My Dad's dad was from Belfast, Northern Ireland, but when he was a boy his family, because of discrimination against Catholics, moved and settled in a fishing village in County Cork called Baltimore.

My Dad's mom was raised in the town of Doneraile, County Cork.

My Mom's dad was from Aclare, County Sligo, Ireland, and her mom was raised in the town of Cloonacool, County Sligo.

All four of my grandparents hit the U.S. shores a few years before the outbreak of WWI. My Dad's dad got drafted and fought trench warfare in France. He got serious shrapnel wounds and mustard gassed, but he died in his late 80's in 1974 from mesothelioma from his exposure to asbestos working at Mare Island during WWII. He was made of leather and hard to kill. My Mom's dad was OPD.

~ Eire reflections, random

- Monoghan, small, 8k, county seat of County Monoghan, one of the largest; Irish Republic half of ancient Ulster Celt, with N Ireland; half of family lineage

~ two major waves of emigration to UK; economic during early-mid Industrial Revolution, then desperation after colonial-engendered forced 'famine'

- only ~ 70 Catholics left in all of Scotland after centuries of English persecution, highland clearances, conversions, etc early 19th c.

~ hitch-hiked to Ireland while living in W Europe one summer via Oxford, Swansea, ferry to Cork City, on to Bantry, Sheep's Head, thru Baltimore etc. Stayed 6 weeks in a cottage with a well, limited if any electricity; heavenly

~ climate in Ireland gentle tradewinds comparable to Hawaii all year, if ~ 20 cooler

~ culture most comparable to New Orleans with music, dance, rhythm, performance, appreciation, being everywhere, ubiquitous

~ one of the great countries of the W Hemisphere to visit, stay - dig

My maternal grandmother's father born in Kansas but all his family was Irish immigrants who came to USA mid century during the famine era.
They were Irish Catholic

I've always wanted to discover my Irish roots and understand Irish history and culture better. The two branches came from counties Kilkenny and Mayo.

bearister said:

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My Dad's dad was from Belfast, Northern Ireland, but when he was a boy his family, because of discrimination against Catholics, moved and settled in a fishing village in County Cork called Baltimore.

My Dad's mom was raised in the town of Doneraile, County Cork.

My Mom's dad was from Aclare, County Sligo, Ireland, and her mom was raised in the town of Cloonacool, County Sligo.

All four of my grandparents hit the U.S. shores a few years before the outbreak of WWI. My Dad's dad got drafted and fought trench warfare in France. He got serious shrapnel wounds and mustard gassed, but he died in his late 80's in 1974 from mesothelioma from his exposure to asbestos working at Mare Island during WWII. He was made of leather and hard to kill. My Mom's dad was OPD.

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Msybe we're 32nd cousins. Here's a picture of my great grandfather after a day of track maintenance for the New York Cemtral. Used to keep it on my desk to remind myself that when I thought I was having a tough day, I really
wasn't.



PS Great movie

He looks like he was a baller with an impressive set of paws. I wouldn't want to be on the business end of his right cross.