Search underway by grandson for lost Tipperary emigrant’s journal from 1900

A family in Australia is appealing to people in Tipperary for help in locating a long-lost journal written by a local man who emigrated to Australia more than a century ago.

The journal was written by Patrick Lanigan, who was born on 17 March 1879 in Ballyguanne, near Knockavilla in County Tipperary.

In 1900, like many young Irish people of that era, Patrick left Ireland to seek a new life in Australia.

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During his journey and early years abroad, he kept a journal recording his emigration to Australia and some time after that.

After arriving in Brisbane, Queensland, Patrick worked as a miner in Tannymorel before later becoming a farmer in Nanango and eventually settling in Dixalea, where he continued farming.

The journal was sent back to Ireland to Patrick’s mother, Fanny Lanigan, who lived in Knockavilla.

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According to family knowledge, the journal was later lent to someone in or around the Knockavilla/Dundrum area.

Unfortunately, over time its whereabouts were forgotten, and the document has not been seen by the family for many years.

Patrick’s grandson, Tony Reddy, who lives in Queensland, Australia, hopes that the kind people of Tipperary can help locate the journal. 

Mr Reddy is appealing to anyone in the Knockavilla or Dundrum area who may have seen the journal or knows anything about its whereabouts to come forward.

Anyone with information can contact Mr Reddy via email at amreddynow@gmail.com or contact us on news@tipperarylive.ie

"Thank you for your help. I appreciate the kindness and community spirit of your readers and hope that, with their support, my grandfather’s journal might be found," concluded Mr Reddy.