Thank you, Eilas, for your prompt reply to my queries.

I have pretty well sorted out the townland/barony/etc. thing but, I have to admit that I get a bit confused when different names are used for the same location. I know, for example, that Glendalough is the Vale of Glendalough, also referred to as Seven Churches, and also as Camaderry. But I also know that Camaderry is a mountain. Did the people who lived on the mountain give their location as Camaderry, while those who lived in the valley used Glendalough/Seven Churches - probably not.

My main confusion here is caused by the Australian Death Certificate of 1873 of Daniel Kavanagh. His wife, Margaret, who was the Informant, stated that they had been married at "Glendalough Roman Catholic Church". But my research tells me that there wasn't one at the time (c.1834).

I am probably way off the mark but I am assuming that because -
(a) the known 8 children of Daniel and Margaret were born, and survived, between c.1838 and c.1851, the years of the Great Hunger (and even we colonials know of the Irish political and economic situation which caused the deaths of so many innocent victims),
(b) the family came to Australia as unassisted immigrants, suggesting they paid their own passage, including that of 3 or 4 of the older sons who would have attracted adult fares, and
(c) the family had the means to set themselves up as farmers and blacksmiths on arrival in Australia,
then they possibly were in a better economic or social position than many others at the time.

I am also aware of the schemes, such as Fitzwilliam's, which were set up to look like humanitarian aid but were, in fact, the "final solution" to the "Irish problem", not to mention the amount of food which was being exported to Britain while the Irish starved.

Thank you again for your help.

Barbara