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In Ireland long ago, there were good times,
not your time, nor my time but somebody's time.
Traditional beginning to an Irish Folktale
Special thanks to Thomas O'Neill(2nd) and to all our antecedents without whom this history would not have been possible.
The title has been chosen to reflect the spirit of the people in the following narrative. Born in difficult circumstances, surviving famine, revolution, depression, World Wars and institutionalised anti-Catholic and anti-Irish sentiment, each in their own way rose above the forces which strove to contain them. This is well illustrated by the case of John McFall and Pat O’Neill, direct descendants of the famine fleeing immigrant Edward Madden, simultaneously represented their town of birth as, respectively, MP and Provost.
The scope of this narrative spans some ten generations covering the period from the mid 1700s till the present. It is unlikely that we shall ever know more than the barest details of the individuals comprising the first few generations of our narrative. It is hoped that, by providing a historical background, some insight as to their motivations may be gained.
The second half of the eighteenth Century was one of social turmoil. The American War of Independence, 1775 – 1783, the French Revolution, 1789 – 1799, and in Ireland the United Irishmen Rebellion of 1798 led by Wolfe Tone, challenged the established order throughout Europe and the Americas.
It was, however, the Industrial Revolution which, by changing forever the nature and location of available employment, was to prove the greatest instrument of change, and which would have the most influence on the lives.
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