A FAMILY REUNION WITH A DIFFERENCE
SHERLOCK CLAN GATHER IN GURTEEN FOR HOMECOMING
It was a homecoming with a difference.
Five years ago, Lorraine Sherlock came all the way from Australia to Ireland to trace her ancestors.
But she was unsuccessful, and left disappointed.
But thanks to the patience and diligence of Ballymote man Owen Duffy, she has now made a very special return visit.
She now has not only an intimate history of her family but she even found the original home of her great grandfather.
In fact, there was a gathering of about 60 Sherlocks, all meeting in the Coleman Ceolarus Centre in Gurteen to hear the story of their family.
Representatives of about 30 different Sherlock families attended.
Lorraine was there with her husband Tom Futcher of West Wodonga, Victoria, Australia.
Also present was Alan Leary and his wife, Barbara, from Melbourne.
Barbara’s and Alan’s grandparents emigrated originally to Ottawa.
They eventually settled and married in Australia.
For Lorraine, the get- together was a dream come true.
She met many of the Sherlock families who still live in the Carrentemple, Doon and Clogher areas.
She met and discussed her family history with descendants of neighbours.
She also had the opportunity of visiting the house in Carrentemple which was originally the home of her great great grandfather, Patrick Sherlock, a tenant farmer in the 1850s.
Patrick’s son, Matthew, joined the RIC in 1871.
His family eventually spread throughout England, the USA, Canada and Australia.
Clr Tony Sherlock, a member of the Cheshire Unitary Authority in England, who is also a descendant, was unable to attend but sent his best wishes.
Lorraine and her husband are visiting Tony and Mulligan relations in Cheshire later this month.