Recently I came across a letter relating to the first Ordnance Survey of Ireland in the 1830’s. It concerned the progress of the field work being carried out in County Cavan but began with an interesting insight.

Virginia (County Cavan) May 25th 1836

Dear Sir

Is it not a most extraordinary thing that I should be taken for a Methodist? I wear a black coat, a black waistcoat and black trousers and most generally a black shirt, a very appropriate colour to represent the dark designs of one who intends to make protestants of the townlands* and yet the friary who were holy men belonging to God wore very black clothes. I assure you that I was refused lodgings in several places in consequence of looking so like a swaddling (Methodist) preacher……

• Irish townland names were being anglicised for the purposes of the Survey.