Another Hurley Hero

Can I just say this has nothing to do with me:

Mass Cancelled as Fr Hurley is Away

But Hoorah and Huzzah that another Hurley is on the side of the saints and general goodness.

Go go Fr Hurley! Sock it to the heretics.

And after your time away to recharge your batteries get back to the pulpit and let's have some sermons that resonate with fire and brimstone! Old Pa Hurley expects nothing less.

Hurley's Bar, near Kinsale

"The Hurley's" of Ballinspittle, Co Cork.

Doing a search for Hurleys in Kinsale I came across a Hurley's Bar in listings for Kinsale, though in fact it's in a village just outside called Ballinspittle.

A link to the official site of the Bar is now in the side bar under the Irish sites grouping.

But I also found this blog on Bugbitten which has lots of photos from the bar, including this one of the Hurley's (I don't know if that means the staff of the bar, or the family that run it...).

O'Hurley's General Store, WV, USA

This is O'Hurley's General Store in West Virginia, USA.

It looks like everything you'd want in an old fashioned general store!

I can almost imagine 'the man with no name' moseying on up to get some beef jerky.

A person on flickr says:

This is a very interesting place. On Thursday nights, they have local musicians playing some great music.

On Yelp someone else says:

Lots of unique items. Collectors may find things like old signs. You can get some hardware that would be used in "century old" type homes. I also think their furniture, which is vintage country, is reasonably priced.

We are planning to build on our lot nearby in WVa in the next year or so, and will be returning here to pick up some items to decorate our home.

Their own website (see below) is run by one Jay Hurley.

Seems like everything you'd want in a real American/Southern General Store. Yee ha!

Now all I need is a sponsored family holiday so we can go visit... ;-)

Link:
O'Hurley's General Store

Hurleys in Ireland - More Info

This is quite an interesting website if, like me, you are a Hurley:

Link:
The Hurley Family Tree

Not least because it tells us that:

"Ballinacarriga [tower house - but look, it's a castle to me!] was built in 1585 by Randal Hurley (Muirhily)"

and

"In 1631 Randal died and was succeeded by his son Randal Oge, who was one of the first to take up arms in the rebellion of 1641. One of the most interesting aspects of the Hurley Family is that the women fought alongside their men-folk, up to and including 1641, the family was indicted of high treason following that rising, was outlawed and lost everything."

Riches to rags. That sounds typical!

But then there's:

"Dermot O'Hurly, Archbishop of Cashel, suffered martydom in Dublin,

THE HURLEY CHALICE,
St Mary's Catholic Cathedral, Cork.
and was buried in St. Kevin's Church, where his body bore the repute of many miracles."

Could the Hurleys have their own Saint...

Elizabeth Hurley: Now She Too Can Answer 'Yes' to That Question

All my life -- well since she became famous -- people have asked me (signing forms for the postie, at the doctors, in work, meeting new folks etc. etc.):

"Are you related to Elizabeth Hurley?"

To which I used to sigh, and resignedly respond "no."

Then just a few short months ago my long-suffering father (unofficially the biggest Brains SA sponsor in Wales) told me that we actually were related to Liz Hurley! He had discovered that she was his second cousin or thereabouts.

So now when I am asked the fateful question, I smile and say "yes."

It doesn't half take the wind out of their sails when this normal Welsh bloke (albeit with a certain charm and charisma) turns out to be related to the rich and famous.

The last person to ask me was a Pakistani locum doctor who I'd never seen before, and it was funny to watch his response.

So yes fellow bloggers, fellow Hurleys and all you various hangers-on I am sure that from now on when people stop her in the street, Liz can proudly answer:

"Yes - I am related to Gareth Hurley."

Calling All Hurleys

Are you a Hurley?

Perhaps you are a O'Hurley or even a Herlihy (did I get that right?).

If so I'd love to hear from you.

Perhaps your family has roots in County Cork?

Drop me a line if you are a Hurley.

Let's start a Hurley Adventure.