This information comes from Brendan M
Ramsbottom.
-
- Ballickmoyler Square surgery
My grandfather Michael Ramsbottom was born in
Killeen Co Laois on 29 Feb 1880 and my grandmother Elizabeth Murphy was born at
Old Leigh, Ballickmoyler Co Laois on 2 Nov 1885
The birth dates for all of the twelve
children:
- Mollie 1909,
- Babs 1911,
- Jimmy 1912,
- Kathleen 1913,
- Michael 1915,
- Patrick 1917,
- Tommy 1918,
- George 1919,
- Sidney 1923,
- Joe 1925,
- Nellie 1926,
- Peggie 1928.
It's Nellie and Peggie who are still with us. My
grandmother had four other children who died in infancy -
possibly between George and Sidney.
I know a fair bit about the Ramsbottom's of
Ballickmoyler. Jimmy Ran has a portrait hanging in the
village pub just by the bar where he used to sit. He was a
contrary auld man like many of the Rans.
His father and mother were Elizabeth (nee
Murphy) and Michael Ramsbottom. They lived in the surgery next
to the vicar's house and had eleven children who survived:
Patrick (my father), Joseph, Sydney, Jimmy, Michael, Tommy,
George, Kathleen, Peggie, Molly and Babs. Nellie and Peggie are
still alive. Peggie lives in Swindon and Nellie up the road from
Ballickmoyler.
Here's an interesting snippet. Their mother
was a great healer and people came to her from miles around
for her cures. She knew every herb, flower and could name
whatever grew and could be used in remedies. She was also a
bit of a bone setter. My dad met a guy home from the states in
the 1930's who told him that as young man he'd had an accident
with some farm machinery and almost lost his leg, the doctor
was away delivering a baby and my grandmother repaired and set
the leg. He had travelled back to say thanks to her.
In the 1950's (probably '56) Éamon De Valera visited
Saint Patrick's school in Manchester and was introduced to the
senior girls. On meeting my sister Patsy he paused and asked
where did her daddy come from, he then asked if her
grandmother was named Elizabeth, and finally he asked Patsy to
remember him to her next time she saw granny - it seems that
after his break from prison in England and before Collins
smuggled him off to the states he was on the run - rarely
sleeping in one house for more than a night - granny, it
seems, had put him up during that period for a night or two! A
little bit of history!
Granny was a powerful lady. She ran dad from
the house for lighting a cigarette by the fire - he would have
been in his late forties at the time! She learned to ride a
bicycle at the age of 60 so that she could cycle to pick up
her pension - she continued to cycle right up to the year she
died in her 80s.
Hope you find some of this interesting. I'd
dearly love to know more about the history of the Rans. They
were known as the Rans because of the poem "The Wren" which
they all used to recite. I suspect they entered Ireland around
the time of the reformation or later to avoid religious
persecution. I know the name is quite common in and around
Carlow and Laois. Two other names crop up my grandmothers
maiden name Murphy (must be one of the most common in Ireland
- one of the great tribe names) and Hennessy her mother's
maiden name.
Jimmy Ramsbottom was more likely
to be seen with one of the twin brothers, Tom or Jim Horohan.
Michael Ramsbottom. It seems Michael
was a great musician and played in Ceil bands. Markie Brennan
was a great singer and he sang regularly with Michael in the
band in places like St Fiacc's Hall in Graiguecullen. Michael
was devastated when Markie Brennan died in 1939 because they
were inseparable.
The three photos were taken in the square at
Ballickmoyler. The house is in the background. Behind the
photographer in the centre there was an old hand pump that's still there or
was the last time I visited the village.
Take good care of yourself Michael and thanks
again.
Brendan
brammy@tiscali.co.uk
c10/2006
ARLES PEOPLE
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