Who is T.C.C.?
Ah my friend and fellow traveller, I see you /have/made it!
Before I hand you the guide-book--let me introduce myself if I may.
My name is the Reverend T.C. Connolly, but you can call me T.C.. As I wrote in my Prefatory Introduction in the book I am "a native of the district" in particular a native of Kinlough Parish.
I was born and raised in Buckode, Kinlough on March 5, 1865. My father was Daniel Connolly and my mother was Margaret Clancy. I was a bit of a buck in my youth but /my boyhood was idyllic but I loved reading and writing an inspiration was Hugh Allingham's book as well as William Allingham's poetry . . .they were great sources for me . . . a unique guide-book.
I felt the call to become a /priest--I was ordained in Maynooth June 21,, 1891. I was C.C./curate in many parishes and for those first few years I had time to write this book although I've been writing parts of it all my life from my experiences.
/was a priest/curate and I felt the need to write a book about Bundoran and its neighbourhood since no one has, although Mr. Hugh Allingham in his book which I give thanks to him and all the writers, scholars and people who made this book possible.
From C.C. in Castletara 1891, Drug 1892, Drumlease 1895, Drumkeerin 1901, Manorhamilton 1904, Belturbet 1907, Ballintemple 1909, after which I went to the USA. (Thanks to my good friend Anthony Begley passing this on to Eamon/Eddie), I could have wrote a book on my time in each parish, but much is recorded in some of the newspapers about me that I will share with you after the book.
The one thing I would say to you is that no matter what parish i was in I always returned to lough melvin by Kinlough and to Bundoran. This area was home even when I travelled over the sea.
I have family still in Bundoran and Kinlough area/Leitrim, Donegal, Sligo and Fermanagh./Those families are Connolly, Mc Gowan and Meehan to name a few. I am happy to hear how my family is doing and will update it here as we go through/adventure.
Unfortunately, my name and my book has been lost for many years, but there have been the ember some such as the likes of embers/sparks Anthony Begely and Eamon and others. The best way you will get to know me is for us to go for a walk together and I'm happy to be your guide through my words in this guide-book.
If you are reading these words, you are curious to be or you are already a fellow traveller awaiting to begin and continue your own life journey and this book will be your touchstone.
This guide-book will have a meaning and purpose for--a map of the past that guides your present and future--what I have learned reading it is that we only know where we are going when we know where we came/come from.
Out of many neighbourhoods one--the unity within community.
The trinity of towns an old irish prayer-the feth fiada-the deer's cry st patricks breastplate the first version to say for your journey
[Atomruig indíu
niurt trén, togairm Trínóite.
Cretim treodataid fóisitin óendatad
inDúlemain dail.
I arise today through a mighty strength
the invocation of the trinity
through a belief in the threeness
through confession of the oneness
of the creator of creation
So follow the signpost that says Introduction to find the opening pages of the guidebook and then we move through each chapter
hold it in hand and let's/so let's make a start-- for I know the book/and where we are going-- off by heart.
Your friend and fellow traveller,
T.C.