School: Ardlow

On this page

1. Story - Rantavan

   

   Share Share Post

   When the Kellett family resided at Rantavan House the membership of the household consisted of two brothers, both advanced in years and both unmarried. They kept a staid female housekeeper who spent practically all her life with the family and was of the same religious belief as her masters - Protestant. The servant boy was of either persuasion and generally spent a couple of years in their service before leaving for a new master. There were besides half a dozen local hands employed as farm labourers - some Catholic, some protestant.
   These two brothers were very much unlike in manner, habits, and associations. The elder brother was hot tempered, haughty in manner, and even though partial to his co-religionists, gave all to understand he was the master and must be obeyed. He was very fond of rehearsing the acts of the staunch orangemen of Belfast and Portadown against their catholic neighbours. In his youth he spent a long holiday with relations in Portadown and while there he acquired an aversion for catholics. He drank often to excess and seldom when intoxicated failed to give vent to his feelings against Papists in general and the Pope in particular by thundering maledictions and vile epithets.
   One night he was returning inebriated from the Inn

   (continues on next page)

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Language

   English

   Informant

   John Gibney

   Gender

   Male

   Age

   c. 55

   Address

   Mullagh, Co. Cavan