McCollums in County Cavan

Friday 24 May we moved on from our B&B in Duleek.
It is still cool (13 - 17°) wind very cold- but sunny breaks as well.

We didn't have to travel too far today but I was keen to find as many townlands where McCollum  families settled. I had details of a number of siblings who were here in late 1700 to mid 1800s.
We travelled via Navan, Kells & Bailieborough. All similar little towns with small 2 storey 'all joined together rows of houses along the streets & main street. The front doors seem so small to us.

All have very big grey stone Catholic & Church of Ireland - stain glass windows & many with surrounding graveyards. Lots of pubs (not many serve meals these days), cafes, general shops. All have very narrow streets with cars having to give way to oncoming traffic. I love hearing the up&down lilted conversations- reminds me of my Grandma Collum.

Cavan quite hilly - hills have more grouse bushes & fields tend to have hedges around them rather than the dry stone walls. Sheep & cattle & being spring lots of babies. Lots of white & pink May bushes.

Bailieborough was where our daughter-in-law's (Campbell side) great-great-grandmother was from before she went with her family (Argue) to Glasgow, Scotland.
We tried to drive on to Shercock where we were staying the night. The road was closed for work on it. We asked about where to go & were told 'just take the back road there'. We drove on & on & on, passing lotsof cars..... & tractors (very pretty with numerous loughs & farms). No cross streets, no street/town signs!
We finally came to a crossroad with two strange placenames in either direction. We asked a truck driver who pulled up,which way to Shercock & he pointed right - 6 miles later we found it!

A pie & coffee for lunch sitting in a nice park opposite the post office. I went in to ask about the various downloads I had listed as where the McCollums farmed. The 3 people in there had only heard of a couple & gave us directions to get there.
((We spend so much time & effort finding these townlands & all our research revolves around them))
They also gave us directions to our Air BnB for the night.
The place I was particularly keen to find was Glasleck Presbyterian Church where Rev Randal McCollum had been for nearly 35 years from 1836. We found it & his gravestone next to church.
Church has been closed for 12 years. The driveway next to Church had 'The Manse' sign so we went down it to see if they had a key to Church.
Youngish lady Eva & dogs came out. No key & Manse built 1890s. She invited us in for coffee & biscuits. She rang 'the local history guru' Peadar, (retired school Principal) who said he would come around. He knew quite a bit - Rev Randel had left a diary & written a book about his work (in Cavan Library & I had read some of it on line). Eva has a beautifully built Wholistic Centre where people come from everywhere to stay & do yoga etc etc. Her husband is a master carpenter & built the Centre & does lots of specialist building work around area.
Randal was know as a fire & brimstone preacher who's services went for 4 hours.  He was VERY UNIMPRESSED with 'behaviour & drunken, slovenly lifestyle of Catholic folk' & 'exhorted them to reach out & attain the similar ways of the true Christian Presbyterians'. Very outspoken & eventually 'sidelined for his 'strongviews'.
Paedor gave me other McCollum contacts; places to follow up. We followed him!!!!!!! to Miltown House where we were their first guests. Lovely family of 5 who were so excited to have us. Lovely 2 room & ensuite little 'house' beautifully furnished & attached to their house.
After dinner they invited us in for wine & coffee. Had a great night with them all - children & Warren playing accordian & other instruments. Silvia cooked chicken & chips for supper.
So lovely & friendly!