Monday 19 August 2013

The Homestead of Martin and Catherine O'Grady

Killaloe is hosting an Irish Gathering this week.  There are lots of activities going on and we plan on taking part in lots of them!

Yesterday, we had a tour of Martin and Catherine O'Grady's Homestead on the O'Grady Settlement Road in Hagarty Township.  It was settled in 1859 and took us back in time.

As we drove up the lane way we were in a thick wooded bush and one of the kids said, "I thought we were going to a FARM!"  We told them that we were....and just pretend it was 160 years ago....only if it was, that double track for the tires wouldn't be in front of us!  We just couldn't imagine the work the settlers went through...clearing the land, building their houses and barns, keeping warm during the cold winters....and just surviving.

 

This homestead is the original.  They have changed very little.  It was empty when they purchased it and so they have tried to find furnishings that would make it look original.  They bought many of the things at auction sales or were lucky to have things given to them.

 


 
 
 
 
 
This open railing upstairs was so unique....I hadn't seen anything like it before.
 
 
 
 
I asked the kids if they noticed that there was no bathroom in the house.  Sophie was shocked and asked what they would do.  So I showed them....
 
 
A double seater!  Why not....they had 10 kids...and when you gotta go....you gotta go!!
 
Johanna played a few fiddle tunes on the back verandah.
 

This was the cookhouse and they believe it would have been the original house.  When I told this to Sophie, she wanted to know where they would have slept.....they was no room in here!  I told her that they probably slept on the floor.  She said....of course...in their cozy sleeping bags!


My mother-in-law was especially keen to be able tour this property.  Her maiden name is O'Grady.......and so there is a real connection there for her.  My children are actually related to the people that built this house and lived here.


Thank you to Shirley Mask and Tom Connolly for opening up this beautiful homestead for the day.  It was step back in time and I'm so glad we went for the visit.

Brenda

2 comments:

  1. Dear Brenda, Thank you for the wonderful pictures . It brought back a lot of memmories.I must tell you and Terry about them sometime as I spent a lot of time at the old Dwyer farm when Terry's dad was still a bachelor. I was the last person born in the original farmhouse before it burned to the ground, I can still picture it as if it was yesterday.Again thanks. Cyril Carroll

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    Replies
    1. Hello Cyril! Glad you enjoyed the post. We would love to hear your stories of Terry's dad! Take care.

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