Rathfriland On The Hill Walkround

I am at Rathfriland on the Hill. I used to come here very regularly as a lad. I haven't been here for many years, so I'm on a sort of sentimental journey.
I'm trying to trace down the story of my mother's family
( grandmother's maiden name Gilmour and grandfather's name Peters ) who lived in Rathfriland. I recently found out, to my complete surprise, that my grandmother who lived in School road was only one of a number of siblings. I had great uncles and aunts that I had never heard of. Indeed I had 3 Rathfriland born, great uncles who served in the New Zealand Expeditionay Force in the 1st World War. One of them, great uncle Frank Gilmour, died in France in September 1918 shot I believe by a German sniper. He is remembered on the town war memorial and at an monument in front of Rathfriland Reformed Presbyterian Church ( The Rock ).
More of Rathfriland
Rathfriland (from Irish: Ráth Fraoileann, meaning "ringfort of Fraoile") begancenturies ago as a hilltop Plantation of Ulster settlement. It sits on a height between the Mourne Mountains, Slieve Croob and Banbridge. ( pop approx 4000 )
In older English documents, the village's name was usually spelt Rathfylan or Rathfrilan. It was once the capital of the Magennis family, the Gaelic lords of Iveagh. They built a castle there in the late 16th century. The ruins (south gable 30 ft x 25 ft) may still be seen on the hill upon which Rathfriland sits.
The castle was battered down during the Irish Confederate Wars and much of the remainder was carried off by William Hawkins of London, the first Protestant landowner there after the war. The stones were used to build the Town Inn (the building of which still stands on the corner of The Square and Newry Street) and other houses in the village.[3] In 1760 the Market House, which dominates the main square, was built for the linen market by Miss Theodosia McGill. An old map of 1776 prepared for the Meade Estate shows streets, lanes, tenements and gardens forming the early village.
Notable people
Patrick Brontë, the father of the Brontë sisters (Charlotte, Emily and Anne) was born in 1777 in a cottage in Edenagarry on the outskirts of Annaclone, where he lived until a local vicar paid his way to Cambridge University in 1802. While studying at Cambridge, he changed his name from Brunty to Brontë. He preached and taught at Drumballyroney Church and School House, between Rathfriland and Moneyslane. The Brontë Homeland Interpretative Centre is at Drumballyroney.
Andrew George Scott (alias "Captain Moonlight") was born in Rathfriland in 1842 in a house on Castle Hill. A notorious Australian bushranger.
Margaret Byers (née Morrow) was born in Rathfriland in 1832. Margaret Byers was a teacher, a businesswoman, a pioneer of higher education for girls, a philanthropist and a suffragist. She said: "My aim was to provide for girls an education...as thorough as that which is afforded to boys in the schools of the highest order." In 1905 she was given an honorary degree by Trinity College, Dublin and in 1908 Queen's University, Belfast appointed her to its senate.
Theodosia Meade, Countess of Clanwilliam.
Rathfriland is a town in County Down Northern Ireland

[@user-oe1yb4lx8k]

Hello, Tom, my cousin just pointed out this video to me a few days ago. Thank you for making it. The first sight of the Mournes was always so exciting when we drove from Cullybackey to visit my Gilmour grandparents in Lessize. My father was your mother's cousin. By the way, three Gilmour brothers, Joe, Sam and Frank, along with their sister Margaret, emigrated to New Zealand. As you say, the three men enlisted and were sent to France, where Frank was killed. Joe and Sam returned to NZ to rejoin their sister. (The person who emigrated to Toronto was Joe, a son of their brother Robbie.) I managed to visit great-uncle Frank's grave in northern France in 2011; it took me a while to find it, as he is buried in a German war cemetery, presumably because he was taken from the battlefield to a German hospital where he died of his wound.

[@TomMcClean]

Hi Marion. Great to hear from you! I know quite a bit about my fathers McClean side of the family but I'm a wee bit low on information about the Peters /Gilmour side. I wonder has anyone ever done even a basic family tree? I would love to see it if they have. I would love to know about my grandfather Peters. I know nothing about him. I don't ever hearing about him mentioned. I know that a man we called uncle Alec Gilmour was a preacher I think he was my grandmother Agnes's brother. I met this man when I was small. I knew Andrew Peters and John Peters the breadman and I know their 3 daughters, Phyllis and Kay and Lorna. ( I must make contact with them again! ) I wonder is there any contact with the New Zealand Gilmours? Any help you can offer would be much appreciated. Are you still up in Cullybacky? I would love to know where Frank's medals ended up and what about the Dead Man's Penny that would have been sent home. It is fantastic you were able to visit his grave. Would you have any photographs? I knew that he was in that cemetery because there are extensive WW1 military records available. I've made a few more videos about Rathfriland RP Church and the 3 brothers Frank Joe and Sam and my search for Franks war records. ( Some parts of these videos have been made from the other one you have seen. ) Link Rathfriland Reformed Presbyterian Church Walkround kzbin.info/www/bejne/qWXLl55tbNuhjZI 3 Rathfriland/New Zealand Gilmour Brothers WW1 kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZ7HammCl8yhqtE Best wishes from the Belfast Castlereagh hills. Tom McClean

[@user-oe1yb4lx8k]

@@TomMcClean Hello Tom! It's great to be in touch with a new relative, especially one who (like me) is keen on family history. I know lots about the Gilmour/Gilmores, mainly thanks to Tom Veage's family history; unfortunately Tom, who lived in Sydney, died in 2013 and his bulky history was typed, not on computer as far as I know. His mother Maggie was another cousin of your mother's. I too live in Australia now. All Tom's history tells us about your grandfather, Joe Peters, is that he had a barber's shop in Rathfriland and he and Agnes lived in her mother's house in School Road. Is there any easier way for us to communicate? Email? Tom Veage gives your street address in his book - if you haven't moved since 2000 - so as a last resort I could write you a letter. In the meantime, best wishes, Marion

[@TomMcClean]

Brilliant Marion!! I didn't know about this Tom Veage family history. The Veage name is familiar to me from way back in time when I was a boy. But that's about it. I wonder how I could get a copy if there a copy or two of this book? My mother didn't talk at all about my grandfather Peters. I have no idea why not. Joe being a barber makes a lot of sense because my uncle John, ( mums unmarried brother John and aunt unmarried Mary, was there in School road too ), used to cut hair too and he had a proper barbers chair ( probably his fathers ) Yes yes about communicating, my e mail is [e-mail]. When you e mail I'll send you my mob no so can Whatapp me any videos or free texts ) I hope this gets through. KZbin normally don't allow you to send e mails. So tell me if you got this. Best wishes from the Castlereagh Belfast Hills.

[@TomMcClean]

Did you get my last e mail Marion with my e mail address in it. Sometimes KZbin doesn't let you send e mail addresses. The rest of the email said Brilliant Marion!! I didn't know about this Tom Veage family history. The Veage name is familiar to me from way back in time when I was a boy. But that's about it. I wonder how I could get a copy if there a copy or two of this book? My mother didn't talk at all about my grandfather Peters. I have no idea why not. Joe being a barber makes a lot of sense because my uncle John, ( mums unmarried brother John and aunt unmarried Mary, was there in School road too ), used to cut hair too and he had a proper barbers chair ( probably his fathers ) i hope they both got through.

[@paulpayton8238]

Tom I know it so well there you've brought back fond memories we lived 2 miles away from slieve croob on gransha road I'm sure you know it well, good work Tom thanks again and good video hey at this rate your videos will go down in history long after you all the best Paul p England 🙂👍

[@TomMcClean]

I too know it so well Paul my mum came from Rathfriland.

[@lesleyannedixon9036]

My favourite place in the world. Such fond memories from my younger days. I really enjoyed the history and seeing Rathfriland again. ☺

[@TomMcClean]

Hey Lesley Anne , Many many thanks for your so encouraging post. This is what my wee amateur channel is all about,-reconnecting long gone folks with their past happy memories of old familiar places. Best wishes

[@RODPIKERDRONESUK]

Great video and information Tom very nice 👍

[@TomMcClean]

Thanks RDUK. This was like a homecoming for me.

[@andybrown223]

A top class video,from a truly lovely place.my great granda Spiers was from their.he survived the first world war with the 13th RIR or his name would have been on that memorial along with your relations.brilliant video,lest we forget 🇬🇧

[@TomMcClean]

Many many thanks Andy for your constant encouragement. I'm now on a mission to find out something about my 3 great uncles Samuel, Joseph and Frank Gilmour. They all had emigrated from Rathfriland to New Zealand before WW1 and when it broke out they joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and fought in France. Frank was killed. He was 28. His 2 brothers survived. Joseph, No 34661 served in the 1st Cantebury Regiment 4th Platoon( Brigade? ) I found this information on old long forgotten letters that had not been sent home but probably given to another local soldier going home injured......... Interesting stuff! I never knew I had these great uncles until a fortnight ago! I was really surprised to see my great uncle Frank's name on Rathfriland war memorial of those killed. I found another separate memorial honouring his sacrifice in front of my grandmother's church in Rathfriland. I was amazed! and immensely proud.

[@andybrown223]

@@TomMcClean brilliant mate,things like this is my passion.👍

[@TomMcClean]

Hi AndyI've nowfound the service numbers and records for all 3 great uncles! I've even found the name of the cemetery in France that uncle Frank is buried in and where! Wow! You can access so much online.

[@andybrown223]

@@TomMcClean brilliant Tom,am so happy for you,get it all printed out now.i would love to see it all.

[@TomMcClean]

I;m going to do a video on it Andy.

[@paulpayton8238]

You know your history Tom my wife's uncle's and aunts live there name Hobson, you may know of them, there in there 70is and 80is now, the times I drove up that road, your just by were I used to live thanks Tom, Paul p Birmingham England

[@TomMcClean]

As we have said before Paul it's a small world especially in N Ireland where it seems everyone knows or is related to everyone else!

[@OccenceMedia]

Very good my friend! nice edition !!! Great upload***thumbs up !!! Lets keep in touch:)

[@TomMcClean]

Many thanks for the encouragement OC. Best wishes from Belfast Northern Ireland

[@jacquelinehealey4362]

Im just a few miles away in Newry ☺

[@TomMcClean]

Hi Jacqueline Great to hear from you. i must get to Newry soon and do a film about it too. !

[@madeljacky]

Hello again Tom, another brilliant video of a town local to me. My dad called the cinema in School road 'the bug house' as did many other people, also one of my uncles lived in School road at a time. Are you riding a Yamaha Dragstar by any chance?

[@TomMcClean]

My aunt and uncle John Peters the watch repairer lived beside the cinema. (The bug house! ) I love it. No, I'm on a rare American import Honda VT 600cc Honda now. It has the same styling as a Dragstar or a Suzuki Maurader of a Harley Davidson Sport.

[@madeljacky]

@@TomMcClean Honda VT 600 is a very nice bike, health to enjoy it Tom. I asked my mother did she know any Peters from Rathfriland as she was from Rathfriland, she said yes she remembers a John Peters the watch man from School road. I couldn't believe it and I had told her nothing else ! She says she had a watch repaired by him once. There was also a Peters family along with the McDowell family that owned the Dalgety animal meal business which was later called South Down Feeds, address is 5A Banbridge road, Rathfriland and it is now sadly closed just over a year now, were they any connection to you or a different Peters family? If you pause the video at 4.50 you can see the meal bins in the left middle of the picture

[@TomMcClean]

Yes MH, I have been doing a bit of family history on my mothers side and the second Peters you mention is probably a second cousin. I have more investigation yet to do. Best wishes from the Belfast Castlereagh hills.

[@jamesmoorhead4907]

I leave out side rathfriland

[@TomMcClean]

A very interesting wee town historically James. Best wishes from Belfast.