ARRIVAL OF PAPAROA

The B.I. steamer Paparoa arrived at Townsville from London on Saturday. A number of immigrants booked for Mackay, left by the Cooma. The Vessel overcarried 249 tons of Cairns cargo, which will have to be transhipped at Townsville. The Paparoa was drawing 26 feet. Yet (says the Cairns "Post"), there were some a little while ago advocating that the Harbour Board should lend their dredge Trinity Bay to Brisbane. Fortunately the board thought differently. The voyage out was a good one, very little rough weather being met with, whilst the health of the passengers was excellent. There was no serious sickness on the trip, and no deaths, whilst the passengers' list was increased by one "little stranger," who came aboard on the voyage. The usual sports were carried out to assist in breaking the monotony of the voyage, which has apparently been a pleasant one. When the vessel left the war excitement was strong, and crow...

Tuesday 1 July 1952
Doctor took stitches out, gee it hurt. Made me feel sick.

Friday 4 July 1952
Doctor said I could sit out in the chair a while.

Saturday 5 July 1952
Still doing alright. Sitting out a bit more.

Sunday 6 July 1952
Feeling better, eye doing well.

Monday 7 July 1952
Out in the big ward, a treat to have someone to talk to. Leo still very sick.

Tuesday 8 July 1952
Doctor said eye was going on alright, ordered eye baths and ointment every 2 hours. Night and Day.

Wednesday 9 July 1952
Able to walk around now, and go and see Leo anytime.

Thursday 24 July 1952
Leo passed away, just went to sleep.

Elizabeths ends here.

Sunday 1 June 1952
Dad went to church in the morning.

Tuesday 3 June 1952
Did big wash. Lovely drying day.

Wednesday 4 June 1952
Sent parcel to Bet and Leo. Mick went to Rocky to go out to work on the railway. Bonnie did ironing for me.

Thursday 5 June 1952
Home League not many there, but nice meeting. Feeling dreafully tired. Margaret and I walked home, Leonie home from hospital.

Friday 6 June 1952
lovely weather cold night and morning, but lovely sunshine all day.

Sunday 8 June 1952
Leo back in hospital very sick, in terrible pain.

Friday 20 June 1952
went into hospital for eye operation.

Tuesday 24 June 1952
had operation today. And now in darkness for a few days, not able to move about.

Wednesday 25 June 1952
Doing alright.

Thursday 26 June 1952
Doing well, everybody good to me

Friday 27 June 1952
Doctor took bandage off my good eye, now I can see a bit.

Saturday 28 June 1952
able to move a bit, but not my head.

Sunday 29 June 1952
Doing alright, plenty of visitors.

Monday 30 June 1952
Doing well.

Friday 2 May 1952
Trev went home for the school holidays. Daisy, Beryl, & Kenny left for Emerald for the holidays. Annette and Betty still staying with me.

Sunday 4 May 1952
Betty woke with Croup and cold.

Monday 5 May 1952
Betty sick with cold, coffing nearly all night.

Tuesday 6 May 1952
Did washing, miserable day, Betty still with bad cold.

Wednesday 7 May 1952
Betty in bed all day, poor kid. Cold has got her down.

Thursday 8 May 1952
Did not go to Home League. Betty had nasty coff and cold.

Friday 9 May 1952
Busy day, Betty a little better today.

Saturday 10 May 1952
Olive and Leo came home. Leo not any better.

Sunday 11 May 1952
Nice day, few showers.

Monday 12 May 1952
Showery day. Olive took Leonie to see doctor. Kept her in Hospital. Olive took Annette(crossed out) and Betty home.

Tuesday 13 May 1952
Did big wash, nice day, feeling rather tired.

Wednesday 14 May 1952
Lovely day, finished ironing, Margaret came in to sleep.

Thursday 15 May 1952
Olive came down, and went out to the hospital and came back into Home League. Nice afternoon.

Saturday 17 May 1952
Dad and I went to Civic, "Blossoms in the Dust" and "Romance for three" (a scream) Margaret went to Townsville on excursion

Sunday 18 May 1952
Quiet day at home. Osie came down for a few minutes after tea. Daisy coming home Wednesday.

Wednesday 21 May 1952
Margaret and I went to the pictures.

Thursday 22 May 1952
Home League nice meeting.

Saturday 24 May 1952
Osie, Day, Beryl and Kenny came in for a game, all looking well.

Sunday 25 May 1952
Osie came and took us out to Olive's, poor old Leo in a lot of pain.

Monday 26 May 1952
Margaret and I went in to the Royal ("Molly, and a letter to 3 wives") Not bad.

Tuesday 27 May 1952
Lovely washing day, cold but lovely sunshine.

Wednesday 28 May 1952
Did ironing etc etc, letter from Bet and Doug.

Saturday 1 March 1952
Osie & Daisy in for the evening, for a game of cards.

Sunday 2 March 1952
Olive fetched Judy home. Leo still not well.

Monday 3 March 1952
Dad started work again. Did washing lovely drying day, windy.

Tuesday 4 march 1952
Going out to Osie's for the day, and on out hospital to see Leo.

Wednesday 5 March 1952
Busy day cleaning and polishing.

Thursday 6 March 1952
Home League, and up town did not see Olive. Parcel from Bet.

Saturday 8 March 1952
Letter from Bet. showery day but lot cooler.

Thursday 13 March 1952
Went to Home League, walked home with Sadie and Mrs Gibson.

Saturday 15 March 1952
Very hot, but a good downpoor after tea time.

Sunday 16 March 1952
Went out to see Leo, still some pain, but wants to come home. Showery.

Tuesday 18 March 1952
washing day. Osie's birthday, came in after tea, Ken brought me a loverly bunch of Roses, and some birthday cake.

Wednesday 19 March 1952
Showery, but did ironing.

Thursday 20 March 1952
Home League, amateur hour, some fun.

Friday 28 March 1952
Letter from Lorna.

Sunday 30 March 1952
Dad went to church this morning. Showery and blowy day.

Monday 31 march 1952
safety pins.

Saturday 2 February 1952
Leo back in hospital for X Rays

Sunday 3 February 1952
Went out to see Leo. Mick came & got us on the truck of course had a puncture they just got home & Betty with a very sore throat. Daisy & Osie back from holidays came down for an hour or so.

Monday 4 February 1952
Very hot, did a bit of sewing, Trevor in for school.

Tuesday 5 February 1952
Hot, but nice breeze.

Wednesday 6 February 1952
Letter from Doug.

Thursday 7 February 1952
Home League starts.

Saturday 9 February 1952
Leo in hospital for operation today.

Sunday 10 February 1952
Leo not doing too bad, but not good yet.

Monday 11 February 1952
Took Trevor out to hospital for tonsil op. tomorrow, not worrying him a bit.

Tuesday 12 February 1952
Trevor very sick after op. had to have blood transfusion. Olive just came in with Osie & Day, a bit better now. 10 P.M. Trevor) letter from O.J.L. Wales

Wednesday 13 February 1952
Posted a letter to Doug, went out to see Leo and Trev, Leo in lot of pain, but Trev a little better, but still very sick.

Thursday 14 February 1952
A little showery, hope we get some more: going to Home League. Bon and I went to Princess to see "How Green Was My Valley" (Good)

Friday 15 February 1952
Good showers, went to memorial service in Presbyterian Church. Raining hard, but sun shining when we came out. Letter from Bet and Doug.

Saturday 16 February 1952
Showery but nice and cool. Very showers after tea.

Sunday 17 February 1952
Early morning rain,then cleared up after dinner, poured at night couldn't go to church. Wrote to Doug and Bet. Nice day a bit showery.

Tuesday 19 February 1952
Went out to see Leo. Olive and kiddies down for about five minutes.

Wednesday 20 February 1952
Judy in hospital for observation.

Friday 22 February 1952
Betty in hospital. High fever and pains, in for observation.

Saturday 23 February 1952
Osie and Daisy in for a game of cards.

Sunday 24 February 1952
Went to Church in the evening, two christenings, nice service.

Monday 25 February 1952
Hot and sultry with showers. Dad home for a fortnight. Nothing doing.

Tuesday 26 February 1952
Very hot, with showers.

Wednesday 27 February 1952
Showery day, very hot and sultry, Olive brought betty home.

Thursday 28 February 1952
Home League, Olive in, went in to town.

Tuesday 1 January 1952
Quiet day at home, rather hot, but some showers over the weekend.

Wednesday 2 January 1952
Bonnie came and did my washing.

Thursday 3 January 1952
Went into town on my own for first time since coming home, felt a bit wonky, but got around.

Monday 7 January 1952
Went into town to get new blind, up on one bus, back with the next, heat terrific. Letter from Osie & all at Gympie.

Thursday 10 January 1952
Wrote to all the kids in Gympie, they are having a wonderful time. Wrote to my brother Will.

Friday 11 January 1952
Lovely rain, nearly all night last night, beautiful & fresh today, looks like some more rain.

Saturday 12 January 1952
Still showery

Sunday 13 January 1952
Nice day but some showers.

Monday 14 January 1952
Leo in hospital,

Tuesday 15 January 1952
Judy in hospital with affected face.

Wednesday 16 January 1952
Busy doing nothing in particular.

Thursday 17 January 1952
Leo in hospital. (crossed out). Went out to see Leo, getting better, hopes to be home soon.

Friday 18 January 1952
Did a bit of washing Bonnie finished it off for me.

Saturday 19 January 1952
Wet today. Did a bit of cooking.

Sunday 20 January 1952
Nice morning, but wet for rest of the day.

Monday 21 January 1952
Quiet day. Did a bit of sewing. Osie home, had good holiday Daisy, Beryl & Ken gone to Yamala.

Tuesday 22 January 1952
Showery, but went up town, Bonnie & I went to the matinee, (not bad) just packed. Margaret coming home on mail.

Thursday 24 January 1952
Magaret came in for a few minutes starting at Imperial on Monday

Wednesday 30 January 1952
Busy day washing and cleaning. Very hot, but nice breeze.

O'Reilly is the most common surname in Ireland, and by far the most common in Cavan. The O'Reilly's trace their ancestry back to Conn Ced-catchach ( Conn of the hundred battles). One of his descendants was Brian, King of Connaght, in the 4th century, his descendants became known as Ui Briuin (the race of Brian). Brian had 24 sons, and from one came a son called Dui Galach who was ancestor of the O'Connors, the O'Flahertys, the O'Rourkes and the O'Reillys. He had a son Fergus, whose own son Feargna, was ancestor to Ui Briuin Brefnie (the O'Reillys and the O'Rourkes).

Sometime round the 6th century Feargna migrated north, and was succeeded by a son Aedh Finn (Hugh the fair) who died in 611 A.D. Aedhs son Maelmorda was ancestor of the O'Reillys. This is why for much of the time they ruled what is now county Cavan, it was know as Muinter Maelmordha (The country of Maelmordhas people).From Maelmordha through Dubhcren and Cathalan came Raghallach, who was reputedly killed at the Battle of Clontarf. From him all the O'Reillys are named. Such is the ancient genealogy of the O'Reillys.

The Norman Invasion.

When the O'Reillys first appear in the Irish Annals they ruled a small area north of Lough Ramor, but shortly after they were crushed by the growing power of their western cousins the O'Rourkes who ruled what is now Co Leitrim. In 1161 Godfraid, great grandson of Raghallach, was killed in a battle near Kells, Co Meath, by Melaghin O'Rourke. The O'Rourkes under a strong King, Tiernan, were expanding into Meath. The situation was transformed with the arrival in Ireland of the Normans in 1169, the O'Reillys were one of the few Gaelic families to stand with the invaders during the critical early years, but then they had no stake in the old order. By 1172 Tiernan O'Rourke was dead killed at a parley by Hugh de Lacy, and the O'Reillys again gained a degree of independence.

This cosy relationship with the new comers seems to have continued until the early 1200s. In 1220 Hugh De Lacy invaded central Brefnie and captured the O'Reillys crannog at Lough Oughter. By 1224 the O'Reillys were besieging Lough Oughter, in 1226 they dismantled the Norman motte at Kilmore. In 1233 a De Lacy invasion of Cavan was repulsed with heavy causalites, at a battle in the Bellavalley Gap. It was the last serious challange to O'Reilly power until the Tudors came to power in England. The O'Reillys suffered a serious defeat at the hand of the O'Rourkes, and the O'Connors at Maigh Sleacht in 1256, in which Cathal, the Chief and many of his sons and brothers were killed. The battle was lost but they won the war and this was the last serious attempt by the O'Rourkes to dominate East Brefnie.

The Peak of O'Reilly power.

The power of the O'Reillys was secured by Giolla Iosa Rua, who became chief in 1293. In 1300 he granted land for an abbey at Cavan. His chieftancy lasted till 1330, and his sons extended their power by raiding widely into Meath.Thomas, grandson of Giolla Iosa, pushed O'Reilly power into modern county Meath, as far as Fore and the Lough Crew hills. He also built Crover castle to hold the new land.

In the late 1300s the O'Reillys shifted their seat of from Clogh Oughter castle to Tullymongan, on the hill above Cavan town. O'Reilly power was at it's height. They are an unusual Gaelic ruling family in many ways. Cavan is an medieval Gaelic town. It was a thriving market center, and the O'Reillys even minted their own money. They were also known for the quality of their horses, and the ability of their cavalry. But the annals are full of accounts of war, raiding, and murder. The O'Reilly occupied the border between two worlds, the Gaelic and the Norman. They were able to exploit the advantages that living on the border provided, to trade as well as to raid.

The Decline of the O'Reillys

In the 1500s the Tudor state was exerting it's power all over Ireland and a border region like Brefnie was among the first to feel the pressure. The Anglo Norman Nugents and Plunketts from Meath, began to assert their power in Brefnie, on behalf of the English Crown. In 1553 Sir Thomas Cusack, Lord Chancellor of Ireland wrote "next to Annalie (Longford) is a large country called the Brenny wherin O'Rail is chief captain who has seven sons. He may make four hundred horseman of the same name and one thousand Kern (irregular soldiers), and two hundred Gallowglass (mercenary soldiers).

The county is divided between them, which joinet to the English pale and upon a country called Plounketts country, betwixt which has been divers, murders, stealths, and robberies, by day and night committed".

As the century progressed the pressure became greater, in 1566 they signed the humiliating treaty of Lough Sheelin with the Earl of Sussex. In 1584 Brefnie was shired and became the county of Cavan. O'Reilly power finally collapsed in the wake of the Nine Year War (1594-1603). In 1600 Lord Mountjoy took Cavan town and placed a garrison there. In 1601 Edmund O'Reilly (of Kilnacrott) was killed in Cavan, he was the last of the family to hold the title "The O'Ragahallie", there were many claimants later, but none would ever be Chief of Brefnie.

The Plantation of Ulster and After

Some members of the family did receive substantial grants of land in the Plantation of Ulster (1611), but dispossession in subsequent confiscation's, an inability to balance the books, in the market economy that followed Plantation, and many members of the family choosing emigration to Catholic countries in continental Europe, resulted in the social decline of the O'Reillys in Ireland.

One branch of the family that did hold for longer was the Baltrasna O'Reillys. They were descended from Edmund of Kilnacrott. Myles O'Reilly is a semi mythical figure, a cavalry officer in the 12 year war, he was known as Myles the Slasher. His son John fought with the Jacobites in the Williamite war (1689-91), and only saved his land because he was specifically mentioned in military articles of the Treaty of Limerick. Johns grandson Alexander, had a distinguished military career in the Austrian and Spanish army, and giving his name to O'Reilly St in Havana, Cuba.

Planted in 1891 by local market gardener Duncan Buchanan, the Big Vine was producing 600 bunches of Gros Colman grapes by 1910. By 1960 the production had risen to 2000 bunches a year and the vine covered an area of 5000 square feet stretching for 300 feet with a girth of 55 inches at the main stem. Recognised as the largest vine in the world under glass, it produced the finest quality grapes for the table. Production costs and cheap imported grapes eventually sounded its death knell and on a grey morning in 1964 Duncan's son Selby took a saw and cut through its gnarled trunk.