Blarney – Michael Stephen Wills Photography

Blessing of the Bonnets

Christina Henri, 25,566 bonnets, convict women Australia bound

April 6, 2021April 2, 2021 MichaelStephenWills2 Comments

January 1, 1835 the “convict” ship “Neva” departed from Cobh harbor for Sydney, Australia. The 241 people on board included 150 female “convicts”, their 33 children, 9 “free” women (probably the wives of convicts) and their 22 children, 27 crew. During the passage three persons died, one child was born. About 5 a.m. on May 13, 1835 the Neva hit a reef northwest of King Island in Bass Strait and broke apart rapidly. Twenty two survivors drifted ashore on two rafts formed by the fore and aft decks of the wrecked ship. Seven women died of exposure the first night ashore. Fifteen, six women and nine crew, were later rescued. No children survived.

Between 1791 and 1853 approximately 26,500 Irish people were forcefully transported to New South Wales. The 25,566 bonnets crafted for this project represent lives of female “convicts”. The slide show are photographs of the exhibit, Cobh Heritage Center, County Cork, Republic of Ireland.

Queenstown personal connection

Cobh Heritage Center

April 5, 2021April 2, 2021 MichaelStephenWills12 Comments

The Irish Free State was four months old when my then 35 year old Grandfather and Grandmother boarded the S.S. Montnairn out of Belfast. My mother, two months short of three years of age, accompanied them on this voyage to a new life as Canadian citizens. This slideshow is a mix of images from the Cobh Heritage center and my personal genealogy materials.

Call for Irish Emigration, this for Idaho. My grandfather answered a similar call, returning in 1926 for his wife and daughter.

Father Brown’s Titanic Photographs

Cobh Heritage Center

April 3, 2021April 3, 2021 MichaelStephenWills1 Comment

The Cobh Heritage Center documents the experiences of Irish emigration. Here I share information about the Titanic’s maiden voyage through the photographic work of Father Frank Brown. Cobh, pronounced “cove”, as in “The Cove of Cork.”

Here is an informative and entertaining 5 minute documentary of Father Brown, his trip on the Titanic and subsequent achievements as a photographer.

Marantha House Six

near Blarney, County Cork

March 30, 2021March 29, 2021 MichaelStephenWills

Continued…..The ground of Marantha House are a well appointed as the home, as you would expect from a luxury bed and breakfast on “Hydro Hill” also known as “Saint Ann’s Hill” close to Blarney, County Cork.

We say “goodbye” to Marantha House…on to new adventures

Marantha House Four

near Blarney, County Cork

March 28, 2021March 28, 2021 MichaelStephenWills2 Comments

Continued…..The view from our room, a fairway down “Hydro” hill. We were surprised to fine “sub-tropical” plants, such as the bamboo next to the recliner, in southern Ireland. Thanks to the Gulf Stream roses flourish and we spied palm trees, believe it or not.

Marantha House Three

near Blarney, County Cork

March 27, 2021March 24, 2021 MichaelStephenWills2 Comments

Continued…..More of our surroundings, “home” during our explorations of Cork City, Kinsale and Cobh. Marantha House is a luxury bed and breakfast on “Hydro Hill” also known as “Saint Ann’s Hill” close to Blarney, County Cork.

Marantha House Two

near Blarney, County Cork

March 25, 2021March 25, 2021 MichaelStephenWills

Continued…..yesterday, we saw the second floor bay window of our bedroom of our luxury B&B base for our Cork City, Cobh and Kinsale explorations. Here is a peak into our bedroom and the house furnishings. The last photo is another bedroom. Marantha House is a secluded site on “Hydro Hill” also known as “Saint Ann’s Hill” close to Blarney, County Cork.

Marantha House One

near Blarney, County Cork

March 24, 2021March 22, 2021 MichaelStephenWills11 Comments

Richard Barter, an Irish physician who used hydropathy for treatment, opened the first such hydrotreatment facility in Ireland at this location, near Blarney, in the 19th century. Today it is the luxury bed and breakfast we enjoyed during out days exploring Cork and Cobh. Here is a slide show of the entry and our first introduction to the home.

Our room was behind the large, second floor, bay window

Marantha House Five

Charlemagne

March 23, 2021March 29, 2021 MichaelStephenWills4 Comments

Continued….yesterday included a view along a fairway of Saint Ann’s Hill on which Marantha House B&B is sited. Not far away was a pasture where Charlemagne, a rescued former show horse lives. Our first evening, the one just before this morning, I brought an apple out to Charlemagne. The next morning I returned with another apple to share. Charlemagne rewarded me with a brilliant approach I captured below with my Sony Alpha DSLR with variable lens.