Famine and Fortune

The story begins with my Great Grandfather Philip born 1835. Grandfather Owen Coogan joined the British Army at Crinkle, Kings County. Grandfather seen action in India. Married in 1897 at Birr, County Offaly, a son named Philip was born 1898. 1913 new neighbours had arrived at Cadamstown, named the Pearson family. Uncle Philip had become friends with their daughter Matilda. Grandfather Owen his wife Bridget and 9 of the 11 children, were held at gunpoint while their family farm home was set on fire. I had a year-long battle with TB, had a near-death experience and a dramatic vision of hell and heaven. Married we were a happy family, had our thriving business destroyed in 1971 by a bomb, during the Northern troubles. I, my wife and children were threatened and told get out of town. Grandfather's 1921 flight North. Now in a mirror image had we to flee fifty years later from the assassins? A Name Coogan - O'Cuagain During the fourth and fifth Century, the province of Connacht was invaded by King Maine Mor, who became the founder of the 'Kingdom of Ui Maine' consisting of approximately 1,000 square miles (2,600km) of territory. The Area covered all of County Galway East of Athenry, all of South and Central County Roscommon. The name of the Coogan Clan (O'Cuagain Celtic for Coogan) came to prominence during the invasion, any of the Clan's that fought for the Kings and Queens of Ui Maine, were rewarded with rights and privileges. In the year 1171, the Anglo - Norman invasion began. Strongbow brought with him from Wales a great fighting warrior called Milo de Cogan. The Cogan name has been very often confused with the name Coogan.

Table of Contents:
Part One A Name Coogan, in Irish O'Cuagain Spirit of my Ancestors Auxiliaries 1921 Offaly Burnings Philip Joined National Army Shooting of More O'Ferrall A Schoolboy's War Near Death Experience Priesthood Call Border Incident Crossroads Arrested Taken Prisoner Thousands Flock To Ardboe Escape To Dublin Ambitions We Open Shop Internment A Visit To The Shankill Get Out of Town The Terrorist Bomb Blast Part Two December 8th 1971 Holding on A Drink in Belfast Bloody Sunday Help From Reverend Ian Paisley The Waiting Game The Lion's Den The 12th July 1972 Death of The Innocent Gift To a Young Soldier The Meek Shall Be Murdered The Stranger Part Three Forced Into Exile The Granary And The Path A Place To Work Just One Cortina First Christmas in Roscommon The Perfect Building Site Christy's 'Blue Suede Shoes' The Best Laid Plans A Time To Prayer Deja Vue The Blood of The Lamb Final Straw Night Falls The Kindness of Neighbours Families Generosity Return To Knock Shrine A New Beginning Healing Our Lady of Ephesus