In October of 2005 I visited Killaloe to investigate its history and topography. The registry at St. Flannan's Cathedral records the first Winnett in 1784 with the birth of Anne Winnett to John and Sarah. For the next 60 years the Winnett family plays and active role in the community. There are no Winnetts in the 1901 census.
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| Main Street in Killaloe heads downhill toward the river in an easterly direction, changing its name to Church Street for the final block. The narrow street is much the same as it was 150 years ago except for automobiles. St. Flannan's Cathedral is prominent at the bottom of the road. William Loane and Sarah Winnett had a shoemaker shop at #70 on Main until the day they hastily emigrated to Canada. |
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| This image of Church Street reportedly shows Killaloe in 1901. Note that St. Flannan's, the tree and many of the buildings are the same as they are today. |
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| The River Shannon eases peacefully by Killaloe as it has for hundreds of years. On the left bank below the town in an area called the Moys, Joseph Winnett held rights to the salmon fishery in 1845. More important was the eel fishery. Weirs had been used to trap eels at this place from the earliest human settlements and can be seen today bordering the bridge across to Ballina. St. Flannan's Cathedral, at mid-left, dates from the 13th century but the same space held a church of some description many centuries before. Brian Boru, famous king of ancient Ireland, reportedly set up a church here. |
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