So, in the past, I had talked about our family's plight in Ireland during the latter part of the 19th century. Around 1879, in Killasser, a Relief Committee was formed, consisting of prominent parishioners and chaired by the parish priest, to apply for and administer subscriptions for various funds which were set up to help those in need. In the parish, by 1880, 1,750 out of 1,800 families were receiving relief because of the failure of crops and general distress.

In addition to the Relief Committee, the Killasser Land League was formed to protest evictions upon the land from the landlords that charged abusive rent to the tenant farmers. On one such occasion, January 4th, 1881, a crowd of people descended upon one of the landlord's land agents and assaulted him. Among those arrested and charged with riot and assault were my Great Grandfather, James McLoughlin, his brother Thomas McLoughlin, my Great Grandmother, Bridget McNulty and her brother and sister, Martin and Mary McNulty. Both of my Great Grandparents were 20 years of age, at the time of their arrest. My Great Grandparents are pictured below.