Barbers of Cooldrummon

Cooldrummon (Cuildreimhe, Cooldrumman or Coolnadrummon) was the site of "The Battle of the Book" in 561 A.D. St Colmcille is remembered for his part in the ’ Battle of the Book’: Colmcille copied a book while a guest of St. Finian’s. Finian claimed the copy as well as the book, but Colmcille refused. The dispute was brought to the High King of Ireland whose edict was: ’To every cow its calf and to every book its copy’. In consequence, in 561 AD, the High King and Colmcille engaged in battle on the slopes of Benbulben. Aided by an angel, Colmcille won. Thousands of men were slain and the King forced to concede the copy of the psalter to Colmcille.

It was home of 3 Barber families recorded in the Diocese of Elphin Census of 1749. The Head of these families in 1749 were:

James with 4 children and wife

Robert with 4 children and wife

Joseph with 3 children and wife

In the 1858 Griffiths Valuation Cooldrumman was divided into Upper and Lower:

Francis Barber was in Upper with Land, House and offices, 51 acres leased from Sir Robert Gore Booth

William Barber was in Upper with Land, 14 acres plus 44 acres of Land, herd's, house and offices leased from Sir Robert Gore Booth

1901 - Census:

This Frank Barber of Cooldrummon Upper was the son of Francis Barber, Model Farmer of Rahelly. His father had a shattered dream after losing Rahelly House to James Cooper, the agent for the Gore Booths. He left Ireland and went to New York City in 1908 seeking work. He was shot and killed in Central Park in 1920 by a robber.

1911 -Frank was not in Ireland. See detailed pdfs below.

Other records show:

James Barber (1774-1844)

Samuel Barber (1774-1849)

John Barber, b. 1786

Joseph Barber, b. 1806

John Barber, b. 1808