Michael Timothy Cavanaugh

The Rock of Molum Michael Timothy Cavanaugh

They descended from a great, 12th Century Irish king into abject poverty. Their struggle was not unlike that of millions who lost their lives or fled to other countries during the Irish famine of the mid-19th Century. After their eviction from their farm in Molum Townsland, the Kavanaghs left for the United States. Unknown to them at the time, their departure from their beloved Ireland would become a blessing in the years ahead. They crossed the Atlantic and traveled down the Saint Lawrence seaway to the shores of Waukegan, Illinois and walked the remaining distance to their new home, McHenry, Illinois. Later, two brothers laid rail from Illinois into Iowa where they bought farms. The Gaffneys came from Wicklow and sailed across the ocean and up the Mississippi River before stopping at Galena, Illinois. One brother traveled westward to Cedar, Iowa and one sister northward into Minnesota with her husband who became a builder of buildings and ships. Seventeen of their ships served in the Battle of Normandy in World War II. The Leonards and Caseys came through New York City and made their way westward into the Irish conclave known as Cedar, Iowa. The Rock of Molum is the story of these families.