Remembering the Kennedy family of Ballinderry
KILBARRON Terryglass Historical Society remembers this month a family, like many other families, that left our parish during the Famine. The Kennedy family is a representative of all the people that left - 175 years ago in July 1847, John Kennedy, his wife Margaret, née Hough, and their seven children, left Cloninaha, Ballinderry for Liverpool.
On July 26 they boarded the Sir Robert Peel bound for Quebec, Canada, arriving September 19. The ship was quarantined in Grosse Ile and sadly by October 1847 only Catherine, aged 12, and her brothers Sylvester and John had survived. It was Jim Minogue, Nenagh, who highlighted the plight of the Kennedy family in 1998, when he wrote the play ‘Flight to Grosse Ile’ based on Catherine Kennedy. To hear more on this story join us on Friday, August 19, in Kilbarron Hall (E45 XY28) - 7.30pm to 9pm. An evening of story, music, song and dance as we look at emigration from the parish and the American Wake and the impact of the Shannon on the area. On Saturday, August 20, at Kilgarvan Quay, Ballinderry, 2pm to 4pm, we welcome the Return of the Barges that once frequented the waterways. Hear how they and Kilgarvan played such an important part in the life of the community. Visit the photographic exhibition. View a sample of the list of goods that were transported on the barges and delivered into Kilgarvan in the 1940s. This event is organised in conjunction with The Heritage Boats Association, Inland Waterways and Kilgarvan Angling Club.
We are grateful to them and to Tipperary Co Council and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media for their support.