Not quite from the other side of the world, but I too am a Gt Gt Grandson of William Irwin and Dorothy ( Nee Greenop ).
One of their 11 children was Ann who married Edward Gill and they had 9 children one of them being Elizabeth who married Morris McGarr (known locally @ Clappersgate Ambleside as Billy the Bootmaker )..the in turn had 7 kids one of them being Eleanor gave birth to 4 - one of them me !
Like Jeff, I had no idea whatsoever of this mans illustrious past and I myself have been on the fiddle for some years now ...if only I'd taken up music !
Jeff- if you read this - please get in touch kevinstatham@gmail.co.uk
...you might be rich and I need to get to know you.
www.kevinstatham.co.uk
www.kevinstatham.co.uk