St. Columb’s Court Swifts Football Team

Family photos can be found from the strangest resources.

Several months ago, on the 400^th Anniversary of Derry’s FB page (which unfortunately has been taken down by the owner); a photo appeared of the St. Columb’s Court Swifts Football Team. The photograph was dated 1892-1893. Of course I was interested as many generations of my family have been and still are affiliated with St. Columb’s Cathedral. Many of my family also had lived on St. Columb’s Court, which is a beautiful little street leading to the steps of the Cathedral.

St. Columb’s Court

Although none of the gentlemen in the photo where named, I became very excited… one gentleman (2^nd from the left in the back row) looked VERY familiar. I had seen him before; not only had a seen him before, I believed I had photographs of him in my pile of “unknown” photos that I had brought back from my 2012 trip “back home”!

St, Columb’s Court Swifts football Team 1892-1893.

One of my aunts, let’s call her my “baby aunt” as she is only a few years older than me; had amassed a large number of family photos and documents. Many of those photos and documents had belonged to my maternal grandmother and belonged to her mother before her. For all genealogists out there, you know the feeling… Christmas had arrived early for me that year!

Who Are They?
Photo not to be used without prior consent from the author.

I have been told by a Londonderry Historian that the names are on the back of the photo; and the photo is in the records at St. Columb’s Cathedral. So it would seem that not only will I “hang out in cemeteries” in Ireland this summer; I will also (with the help of my “baby aunt”) be scouring the records and photos at the Cathedral.

Who Is He?
Photo not to be used without prior consent from the author.

I don’t know who they are; however, they ARE family. Are they my maternal Love Line; my paternal Wilson Line; or even my Elvin Family Line. I’m leaning towards them being a Love! As always, the search continues…

About CJ Murdoch

Looking For "Dead People"! My Journey Back In Time - Tracing my ancestors and researching the counties, cities and towns where they resided. Taking a “Glimpse” into their lives and stories and the times in which they lived; all in an effort to learn about their “Dash”! “I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of his friend. He referred to the dates on her tombstone from the beginning – to the end. He noted that first came the date of her birth and spoke of the second with tears, but he said that what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.” I have always been interested in researching my family tree and “hanging out” in cemeteries. Like most of us... I didn't ask enough questions when elderly family were still living. Oh, what I would give for 24 hours and a camera with my ancestors… just to sit and listen! I'm researching many family lines, including: Murdoch, Wilson, Berry, Love, Scott, Beattie/Beatty, Hendren, Sweeney, Robinson and Elvin; just to name a few. My families are predominantly from counties Antrim, Donegal and Londonderry. However, it seems that many of them, both maternal and paternal lines, originally hailed from Co. Donegal. I was born and raised in Northern Ireland and now live in Ottawa, Canada, making frequent trips back home to visit with my family. Of course those visits also include treks to the many burial grounds of my ancestors. My most recent trip back home was during the summer of 2019! Looking forward to August of 2020 when I will return. If you are interested in help tracing your ancestors I’d love to hear from you!

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