Seeking 'lost townland' names

May I request the use of your letters page in my work on Placenames of Co Fermanagh.

I am working on a comprehensive origin of 'Placenames of Co Fermanagh', I am now at the stage of seeking any information on 'Lost Townland' names, i.e. those that were subsumed into the current townlands in the past.

Other items that is of interest in my work is the names of local small streams and rivers that touch upon most if not all townlands in the county. I would appreciate any help that might assist in locating names for these features of the landscape.

I can be contacted at 53 Ó Néill Park, Clones, Co Monaghan, or by e-mail on croiaguslamh@eircom.net

Eddie Mac Maghnuis.

Who cares about Kenya?

I would like to take this opportunity to thank your readers for their generous support for Oxfam Ireland's 'Who Cares About Kenya' campaign, which we launched in February.

So far your readers have helped to contribute to the total sum raised to date of ¤60,000, which Oxfam Ireland is using to provide short-term emergency assistance and to address the long-term causes of food crises for drought-affected communities. However, many poor people in Kenya remain desperately in need of help, and donations are still urgently required.

The 2005 drought in Kenya was the worst in six years. It left more than 3.5 million people unable to provide for themselves and urgent need of assistance. Pastoralists - who make a living off the land - have been hardest hit, with their means of survival pushed to breaking point.

The rains in April were good but patchy. Wells and pastures were replenished but only in some areas. However, there are fears that supplies may not last the whole season until the next rains come, which could force many people to migrate in search of other grazing and water sources.

Not only will this place an enormous strain on communities and the surviving animals but, as Oxfam Ireland has learned from experience elsewhere, it can also lead to conflict between various groups.

In areas where the rains have been good, it will still take up to two years before livestock can produce sufficient milk to support households' nutrition and income once again.

As well as providing short-term relief, Oxfam Ireland continues to highlight the root causes of suffering and injustice and to campaign for the long-term changes that are so urgently needed if poor people in countries like Kenya are to lift themselves out of poverty.

Oxfam Ireland desperately needs further support if we are to be able to go on distributing food and helping to restock the herds of those most in need during these vital months.

You can make a donation by calling 1890 60 60 65, online at www.oxfamireland.org or by calling into any Oxfam shop.

If you would like to learn more about the situation in Kenya and what Oxfam Ireland is doing to help, visit our Kenya dedicated website www.whocaresaboutkenya.org which is updated regularly.

Dr Brian Scott

Chief Executive

Oxfam Ireland

9 Burgh Quay

Dublin 2

Battle of Britain Wings Appeal

Since 1943, the Royal Air Forces Association has played an important part in providing welfare support and relief for a large number of veterans who served in the Royal Air Forces, including their families.

Each year we respond to over 23,000 calls for help and the number is steadily rising as those who are eligible become older. Indeed, well over half of those who qualify for our help are now aged over 80, mainly those from World War II generation or their widows and dependants. Some are disabled and an increasing number are desperately in need of the welfare services we provide. They fought for the freedom we enjoy today, please help us to give them a secure tomorrow.

But it is not just veterans of the Second World War who need our help. There are many who are very much younger, victims of the many conflicts which have taken place since 1945. The role played by the Royal Air Force in the Gulf War and the ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have highlighted once more the many sacrifices which our armed forces are called upon to make.

Increasingly, we are being asked to play our part in providing care in the community to those who can no longer rely on public welfare services or Local Authority support. This care can take many forms but includes living expenses, health care, social services and housing. To support our role, we maintain convalescent and long-term support facilities, provide small grants and maintain a nationwide network of Honourary Welfare Officers.

We are tremendously proud of the welfare work which we have achieved over the past 63 years but it all costs a great deal of money. The cost of maintaining our welfare support services and meeting some of the needs of our veterans is now over £11,000 each day. Sadly, during the last four years, calls on our services have outstripped our ability to respond and we know that there are those who have received less assistance than they really needed and deserved.

We are most anxious that we are able to respond fully to all calls for assistance, particularly during this year of celebration and we seek your help to allow us to achieve this goal. In raising the necessary funds, we are heavily reliant on the generosity of the public during our Annual Wings Appeal which, this year, will be held from 11th to 17th September. Members and friends of the Association will be making street and house to house collections during the week. Please help us to ensure that next year, all calls for assistance are fully answered by giving generously to our collectors, or, by sending a donation to the Appeals Director, RAF Association, War Memorial Building, 9-13, Waring Street, Belfast, BT1 2DW. Only with your generous support can we, at least in some small way, repay the enormous debt which we owe to those who have given so much.

Membership of our Association is not limited to those who have served in the RAF. We welcome Associate Members and Volunteers to help us in our work. For more information about becoming a Volunteer by Gift Aid, please write to me at the above address.

D. Whittaker

NI President - RAF Association.

Barnlee benefits from Golf Pro-Am

F.A.C.T. (Friendship and Caring Trust) and Barnlee wish to extend a huge 'Thank you' to Sean Quinn and Quinn Direct Insurance for the tremendous amount of 16,000 Euro received from the Pro-Am Golf Tournament sponsorship which took place in May.

This money will go towards further development and will allow us expand and add to the many services Barnlee/Lee Cottage already provide for people challenged with learning disabilities

We are sincerely grateful to all associated with enabling us to receive this money.

Your wonderful generosity is very much appreciated by all of us and we thank you for your continued support.

F.A.C.T. Trustees

Central committee Members

Residents and Staff of Barnlee

and Lee Cottage

Lisnaskea