Happy St Patrick's Day

Enniskillen Castle also know as Maguire Castle.

It is located in Enniskillen built by Maguires.

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Well it has been a while and I haven't been to Ireland to visit this place.

What follows is an excerpt from the internet on MaGuires. I think it is interesting because I have only recently learned of my Gr-Gr- Grandmother Katherine MaGuire.

.McGuire ("Mag-Uidhir")

A distinguished and truly Irish Gaelic clan that ruled over the county of Fermanagh in Ireland for over 350 years, the Maguires were known for their courage, great leadership and for their resistance during attacks. And thus the Maguire clan was particularly targeted during the English conquest for Ireland.


Some early Irish genealogists believe the first origins of the Maguire clan may have started out in the province of Leinster in Westmeath County. From Leinster the Maguire clan is believed to have moved to the county of Fermanagh in the province of Ulster. In Fermanagh their stronghold (Maguire’s castle) was in Enniskillen, located in the middle of the county. The present-day town of Enniskillen developed around the castle, which dates back to the 15th century.

The strategic location of Maguire’s castle on an island between the upper and lower Erne allowed the Maguires to control the passage of all ships between the lakes and the flow of goods into the surrounding areas. The Maguire chieftains’ navy of 1,500 boats patrolled the waterways of the lake system that extended for forty miles.

The first Maguire to become prince of Fermanagh was Donn Carragh Maguire, who died in the year 1302. By the end of the 16th Century, the Maguires controlled almost all of the land within the present day boundaries of Fermanagh, and the territory was known as “McGuire’s Country”.

The seat of the senior branch was the original stronghold at Lisnaskea, and that of the junior branch was at Enniskillen Castle. The kingship was by election agreement and they alternated regularly between both branches. Many of the Maguire chieftains were buried at the Franciscan Friary in Donegal while others were interred at the monastery at Cavan. During the English conquest of Ireland most of the land was confiscated, resulting in many of the Maguire families moving into other neighboring counties. Some McGuire families fled Ireland to other countries during the “Flight of the Earls” in 1607. One McGuire family went to France, while others made their way to the colonies in the “New World”.

Today, those with the spelling Maguire are chiefly associated with County Fermanagh, in Northern Ireland, and those who use the spelling MacGuire or McGuire may have their origins from Mayo or Roscommon. Maguire is still a common name not only in Fermanagh, but also in Donegal, Tyrone, Sligo, Leitrim, Derry, Cavan, Monaghan, and even Mayo; it's now found everywhere in Ireland, and indeed throughout the entire world.

Samuel McGinnes born in Tyrone, Ireland is a g-g-great grandfather on the Cutler side. I am learning more there. You can also clic on Castle to see last years post

Gram

I have always thought my Gram,

Florence Eames Jones,

wore the perfume "Emeraude" but now, with a little more experience, I think, perhaps, it was "Shalimar". I used to sometimes sit in her closet and just breath in the scent of her.
She usually kept the sheer curtains closed and the old orangey blind pulled in her bedroom so it was a dimly lit space with a kind of "firelight glow". The closet was set back in an archway with textured drapes over the entry to it. I think part of those drapes later hung over my closet door in Almo for years. They probably still do (kind of orange, cream, and black woven threads)
She also had a blue musical Powder box in there that I loved to play. I have found a similar one that I love now because of these memories.
She lived in a pink one bedroom apartment in Burley Idaho. Mr Manning, the landlord, lived next door. We used to think he had a crush on her.
There was a spring loaded door over the laundry shoot to the basement. I bet I don't have to explain its draw to any red-blooded Grandkid.

The bathroom sink had a plug on a chain with the hot and cold coming out of two separate faucets and "singing" pipes. I thought Grams' pipes would sing because she always did.

There was a red and white vinyl and chrome dinette set and a cookie jar that was always full in that sunny kitchen. It was wonderful. I got my first haircut sitting in there. Gram and my mom cut off my pony tail.

Gram always wore nylon stockings with a dress, jewelry, and heels.
She was always cleaning and when she did she wore an apron and would sing and hum.
She was a small woman. I think under 5 ft tall? -round and soft too. One of her brothers, Crandle, was a successful jockey.


There was a beautiful weeping willow in the lot next door and a huge Bleeding Heart bush outside her back door with spring bulbs and roses.
My Gram taught me how Snapdragons snapped and tree seeds whirled and spun when you threw them in the air.

It was there I learned to slide down a stair railing and hula hoop,and play a peg solitaire game. My cousin Sherma and I would sit at Gram's Piano and Sherma would show me all the songs she had learned at lessons. Hence it was also there I learned to play "Chopsticks" and "Heart and Soul" and to sing "Under the Willows."

Gram raised 8 kids and was widowed when the youngest was 3. The twins were 5 at the time(my dad and his brother). Grandpa Jesse died of a ruptured appendix, after coming home on horse back one noon from his mothers house where he had been helping with the cattle. June, her second daughter, was killed in a car crash coming home from a Naf dance not long after Jess' death in SLC. As far as I know, none of her children nor grandchildren(me for one anyway) were ever allowed to go to a Naf dance after that.

I have always said that Gram is where Rachel gets her height, and maybe a lot more too.

Glen & Doris in Almo

Here is a photo of Glen & Doris standing in their barley field in Almo. Those were the days, weren't they? I, Keith Cutler, have added this post since the blog site has been inaccessible for over a week and I wanted to update it now that it seems to be working again. I'm sure Vickie will add more updates over the weekend.

I always like to call this one" Outstanding in Their Field !" - Vickie

Then and now.

Cute boys going to Prom. I wonder where the cute girls are?

Cool men on the way to Prom- notice the viper belt from Quatamala-

This is Maguire Castle in Ireland, Heritage from our Great-great Grandmother Catherine Mequire. "Katie Darlin'" (I don't know that they really called her that, I can just hear it in my head in a heavy Irish brough.)

She married Alonzo Knight. They are my Great great grandparents on my Jones/Eames side.

History in the Making

Our Stake has challenged each Ward to come up with 250 names to take to the Temple for ordinance work by May something. Keith, and others, is taking the youth this Wed. to the temple to do the baptizims for said 250 names.

I would have liked to contribute one! I can't seem to find one that is not a duplicate (there are billions and billions of duplicate works), or one that is questionable for some reason (John and Mary and 'benjamin for instance). No really, any one at all, I can't find.

(Plus a personal family story of a pioneer is wanted for Dave to take and study for the youth Handcart Trek!)

Okay, Okay, I'll calm down, but that is what I have been working on.

David achieved his Life Scout award yesterday at a really nice Court of Honor. He even did a great job of conducting the ceremony too. We are all very proud of him. Notice the difference/growth in the posted pics today and the old time photo at the top of this blog taken only 3 months ago. His turning 14 has really pushed a lot of buttons, like growth and maturity and hairiness and deep voice stuff etc. For example, He is thrilled that people on the phone are now mistaking his voice for Keith instead of his Mom!
I did not have all his merit badges sewn on his sash, much to his chagrin, (insert appropriate quote here about "badges") I made him wear it any way. He is happy! Can ya tell?

DAVID SAYS," I am hunkered down to be the same height as Rae, I am really at least 3 inches taller than she is. Change it or say something, Mom".