sunset-AnnesDescription.mov -7Meg This is a QuickTime Movie...see AOL Quicktime Hints if you have a problem playing in AOL.

Day 6 - Friday 10 June 2005 Back to Top

Day

W. B. Yeats Country...more Yeats Country Back to Top

On the Way out of Sligo we stopped by the Gravesite and Church of W. B. Yeats...Yeats Poems

From `Under Ben Bulben'

Under bare Ben Bulben's head
In Drumcliff churchyard Yeats is laid.
An ancestor was rector there
Long years ago, a church stands near,
By the road an ancient cross.
No marble, no conventional phrase;
On limestone quarried near the spot
By his command these words are cut:
 
          Cast a cold eye
          On life, on death.
          Horseman, pass by!

"I give you Simba!"...Steve Downey had some fun with Conner Stone in the little Church. Back to Top

Quiet Man Country...more Quiet Man Country Back to Top

We drove through Westport and down toward Connemara into what Gary, our Tour Guide described as the country where John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara shot the Quiet Man...just a few years ago now.

We stopped and got out to walk up to a waterfall...and meet a new friend. Back to Top

We stopped at the Carraig Bar...Jeff Downey, Michele Downey, Duane Wieland, and Conner Stone shown here...Back to Top

Then we got back on the bus to drive through the beauty of the Connemara mountain country... Back to Top

Clifden and Connemara ..more Clifden Back to Top

We finally arrived in Clifden where we would spend the next 2 nights...

We stayed at the Station House with its Station House Pub...where we found the "Baby Guiness"...Tia Maria and Bailey's

We finally found the banana fritters that Diana Downey had been searching for... Back to Top

Mary and Brendan Tusha took a walk up the road and found Clifden Castle... Back to Top

On the second night, a few of us found a late night pub with traditional music and dancing. We met a little man name Nee...but never could figure out why he wore his rope. We shot a little video of the festivities ClifdenPub....wmv 1.1Meg.

...Jamie and Kristy were having a good time... Back to Top

Aaron Stone met Mick...a snake man from Australia...Mick said that Crocodile Dundee was a wimp... Back to Top

Day 7, Saturday 11 June 2005 Back to Top

We spent the 2nd day in Clifden on a day trip visiting Kyelmore Abbey and the farm of Tom Joyce.

Kylemore Abbey, 11 June 2005...more Kylemore Back to Top

Kylemore Abbey is up near Leenane in beautiful Mountain and Lake Country. This was built as a Manor House, but is now an Abbey and School...and tourist attraction.

The Abbey has a beautiful view of Connamara's Mountains or Ben's across the lake...with palms growing. Back to Top

The grounds also includes its own Chapel... Back to Top

Theresa Dols and Anna Downey looked Saintly sitting in the Chapel's light... Back to Top

While Matt, Conner, and Ryan gave Steve Downey his daily beating down by the lake. Back to Top

Tom Joyce Farm...more Tom Joyce Farm. Back to Top

We had the rare opportunity to visit Top Joyce on his Connemara Farm on the way back from Kylemore. Tom is an active farmer and teller of stories in tracing times from the Potato Famine to modern times.

Tom introduced us to some of his animals... Back to Top

He showed us the ancient tombs...Back to Top

...and he told us about how the mystical Hawthorne Trees protected those in the famine graveyard...only 3 of the 23 people living on his property survived the potato famine in the mid 1800's. Back to Top

...and Tom told us about the little people who inhabit his land. Back to Top

Tom showed us through Alice's old Stone Cottage...a widow who raise her children on the land. Back to Top

...and he showed us Alice's new cottage which she built with insurance money from her son's death. Back to Top

...as the cousins sat on Alice's wall Back to Top

Day 8 Clifden_Galway_Galway Bay_Burren_Cliffs of Moher_Bunratty

On our last traveling day, we went from Clifden, stopped in Galway, went around Galway Bay...Grandma Agnes Downey's favorite song. We went through the Burren to the Cliffs of Moher...and finally into Bunratty for our last night. Back to Top

Galway-Galway Bay-Burren...more Galway Back to Top

We drove from Clifden and stopped for a while in Galway.

We found a hotel with amazing interior architecture...on the way to the Toilets. Back to Top

As we left Galway, and climbed up the moutains of the Burren, we got a good look at Galway Bay...Grandma Downey would have loved it... Back to Top

Cliffs of Moher...more Cliffs of Moher Back to Top

The cliffs provide an impressive site as they drop from grazing farmland to the Atlantic...it was hard to see that Diana is afraid of heights.

It was a long way down... Back to Top

Bunratty...the last night...more Bunratty Pictures Back to Top

Bunratty was our last night in Ireland, arriving after visiting the Cliffs of Moher. We arrived at Bunratty after leaving the Cliffs of Moher on Sunday, 12 June 2005...

Bunratty is an old restored Castle and Folk Park with Durty Nellys Pub next door.

We were ready to celebrate a great trip A guy at Durty Nellys wanted to teach Jean Keenan to play the spoons. Back to Top

Day 9 - Monday 13 June 2005...Back to Shannon and the USA

Finally it was time to go home..a short trip from Bunratty to Shannon...and the long trip back to the States.. Back to Top

Gary made two trips to the Shannon Airport...one for the Ed Downeys and Joe Dols Families who went on American...and a 2nd for the rest of us on Aer Lingus to Chicago Back to Top

Back to the USA...We had a great time with our American Cousins...singing and Dancing with our Irish and Australian Cousins...but it was time to be on our way home... Back to Top

A Family Once Again...

We had honored John, James and Patsy... Back to Top

After 154 years, we had met the later generations of Cousins...a family once again... Back to Top

5-13 June 2005 Downey Trip to Ireland

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36 of Patsy's Irish

38 of John's from America

2 of James' from Australia

This site was last updated 03/20/08