Author(s): Phillip Courtney Moore

History

Commencing in the early nineteenth century, the book documents the lives of the Moore, Courtney and Brown families who lived in the village of Rakenny, Parish of Drung, Co Cavan, Ireland. These tenant farmers were friends living in close proximity to each other and their stories give some insight into the difficulties confronted by those living in Ireland during that period.With limited records available, the author has researched several generations of each of these families covering approximately 100 years, including those who stayed in Ireland and those who chose to emigrate.For those Moore, Courtney and Brown members who remained in Co Cavan, political turmoil continued and their lives were restricted by the Great Famine. Some of the younger generation were fortunate in gaining off-farm employment, while the older family members stayed with their farming which was going through a transformation from flax growing to other crops and livestock. By the end of the nineteenth century, changes to land ownership in Ireland occurred and they were given the opportunity to buy their small farms from their landlord.Beginning in the 1840s, some family members began looking for greater opportunities and a better way of life and chose to emigrate to either Australia or the United States of America. In later years, England was also included. Mostly those who emigrated were successful in their new endeavours and their descendants were able to reap the rewards on offer in their new countries.The book compliments "The Warm Corner" written by Bruce Moore in 1981 in that it provides additional information on those family members who emigrated to Australia.