Who is T.C.C.?

Ah my friend and fellow traveller, I see you /have/made it!

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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.

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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.​

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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.

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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.

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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.

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​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.

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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.

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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. 

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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

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[Atomruig indíu

niurt trén, togairm Trínóite.
Cretim treodataid fóisitin óendatad
inDúlemain dail.

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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

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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.

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Your friend and fellow traveller,

T.C.