The Irish Archives Resource (IAR) recently expanded its online presence. There are now 34 contributing archive services from both northern and southern Ireland, with more than 500 collections described. IAR can be accessed at: http://www.iar.ie/. Note there are no images of records or archives on this website, and it is not specifically a genealogical resource. However, it links to archival collections, i.e., documents and records that relate to people, places, organizations and events. The site states, "The Irish Archives Resource portal is suitable for family researchers who have already discovered some facts about their family history," and further, that the purpose of the IAR Portal is to:

1. Allow users to locate archives and records that are relevant to their research
2. Increase the use of archives by directing researchers to the relevant Archives Services
3. Encourage the development and publication of comprehensive, standardized desriptions.

Just to check it out, I searched Cahernahallia, the Hickey townland. (Note: I've seen it spelled two ways, Cahernahalla and Cahernahallia. Only the latter spelling brought a query result, but the site itself reflects both spellings.) While I already knew Cahernahallia was part of the estate of Viscount Lismore, here's part of what I learned from the IAR:

• The Cork City and County Archives have six letters in their collection titled "Viscount Lismore Estate Letters and Memorials."
• George Ponsonby O'Callaghan, 2nd Viscount Lismore (1815-1898), had a seat in the House of Lords and was Lord-Lieutenant of County Tipperary from 1857 until his death. In 1876 the Viscount Lismore estate covered over 1194 acres in Limerick, over 6067 acres in County Cork and nearly 35,000 acres in Tipperary.
• The content of the six letters is described. The first letter, written circa 1880 is:

from the tenantry of Carnahalla (Cahernahallia), Commonaline and other areas in the Doon/Cappawhite border area between Co. Tipperary and Co. Limerick, to their landlord (Viscount Lismore), requesting a reduction in their rents owing to '...the badness of the times and the straits to which many of them are reduced'. Refers to rents exceeding the Government valuation, the '...great fall in the prices of all farm produce...', the continual wet and cold harsh weather prevailing throughout the year effecting cattle yields and prices, a disappointing potato crop, the failure of crops for the last 3 years, causing a drain of hard-earned savings. It is 'with no small anxiety they look at the coming eight months', but they '...feel from what they have experienced of your Lordship, and your kind and considerate Agent Mr. Taylor...that you are too just and too generous...to think that the poor struggling tenant should bear...the entire of a burden that's crushing the very spirit out of him...'. 40 signatures, plus that of John Slattery, Parish Priesh, Kilcommin and Hollyford, Co. Tipperary, who adds 'I believe the statements in this are true'.

• One of the other letters, dated 23 Jan 1880 is:

from 3 Carnahalla estate tenants, Edmond Ryan, William Quirke and Daniel Quirke, to Edwin Taylor, land agent of the 'Earl of Lismore' (Viscount Lismore) concerning new road through their lands, which they wish stopped. While these entries don't disclose "how the story ended" for the Cahernahalla/Cahernahallia tenants, the summaries of the letters are nonetheless revealing about their life and times. And the information was easily retrieved from the IAR portal, without a trip to Cork!