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xi Acknowledgments { At every turn during this research, I encountered people who willingly shared their knowledge, time, work, and interest. This book is what it is because they did so. I thank, first, my mother, Frances Allen Dunn, who started me down this road and helped at every step, and my father, Walter Charles Dunn, who died in 1991 but was very much interested to see it happen and would have been pleased, and probably surprised, when I found some of his family in County Kildare in 1992. I thank my sons, Daniel Dunn Maguire and Justin Allen Maguire, who gave me their sometimes rather bemused interest, their ear when I was bursting with surprise at some newfound twist in the story, and great tolerance through my many hours at the computer. My sisters—Jane Millett, Norma Slattery, and Patricia King—have followed my research enthusiastically, acquired books and records for me, and sometimes accompanied me on research trips. I am grateful to Robert Scally for pulling the veil of time from the story of Ballykilcline with his book The End of Hidden Ireland. For descendants of the townland and the parish, it was a tremendous gift. I thank Charles Levenstein of the University of Massachusetts Lowell, for his confidence, interest, and support. I am indebted to Robert Forrant for his sage advice; I learned much about the historian’s task from him. John Wooding and Lawrence Gross introduced me to new ideas and to some of history’s giants. Phil Moss and Chris Tilly directed me to Charles Tilly’s work and gave timely and important help. This investigation owes a great debt to Ruth-Ann Harris, historian and author in Boston College’s Irish Studies Program; it germinated as a result of an email discussion with her, and she generously shared information . She also invited me to present my research at a Boston College Irish Colloquium, which opened some doors, and she spoke at the 2006 Ballykilcline reunion. I also appreciated invitations to discuss my research at Quinnipiac University’s 2000 conference on Ireland’s Great Hunger as well as at an American Conference for Irish Studies section meeting, the Irish xii Acknowledgments Ancestral Research Association, the Genealogical Society of Vermont, and to advise the New England Historic Genealogical Society for a seminar on Irish famine immigrant research. My gratitude goes to Rev. Robert B. Whalen of St. Bridget’s Church in West Rutland, who allowed me to transcribe the 1857 parish census, which provided crucial knowledge about the immigrants. MembersoftheBallykilclineSocietysharedtheirownfamilyknowledge and research results. In particular, I thank Madeline (Lynne) Sisk, who produced many Internet research surprises and provided her own family story; Maureen McDermott Humphreys and Peter Hanley, who spearheaded the organization of the Ballykilcline Society and the communal approach to research; Ann Marie Bell, Rosemary Vandenburg, Kathleen Madden, Maureen Hanley Cole, Margaret Alberts, Cassie Kilroy Thompson , William and Doreen Padian, Roger Lamson, and William Vinehout, who supplied their own family stories; and Andrew Wood, who shares my interest in Irish social history and pointed me to Susan Hood’s helpful research on Strokestown. I thank the Padian descendants who posted their family story on the Ballykilcline website. Nonmember researchers helped as well: I am grateful to William Powers, who turned over his notebook of Colligan research and records, and Julie Offutt, who shared Carlon family history. Member Rosemary Vandenburg provided pictures and accounts of the Winters’s history; Margaret Alberts contributed records and photos of the Mulleras; Roger Lamson offered his research on the Kellys ; Francis Kelly of Rutland provided Brislin information; and William Vinehout supplied photos of Terrance McGuire and the James McGuire family as well as an important Neary connection. Recognition and thanks go to Thomas Burns, a cousin and fellow researcher who was present at the beginning of my Roscommon roots inquiry so many years ago, made some of the earliest breakthroughs, and offered much encouragement in a collegial spirit. My special thanks go to The Friends of Ballykilcline in Kilglass Parish, CountyRoscommon,ledbyPatrick(Parks)andMarionReynolds.Theyhave been welcoming and helpful, sharing and fun, and what they have given is irreplaceable. I thank all of them warmly and salute our connections. I am grateful to Helen and Michael Brennan and Sean O’Beirne, Roscommon researchers who have over the years shared their time, records , and insights; we share O’Beirne ancestry from Roscommon as well. I am grateful to Patrick Lavin for his comments on the manuscript; to Ed Finn and Laurie...

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