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angela hackman | Email

Hi, I grew up as a catholic, although my school never mentioned any Irish connections, through this site I have found so many of my ancestors I am proud of my Irish roots. However the last few e-mails on this site are quite negative, come on boys lighten up, we need more positive e-mails. Happy new year to one and all.

3 January 2009 - llanrumney cardiff

Webmaster comments Nice to hear from you Angela - good on you. And we're really glad you have found the site useful. Happy New Year.

James (Nicky)Barry | Email

re, "mark duggan"
At the risk of sounding arrogant, Newtown folk claimed no special status among the "Irish Diaspora" in Cardiff - rather the dictates of history decreed it thus. There is nothing untoward about this as it appears to be a worldwide phenomenon. whilst in Canada I embarked on a tour of Toronto. The guide, knowing of my Irish ancestry (I had my shoes on the wrong feet),advised a visit to "Cabbagetown" (with a name like that it could only be Irish) He stated citizens of Irish extraction in Toronto revere "Cabbagetown" although the vast majority have never had any affilliation with the area. Whilst conversing with my fellow passengers during a train journey between Boston and New York, a "Bostonian" proclaimed that although he was "Irish American" alas he was "not from Southey" - Southey being the "Bostonian" equivalent of "Newtown"(sound familiar Mark), to borrow from "Don! king" "only in america" does the wonderful whackiness of being fortunate enough to have "Irish Blood" coursing through your veins really hit home to you. On my last night in "New York" whilst strolling back to my hotel I was stopped by two police officers, the reason? i was wearing a Welsh rugby shirt. It turned out one of them an officer "Magillis" (your archetypal irish american cop!) played rugby for the n.y.p.d. team. On learning my surname he shook my hand warmly and invited me to watch them play the next day - a Saturday. - Alas I was unable to accept his offer for I was "off to Philadelphia in the morning" (now where have i heard that saying before?). His fellow officer listening to our banter! exclaimed jokingly "aw! two paddys! talking together we will never finish our shift now". here was I a "welshman" (as long as i do not have to attend Eistedfods that is) and he an "american" magically transformed into "sons of erin" and begorrah! not a leprechaun in sight. Mark, were you to attend a "Newtown funeral" you would be struck by the fact that quite often the mourners who have never had any connection with "Newtown" frequently outnumber the "Newtonians" -a somewhat paradoxical manifestation for a people possessed of a "fortress mentality" do you not think? my late father whilst wallowing in nostalgia after afew would proclaim that when his time came he wanted to be "found dead on the pavements of newtown", so please Mark, allow our foibles if not for us then for our parents generation. For while we were able to adapt to change the demolition of "Little Ireland" "broke their hearts". Incidentally both "Cabbagetown" and "Southey" like "Newtown" itself are now the domain of the property speculator but the soul of these areas could not be bought as it belongs to all of us and is safely locked away in our memories.
james(nicky!barry) son of a
'Newtown Knocker Upperer' and a 'Harvard university graduate'(okay I only went to the place for a day but hey, lets not nitpick I am a fast learner).

17 December 2008 - Cardiff

Webmaster comments Thank you Nicky for such an uplifting message.

james a barry | Email

re,paul duggan,

11 December 2008 - cardiff

PAUL DUGGAN | Email

IN REPLY TO MARK DUGGAN.
So you think that “it is a tremendous shame that so much is made of this handful of streets.” What a strange comment! You actually criticise ex-residents for demonstrating a love of and interest in their former neighbourhood. How dare you!
I cannot believe you are Cardiff Irish Born and Bred. Where on our Web Site have we said that we are the only Irish in Cardiff, or that we alone have contributed the Irish part of the ‘culture and character' of Cardiff’ ?
And What is all this about a division and a “siege mentality that has stopped the advancement of Irish culture in Cardiff” Is this happening in a parallel continuum?
You say that you believe that a more fitting tribute to all the Irish in Cardiff would be something like the 'Famine Memorial' Am I missing something here? We have the wonderful Famine Memorial - and a what a fantastic venue it is for the Annual St Patrick's Day Trilingual Memorial Ceremony. Why would any group try to replicate - or indeed detract from that. No, we as a group, simply wanted to provide a fitting memorial to our Newtown Community, which spanned four generations and lived in an area known colloquially as ‘Little Ireland’(which you so disparagingly described as ‘this handful of streets’) for around 150 years. And yes, the men and women of Newtown did make a significant contribution to the development of the City of Cardiff.

It must have been quite enlightening for you to be given Tom's Insight (24/11/2008) into the origins of the Newtown Association. Who would have thought it eh? - started by ex- residents !. Well, well, well.

Perhaps, as Tom suggested we can now look forward to hearing from you about similar communities or groups. Please feel free to use our Guestbook to tell us about them.

Paul Duggan (No Relation)

4 December 2008 - CARDIFF

Tom | Email

Re;Mark Duggan.Can only agree with you,although as far as I know,this site was set up by person[s] who were brought up in the "Newtown" area of Cardiff.It's a valuable site and I only wish that other's could have set up similar site's from their area's of Cardiff.

24 November 2008 - Wales

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