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Abbeyleix Heritage House

Abbeyleix Heritage House

Abbeyleix Heritage House is Laois' biggest history museum, community centre and business hub.

Abbeyleix Heritage House

1 day ago

Today’s post is of a CLOTHES MANGLE.Clothes Mangles were used to squeeze and wring dry clothes.This clothes mangle was made by TayWil, a British company. #Laois #curatortuesday #abbeyleixheritagetown #abbeyleixheritage #abbeyleixheritagehouse #triviathursday #worldhistory #foundinthearchives #vintage #irishamerican #UniqueHistory #genealogy #history #portlaoise #laoishistory #Artefact #archives ... See MoreSee Less

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Abbeyleix Heritage House

5 days ago

Check out some of our museum displays!🔎 Bog finds: a collection of discoveries from Irish bogs (a mixture of genuine items and replicas).🔎 Life in rural Ireland: items often used by Irish households in years gone by.Why not see them (and more) in person? We are open Mon-Fri, 9:00- 16:30. 5 euro admission, children go free. #Laois #curatortuesday #abbeyleixheritagetown #abbeyleixheritage #abbeyleixheritagehouse #WorldHistory #foundinthearchives #irishamerican #IrishAmericanHeritage #history #genealogy #UniqueHistory #laoishistory #archives #Vintage #artefact #portlaoise #discoverireland #thingstodo ... See MoreSee Less

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Abbeyleix Heritage House

6 days ago

TRIVIA THURSDAYCounty Nicknames QuizHow well do you know Irish County Nicknames? Take our quiz to find out!forms.gle/Xb9Vtk4W5sNFbTJc9 #Laois #curatortuesday #abbeyleixheritagetown #abbeyleixheritage #abbeyleixheritagehouse #TriviaThursday #ireland #counties #GAA ... See MoreSee Less

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Abbeyleix Heritage House

1 week ago

📣 REMINDER Our Parent and Baby/Toddler group is meeting TOMORROW THURSDAY from 10am-12pm in Heritage House. No prior booking needed, 3 euros with tea/coffee/treats provided! #Laois #parentandtoddler #parentandbaby #Abbeyleix #toddlerfun #parenting #Parenthood ... See MoreSee Less

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Abbeyleix Heritage House

1 week ago

Today’s post is of cheques from 1867 paid by Mary Morrissey, Morrissey’s Hotel, Abbeyleix, to W. McFadden, and Mr George Perry. Cheques are Union Bank of Ireland. #Laois #curatortuesday #abbeyleixheritagetown #abbeyleixheritage #abbeyleixheritagehouse ... See MoreSee Less

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abbeyleixheritagehouse

Heritage Museum, home of Titanic Carpets
Monday to Friday, 9am to 4:30pm
Museum tickets: €5 for adults, young children go free

🇮🇪IRISH GENEALOGY🇮🇪 Looking to trace

🇮🇪IRISH GENEALOGY🇮🇪

Looking to trace your Irish roots? At Abbeyleix Heritage House, we offer a genealogy research service where we track down information about an ancestor!

☘️HOW IT WORKS:

Complete our genealogy research request form
https://www.abbeyleixheritage.com/genealogy/
Include any information on your KEY SUBJECT (ancestor)
We will do the rest!

☘️WHAT’S INCLUDED:

Information on family name/crest
Births/marriages/deaths
Potentially:
Baptism/confirmations
Information from courts/prisons
Emigration information
Local stories/information from newspapers of the time
Land records
School attendance (Abbeyleix and Ballyroan, co. Laois, ONLY)

Once we have our starting point (name, approx. age, where an ancestor came from) we can start to form a genealogy research report about their life, where they lived, their siblings, their occupation, any major life events, and where they may have ended up.

☘️OUR FEE: ONLY 50 EUROS/ US DOLLAR EQUIVALENT

Note: Resources are limited for research preceding the year 1850. Therefore, we recommend that you request research on an ancestor born after this date.
Our report is compiled into a PDF document and is emailed directly to you upon completion. There is a possibility that some requests may have limited information available. We will assess whether or not a report can be created prior to payment.

For more information, please email us at abbeyleixheritageresearch@gmail.com, or message our page directly!

Phone: 057 871 4944
Heritage House and museum opening hours:
Mon-Fri 9:00-16:30
Sat-Sun Closed

Today’s post is of a CLOTHES MANGLE. Clothes Ma

Today’s post is of a CLOTHES MANGLE.

Clothes Mangles were used to squeeze and wring dry clothes.

This clothes mangle was made by TayWil, a British company.

#Laois #curatortuesday #abbeyleixheritagetown #abbeyleixheritage #abbeyleixheritagehouse #triviathursday #worldhistory #foundinthearchives #vintage #irishamerican #UniqueHistory #genealogy #history #portlaoise #laoishistory #Artefact #archives

Check out some of our museum displays! 🔎 Bog f

Check out some of our museum displays!

🔎 Bog finds: a collection of discoveries from Irish bogs (a mixture of genuine items and replicas).

🔎 Life in rural Ireland: items often used by Irish households in years gone by.

Why not see them (and more) in person? We are open Mon-Fri, 9:00- 16:30. 5 euro admission, children go free.

#Laois #curatortuesday #abbeyleixheritagetown #abbeyleixheritage #abbeyleixheritagehouse #worldhistory #foundinthearchives #irishamerican #IrishAmericanHeritage #history #genealogy #UniqueHistory #laoishistory #archives #vintage #Artefact #portlaoise #discoverireland #ThingsToDo

TRIVIA THURSDAY County Nicknames Quiz How well d

TRIVIA THURSDAY

County Nicknames Quiz

How well do you know Irish County Nicknames? Take our quiz to find out!

https://forms.gle/Xb9Vtk4W5sNFbTJc9

#Laois #curatortuesday #abbeyleixheritagetown #abbeyleixheritage #abbeyleixheritagehouse #triviathursday #ireland #counties #GAA

📣 REMINDER Our Parent and Baby/Toddler group

📣 REMINDER

Our Parent and Baby/Toddler group is meeting TOMORROW THURSDAY from 10am-12pm in Heritage House. No prior booking needed, 3 euros with tea/coffee/treats provided!

#Laois #parentandtoddler #parentandbaby #Abbeyleix #toddlerfun #parenting #parenthood

Today’s post is of cheques from 1867 paid by Mar

Today’s post is of cheques from 1867 paid by Mary Morrissey, Morrissey’s Hotel, Abbeyleix, to W. McFadden, and Mr George Perry. Cheques are Union Bank of Ireland.

#Laois #curatortuesday #abbeyleixheritagetown #abbeyleixheritage #abbeyleixheritagehouse

TRIVIA THURSDAY Test your general knowledge of Ir

TRIVIA THURSDAY

Test your general knowledge of Irish history through the ages, either by following the link, or heading over to our Instagram stories @ abbeyleixheritagehouse !

https://forms.gle/B87i92pKyKyw6EgJA

#Laois #curatortuesday #abbeyleixheritagetown #abbeyleixheritage #abbeyleixheritagehouse #triviathursday #foundinthearchives #quiz #quizzes

Pictured is a letter (September 1966) written to f

Pictured is a letter (September 1966) written to friends/organisations of the parade from James J. Comerford (1901-1988), Chairman of the St. Patrick's Day parade committee New York, in response to the potential cancellation/route changes of the parades. Comerford asks for support in contacting local council members in relation to the parade’s future, and in regards to the bill proposed by councilman Woodward ‘Woody’ Kingman (1925-1916), which would prohibit the granting of police permits in heavily populated areas. ☘️

James J. Comerford may have been a criminal justice judge from Manhattan, NY, though he was born in 1901 in Coolraheen, co. Kilkenny. He was a member of the Irish Republican Army, before emigrating to America in 1925, departing from Cobh (Queenstown), onboard the vessel Franconia. In his early days in New York Comerford worked several jobs, including as a clerk. He enrolled in university, eventually attaining his PhD from Fordham university. He married Vera Carr (1913-1984), daughter of Irish emigrants from co. Offaly. 🇮🇪

Comerford was involved in several Irish organisations in the US, including the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and was president of the United Irish Counties Association. For more on Comerford, see the following blogpost/webpage: http://comerfordfamily.blogspot.com/2009/06/comerford-profiles-22-judge-james-j.html

#Laois #curatortuesday #abbeyleixheritagetown #abbeyleixheritage #abbeyleixheritagehouse #stpatrick #stpatricksday #newyork #newyorkcity #irishamerica #irishamerican #irishamericans #irishamericanhistory #IrishAmericanHeritage #parade

PARENT AND BABY/TODDLER GROUP🧸 EVERY THURS MOR

PARENT AND BABY/TODDLER GROUP🧸

EVERY THURS MORNING 10-12 🕙

3EURO PER PARENT, TEA/COFFEE/TREATS PROVIDED ☕

ALL WELCOME 😁

#Laois #abbeyleixheritagetown #abbeyleixheritage #abbeyleixheritagehouse #Abbeyleix #baby #parent #parenting #parenthood #parentlife #parentingtips #parentinglife #toddlers #toddler #toddlerfun #parentandbaby #parentandbabygroup #parentandtoddlergroup #parentandtoddler

Today’s Curator Tuesday post is of a postcard fr

Today’s Curator Tuesday post is of a postcard from Wilde brothers’ stationers Abbeyleix, with a photograph of the Old Church. The Old Church was built on the De Vesci demesne c. 1765. The church is surrounded by a graveyard, with graves dating to over two hundred years ago. The graveyard is a private graveyard for the De Vesci family.

The Wilde family had a shop on Lower Main Street, and were general merchants. An ancestor of the Wildes, Frances Dier Wilde, is also buried at the Old Church (Frances married Thomas Wilde, whose mother was Lady Jane Vesey, daughter of John Vesey and Elizabeth Brownlow).

#Laois #curatortuesday #abbeyleixheritagetown #abbeyleixheritage #abbeyleixheritagehouse #genealogy #history #historylovers #church #churches #research

PARENT AND BABY/TODDLER GROUP🧸 On every Thursd

PARENT AND BABY/TODDLER GROUP🧸

On every Thursday at Abbeyleix Heritage House from 10-12.

New faces always welcome, no booking required!

€3.00 per parent, with tea/coffee/treats provided.

#abbeyleixheritagehouse #parentandbaby #Laois

Pancake Tuesday is being celebrated by many across

Pancake Tuesday is being celebrated by many across Ireland today. What are its origins?🥞

Pancake Tuesday, or Shrove Tuesday, was initially a religious celebration a day before the beginning of fasting, or Lent.

Shrove Tuesday was when people prepared for the fast, and would often use up any ‘luxury’ items in the home that they were not able to eat during Lent, such as eggs, milk, butter and sugar. As a result, many people made pancakes from these ingredients in order to use them up before Lent began.

Shrove Tuesday also marks a time for people to confess and repent for their sins, hence the name Shrove Tuesday, shrove deriving from ‘shrive’, meaning ‘absolve’.

Today, Pancake Tuesday is celebrated by many, even those who do not follow the Christian tradition of Lent. In the past, many Irish people would fast for the entirety of the Lenten period, abstaining from meat, dairy, eggs, and other items such as sugar. In comparison to years ago, some Irish people today might give up something for Lent, such as chocolate or alcohol, rather than embarking on a more rigorous fast.

In recent years, many people have chosen to give up something for Lent, but have not practiced the religious side of the period, such as going to confession, wearing ashes on Ash Wednesday, or attending mass/church services.

#Laois #curatortuesday #abbeyleixheritagetown #abbeyleixheritage #abbeyleixheritagehouse #pancake #pancakes #pancakeday #pancaketuesday #pancaketuesday🥞 #ShroveTuesday

Pictured: ‘The Monument’, Abbeyleix. ‘The M

Pictured: ‘The Monument’, Abbeyleix.

‘The Monument’ or fountain was built in 1860 and designed by architect and civil engineer J.S or John Sterling Butler. Butler was born c. 1816, and was a well-known contributor to developments in Dublin.

He was originally an apprentice to his father, and became elected City architect for Dublin not long after he had worked on the Monument in Abbeyleix. Butler resigned from his post in 1878, some sources stating that the reason was unclear.

However, the Freeman’s Journal reported in 1878 that Butler may have been the father of an illegitimate child that died due to neglect by the child’s mother. Child may have been George Slevin, who died aged 5 years from consumption accelerated due to neglect. His mother, Anne Slevin, was imprisoned at Grangegorman female prison. She was found guilty on 26th and 28th March 1878 in relation to circumstances surrounding George Slevin’s death. Butler was included in the court verdict, but no warrant was issued against him.

In May 1878, J.S. Butler resigned from his post, due to the ‘recent unhappy event’ that his name was ‘connected' to. (Nation Newspaper, from 18th May 1878, page 6).

The fountain was built in honour of the Second Viscount De Vesci of Abbeyleix, John De Vesci, who in 1846 issued a notice that he would reduce rents for his tenantry due to the Famine.

#Laois #curatortuesday #abbeyleixheritagetown #abbeyleixheritage #abbeyleixheritagehouse #architect #architecture #dublin #architecturalhistory #architecturalhistorian #architectural #fountain #viscountdevesci

Sources:

Irish Civil Records Database, https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1878/020513/7198353.pdf

Nation newspaper, 1842-1897, Saturday, May 18, 1878; Page: 6, via Irish Newspaper Archives

Freeman's Journal 1763-1924, Wednesday, March 27, 1878; Page: 5, via Irish Newspaper Archives

OLD PHOTOGRAPHS Pictured are copies of photograph

OLD PHOTOGRAPHS

Pictured are copies of photographs from St. Brigid’s Pipe Band Abbeyleix! Any information/names would be greatly appreciated.

#Laois #curatortuesday #abbeyleixheritagetown #abbeyleixheritage #abbeyleixheritagehouse #foundinthearchives #UniqueHistory #Abbeyleix #vintage #localhistory #laoishistory #Irishhistory #oldphoto #archives #genealogy

BICYCLE LAMP🚲 Pictured is a chrome plated Mill

BICYCLE LAMP🚲

Pictured is a chrome plated Miller’s Monarch carbide bicycle light from our archive. The lamp is stamped ‘British made’, and was made in Birmingham. Likely that the light was manufactured in the early 20th century.

Millers made a variety of items for bicycles. H. Miller and Co. was founded in Birmingham in 1896. It was founded by Heinrich Möller, originally from Lubeck, Germany, who emigrated to England, changing his name to Henry Miller.

The company started out making oil and gas lamps. It soon began producing bicycle lamps, bringing great success.

It originally began in Aston, Birmingham, and soon had another factory established in Whitehouse Street, Birmingham. It moved to a site at Aston Brook Street c. 1919. The company also saw a further two factories being established, one of which was in India.

The factory in Aston Brook Street was bombed during the Birmingham Blitz by the German Luftwaffe in 1941.

A more detailed account of the company's origins and development can be found at the following link:
https://millercapitalpartners.com/assets/files/downloads/H_Miller_Sept_16v12.pdf

#foundinthearchives #worldhistory #abbeyleixheritagehouse #Laois #bike #vintage #lamp #bicyclelamp #birmingham #Laois #museum #Artefact #UniqueHistory #abbeyleixheritage #Abbeyleix

TRIVIA THURSDAY This week's quiz is about Sports

TRIVIA THURSDAY

This week's quiz is about Sports in Abbeyleix! 🏐

Give it a go by:
Following the link https://forms.gle/R3YvwtejkTtnhmyf6 🎾
Going on our Instagram stories @ abbeyleixheritagehouse ⚽️

Pictured: Abbeyleix hurlers

#Laois #abbeyleixheritagetown #abbeyleixheritage #abbeyleixheritagehouse #triviathursday #GAA #sport #sports #quiz

Today’s CURATOR TUESDAY post is of ‘Leabhar Na

Today’s CURATOR TUESDAY post is of ‘Leabhar Na hÉireann- the Irish Yearbook and Directory’ edited by former T.D, Alasdair Mac Caba, from 1921. Leabhair na hÉireann were books published to record and collect information from the time☘

The year 1921 was a turbulent year in Irish history, what with the Irish War of Independence ending in the summer of 1921. The Irish Yearbook and Directory contains information on Irish life at the time, providing statistics for areas such as trade, agriculture,education, the arts, and also featured advertisements.
Leabhair na hÉireann were published by the National Council or Sinn Féin, to promote the preservation and recording of Irish life and culture.

Alasdair MacCaba was born in Keash, co. Sligo on 5th June 1885 to parents John and Bridget ‘Beesy’ McCabe. His father was born in co. Longford, and was a member of the R.I.C.; his mother was a National school teacher. Alasdair had 5 siblings, 3 of which had passed away by the year 1911. Alasdair Mac Caba became a teacher, and attended UCD after receiving a scholarship. He lived with his mother and siblings after his father died in 1905 after contracting TB and suffering from complications.

Mac Caba joined the IRB, and was initiated in 1913. He represented Connacht on the IRB Supreme Council. Mac Caba’s involvement with the IRB and republican causes cost him his job, after he was fired from his post after being arrested with possessing explosives, for which he was eventually acquitted. Mac Caba was supportive of the 1916 Easter Rising, and was involved in creating disruptions in the west of Ireland while the Rising took place.

Mac Caba went on the run until 1917. He was later sentenced to six months imprisonment for land agitation. Mac Caba went on hunger-strike, which caused him to be released, however he was later jailed again. MacCaba began to emerge as a political figure, and was first elected in 1918 as an MP for Sligo South, while also serving on the committee of foreign affairs for Dáil Éireann. He became a county councillor in 1920, not long before he was imprisoned in the Curragh camp.

Continued in comments

PARENT AND BABY/TODDLER GROUP🧸 Taking place ev

PARENT AND BABY/TODDLER GROUP🧸

Taking place every Thursday at 10am-12pm at Heritage House, a relaxed social group for parents and babies/toddlers.

NEW FACES WELCOME

3 euros per parent, with tea/coffee and biscuits provided.

#Laois #abbeyleixheritagetown #abbeyleixheritage #abbeyleixheritagehouse #parentandtoddlergroup #parentandtoddler #community #parentandbaby #laoistourism

Found in the Archives: Due to their popularity, w

Found in the Archives:

Due to their popularity, we are posting some more old school copybooks/roll books!📖

This copybook belonged to a student named Dudley Hampton, who attended Preston School in Abbeyleix over 100 years ago. His copy is dated 1915.

Preston was a multi-denominational school, which was a rarity for its time. The students would be separated for religious studies. Dudley was a Protestant member of the student body.

Dudley, or Robert Dudley, was born in Abbeyleix in 1903 to parents Robert Hampton and Eva McClelland. Robert Hampton was a schoolmaster, and was the headmaster of Preston for several years. The family lived at Preston House.

Dudley had three sisters, one of whom died as an infant the same year that he owned this copybook. Four years later, his father would also pass away at the age of 51 from phthisis or TB.

The Hampton family soon left Abbeyleix. Dudley Hampton may have left in 1922. He arrived in Cape Town, South Africa, at the age of 18. Dudley sailed from England to South Africa, his address listed as Hill View, Abbeyleix. He describes himself as a student, destination Rhodesia. (Rhodesia was a name given to a former unrecognised state in Africa. Southern Rhodesia became a self-governing British colony, and eventually became Zimbabwe).

Dudley Hampton married Edith Symons, who was from South Africa. He became a school teacher. He may have been in the USA for a time, and his occupation was listed as an agricultural instructor in 1934. He lived in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia (now Harare, Zimbabwe). He may have then moved to South Africa.

Hampton may have died in South Africa in 1982.

#abbeyleixheritagehouse #worldhistory #foundinthearchives #Laois #abbeyleixheritagetown #abbeyleixheritage #school #history #historyfacts #historylovers #heritage

❔TRIVIA THURSDAY❔ This week's quiz is a True

❔TRIVIA THURSDAY❔

This week's quiz is a True or False about Abbeyleix!

Take the quiz on our Instagram stories, or follow the link below ⬇

Link: https://forms.gle/uLKmKyJ1pk1qWw116

#abbeyleixheritagetown #abbeyleixheritage #abbeyleixheritagehouse #triviathursday #quiz #quizzes #QuizTime #irish #irishhistory #localhistory #laoistourism

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