Wednesday, March 20, 2013

I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen--Revisiting my Irish Family History by Kathleen L. Maher



Map of Ireland
If you're Irish, come into the parlor! And if you're not, you get a pass anyway, since it is estimated that more Americans identify themselves as having Irish heritage than any other ancestry, with the exception of German Americans. But we're a generous lot. You can all be honorary Irish this month!
Irish Immigrants facing NYC skyline

Being a lover of history and proud of all the Irish blood that's in me, naturally I wanted to learn about my family's beginnings in this country. I uncovered some great moments in the life of one of my mother's people, John Francis Cronin.
My mother's father's father came over to escape the Potato Famine in 1849. I am the youngest of the youngest of the youngest, so there is only four generations between me and the boat that brought my ancestor John Cronin to America. He landed and settled in New York City with his family. At the age of 15 he enlisted to fight in the Civil War, telling the recruiting officer he was eighteen years old. John mustered with the famous NY "Fighting 69th" regiment, and saw action at the Fall of Petersburg, was present at Appomattox Courthouse, and marched in the Grand Review in Washington on May 23, 1865.

Grand Review at Washington
My great grandfather went on after the war to make his living as a hatter. The expression "mad as a hatter" came about from exposure to mercury used in shaping the felt to make the hats. Since the element acts as a neurotoxin, it can and did deteriorate a hatter's brain. From family stories it is hard to say which affected my great grandfather more, that or the drink, since he was the proprietor of a tavern later in life.

John Cronin and his saintly wife Elizabeth Cropp Cronin lived in and around New York City and went on to have 11 children, four of whom never lived past the age of five. My grandfather Vincent Cronin was his seventh son.

NY 69th Memorial at Gettysburg
Involved with the planning of the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City during his life, he marched with the veterans of his regiment every year up to his old age. In fact, his last St. Paddy's Day parade he contracted pneumonia and died shortly thereafter.

The Irish in America have a long and colorful history. The early immigrants  fought our wars, built our bridges and railroads, and worked mines and farms and factories. Their hard work and diligence paved the way for future generations to gain acceptance and contribute in every facet of society.

rural farmhouse print giveaway
In the words of Gerald O'Hara, Scarlett's father, "It's proud I am that I'm Irish. And don't you be forgetting, missy, that you're half Irish, too. And to anyone with a drop of Irish blood in them why, the land they live in is like their mother."
In the spirit of that love of the land, I am giving away a print of a rural farmhouse today to one lucky commenter. This reminds me of my own farmhouse here in upstate NY, as we wait for spring to take hold.

Kathleen L. Maher writes historical romance set in the 19th Century, and is represented by Terry Burns of Hartline Literary Agency. She won ACFW's 2012 Genesis contest, and has a novella coming out May 1st through Helping Hands Press titled Bachelor Buttons, about the Irish Draft riots in Manhattan during the Civil War.

And don't forget that Christian Fiction Historical Society is running a giveaway for the month of March. For every comment you leave in the month of March you are entered for a Kindle drawing as well as a $25 Amazon gift card. Winner of farmhouse print will be announced tonight at midnight. Good luck!



112 comments:

  1. Thanks for making me honorary Irish, since I have no idea if I have any Irish in my family. Very interesting post about your ancestor, Kathleen, thank you for sharing. I never knew that was where that phrase came from...I always assumed it was made up for Alice in Wonderland. Learn something new every day. LOL I love the print you are giving away, please enter me into the drawing.
    debsbunch5[at]jesusanswers[dot]com

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    1. Hey, Chaplain Debbie--thanks for being a faithful visitor here. You always make me smile! Yeah, mad as a hatter. I wonder if it is passed down to the subsequent generations? LOL And you know what else is weird about mercury, is they used it in a common medicine at the time--calomel. I can't imagine! "First do no harm", right?
      You are entered, my friend. Thanks for visiting. Good luck!

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    2. Kathy,
      As one of the oldest of the youngest of the youngest (does that make any sense?), I very much enjoyed your little piece of history on our great, great grandfather and his family. I learned me some stuff I didn't know before, too!
      (oh, and I must have been a hat maker in a former life).

      Your half Irish brother,
      Matt

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    3. Matt, how did I miss your comment before? How funny! I think we all got a bit of that stray mercury gene. LOL
      Thanks for coming by!
      Kathy

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  2. Thank you for the post, I always like to read about the Irish. I have a little Irish and Scotch-Irish in me so I am drawn to them.

    Thank you also for the chance to win.

    griperang at embarqmail dot com

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    1. Angela, my new Irish friend. :) Thank you so much for visiting. I love how this blog brings great people together. Top o'the morning to ye, lass. And good luck on the giveaways!

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  3. I would like to be an honorary Irishwoman....the country and its' people have always fascinated me. Thanks for the chance to win.

    bcrug(at)myfairpoint(dot)net

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    1. You've got it, Connie. Tis a bonnie name and a fine day to be Irish on the first day of spring! Thank you for visiting and I wish you the luck of the Irish in the giveaways!

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  4. I am Irish and Swedish with a sprinkling of Seminole. I love hearing the stories of our ancestors and yours is very cool. My Swedish great grandparents came over on the boat. I'm unclear about my Irish ancestors. Thanks for a great story. :)

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    1. Hey, Leann! Wow, Swedish and Irish--and Seminole. Either you have a great tolerance for the cold weather, or you flee to Florida every winter. :) Welcome to the parlor, and wishin' ye a happy first day of spring.
      Good luck on the giveaways!

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    2. I have lots of family in Florida. :) Thanks. :)

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    3. I hope you have opportunity to take advantage of that tropical connection! :D

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    1. Thank you, Carrie! Wishing you tulips and daffodils on this loovely forst day of spring. We're expecting snow. Begorrah!

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  6. Hi Kathleen, My family comes from Norway and Sweden but my mother-in-law is full blooded Irish. I love listening to her speak and would love to see Ireland someday.
    Enjoyed reading your story. (And would LOVE to win that print!)

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    1. Hi, Mary
      I could listen to the gentle intonations of a brogue all day long. How lovely that must be to have an Irish mother-in-law! :) I wonder, does she have the Irish blarney to go with it?
      Welcome to the parlor. Serving cyber tea and soda bread. ;)

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  7. Since my Step-Father is Irish, I can own it, right? I enjoyed your family history, Kathleen.

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    1. Anyone as pretty, talented, and spirited as you must be Irish already, Stephanie! Welcome to me parlor, lass.

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  8. All my life I asked my folks what our heritage was, and I knew about the Bassetts and all on the Mayflower, but I was still jokingly referred to as a Heinz 57 until I was doing home care for my mom. I said, what am I, really? Well, Irish, of course. As if I'd known all along. Dad was Welch and English, hence the Bassetts and that side, but she informed me for the first time, she was mostly Irish. I remember thinking that I should have known, because like you implied, it's a feeling. You just know. And I'm proud, I am!

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    1. Ah, Linda, it's proud I am, too! How funny. Your mom sounds like a great lady with a sparkling wit. Of course she was Irish. :)
      Funny story. My family was visiting my grandmother Alice Cronin, John Francis' daughter in law, once with my brand new Jewish sister in law. Grandma was going on and on about how the most beautiful women in the world were Irish, and we were all squirming, hoping my brother's wife would chalk up grandma's slight to senility. But she did one better, and answered with a good natured barb, "Of course, that's why Miss Ireland wins the beauty pageants every year." heehee

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  9. Top of the morning to you Kathleen, enjoyed the Irish post today, esp since St Patrick's day had just passed and still a few stragglers around..
    I love to read stories set in Ireland, beautiful country.
    I have been on the Spring cleaning hop and hopping along ,stopped to see what was happening
    in your little corner of the world.
    Spring is so beautiful here in the south(Ga), my azalea bushes are blooming and many plants popping up and budding..I dont have a dogwood tree but they are beautiful in the neighborhood.
    Paula O(kyflo130@yahoo.com)

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    1. Oh, Paula, I am deeply jealous now. All I have are a smattering of brave snow drops, sprinkled with a dusting of yesterday's snow. They even look like they're huddled and chattering, with their poor little white heads bobbed against the wind. But soon. . . soon my garden will revive and give me the glories you describe so beautifully. Tell me, is the O in your last name for O'Herron or O'Leary or O'Shaunessy? ;) The loove of the land is in ye, I can hear it.

      Thanks for stopping in and good luck on the giveaways.

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  10. Hi Kathleen: Loved reading about your family's Irish history. I'm often taken as being Irish, because like you, I have reddish hair and green eyes. In truth, I am a first generation American with both parents born in Scotland. My paternal grandfather immigrated first along with his brothers in 1925. They came from a small coal mining town and wanted to work in Henry Ford's automobile plant in Detroit. The pay was $5 per day and went to $7 a day shortly afterward. The men never looked back, never visited their homeland. They never saw the parents again. Years later, the siblings who didn't venture across the sea came for visits. One of my precious possessions is my grandfather's US citizenship certificate. He never missed voting. He was a proud American. Thank you for sharing. God bless.

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    1. Diane, that is a precious story. What a great perspective you had of the struggle and the pride of an immigrant family. Wow. What sacrifices they made for a new life. Thank you for sharing about your family. I would treasure that certificate, too.

      I have a copy of John Francis Cronin's service record and was going to share it here, but I don't know how to convert PDF to jpeg. Bedad, that technology gets the best of me! :)

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  11. Wonderful post, Kathleen! What a wonderful, colorful family history you have. I love that it is so tied in with moments of such national historical significance, too! One of my relatives fought in the Civil War, too, but I'm afraid I don't know much about him at all. I believe he fought at Gettysburg (Union side) but died of pneumonia or consumption somewhere less than a year later.

    Love the rural print you are offering. Since I live in Iowa, those settings really appeal to me. It's funny, when I grew up in Iowa I always thought I'd leave after high school and never come back. I did leave, for eight years, and lived in Washington, D.C.; Vienna, Austria; Monterrey, Mexico; and Homer, Alaska. But now I'm back, and I really do love living in the Midwest. Go figure. It's a great place to raise a family. :)

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    1. Jocelyn, thank you for coming by me humble parlor. Pouring ye a cup of tea on this brisk first day of Spring. It is amazing how our homes always beckon us back when we're ready to raise a family, isn't it? Same with my husband. He left the area for 10 years before I ever met him, and returned just in time to sweep me off my feet. ;) I envy your trip to Alaska. I have few travel ambitions, but Alaska is one of them.
      May the luck of the Irish be yours on the giveaways! toodle-loo

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  12. Lovely post, Kathy, and happy belated St. Patrick Day! I'm not Irish, but always celebrate the day with some Irish treat and wear my green. Thanks for sharing your ancestry, which was very interesting. I love the quote from Gone with the Wind. Congratulations on your upcoming release with Helping Hands. I look forward to reading it!

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    1. Hi, Lisa. Ah, Happy belated St. Paddy's to you! Me mither and I made our corned beef and cabbage with potatoes, and went to the local St. Paddy's day parade. T'was me daughter Katie's birthday, and she was in the parade with the local youth group, handing out candy. It was a foin day!
      Thank you for coming by and for the hearty congratulations. The novella depicts the Irish during the Civil War draft riots in New York city, and shows that there is good and bad in all people. I snuck a bit of my family history into that, too, on me grandmother's side. Can't wait until May when it releases!

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  13. I really enjoyed your post about your Irish family history. Thanks for the great giveaway. I love farmhouses.

    Katie J.
    johnsonk133[at]yahoo[dot]com

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    1. Katie, that's a loovely Irish name. Thank you for coming by today. I have you entered, and wish you all the luck in a four leaf clover field!

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  14. My husband has been working on our family history recently and unfortunately we see no Irish ancestors. Thanks for the post on your family. Very interesting about the "mad hatter". Makes me wonder about other old sayings and their origins. Thanks for a chance to win that lovely print. (sweetdarknectar at gmail dot com)

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    1. Good day, Mum. ;) Thanks for stopping by. Well, even though you've no official Irish, today you're honorary Irish. Dance a little jig and say sheleighly. (I had to look up the spelling for that one!) ha!
      Good luck on the print and on the other great giveaways this month. T'was lovely meeting you.

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  15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JmrAu1dJH4 ♪♫•*¨*•Yes, from another Kathleen.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨we are called home*•♫♪ •♥•.¸to where our hearts have e'er been¸.•♥•.¸
    My maternal Norwegian grandmother's maiden name was Lien, so everyone must have been happy when they named me. She came from Norway with her family when she was sixteen. I am half-Irish ~ my ancestry was quite musical and a farming family. My maternal German grandfather owned a bakery. My paternal Irish grandfather a tavern. So Malt was used on both sides. My mother had a debutante ball ~ my father played beautiful music on our Baby Grand. I would have liked to have known my family. My maternal grandfather died before I was born, as did my Irish grandmother. My mother died when I was five and I didn't see my maternal grandmother again until I visited from out of state when I was seventeen. My cousins on both the Norwegian/German side and the Irish side have done genealogies. Continuing to have family reunions, we have shared our lives together. Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House
    lanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net

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    1. Oh, the music, Kathleen. It's like the love of the land, isn't it? My Irish great great grandfather, whose life I feature in my new novella, was a violin teacher in Manhattan. They might have made a wonderful duet, your father and my g-g-granffather. What stories they could swap!
      I love how the Lord is redeeming your family to you now, as you meet together with your cousins. What a blessing. Thank you for stopping by and sharing.

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  16. Great article, Kathleen! I wish I could say I have some Irish blood in me.. but I'm afraid my ancestors were pure British and French. I guess that means we would have been enemies at some point in the distant past.. :-) Anyway, glad we are good friends now! Hugs...

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    1. Today we are sisters, Maher and O'Tyndall. ;) And I'm sure our ancestors would have settled any differences with a pint and a good story between them. Behind the battle lines, right? ha!
      Thank you for coming by today. May the roads rise te meet you, and may the sun be ever at your back, and may you be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows you're dead! :)

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  17. I honestly don't know if I have any Irish in me. The only background on my family that I know are German, English, French and Cornish, and a tiny bit of Native American. I think my husband has some Irish blood, though, so I guess that makes me Irish by marriage! :)

    jimmynmatthewsmom [at] netzero [dot] com

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    1. Bethany, an Irish husband gets you an honorary crown as well as a pass today! Bedad and Begorrah, mine is half Irish and Italian, and believe me there;s never a dull moment with him about. ha!
      Welcome to the parlor, and the best to you and yours this lovely first day of Spring.

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  18. KATHLEEN!! You had me at "Irish," girlfriend, and what a fun article this was!! VERY interesting about the term "mad hatter" and your family in general!

    I am a quarter Irish (wish I was more, but at least I have SOME Irish blood unlike my "siser," MaryLu, whose British roots save her in my opinion ... that and her awesome stories!! :)).

    To me Irish as ALWAYS been THE nationality to be and let everyone else be "pea green" with envy!! ;)

    Hugs,
    Julie

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    1. Here here, lass! Tipping me green tea to ye. LOL

      I love your Boston Irish clan. You write the Irish Catholics so well, you could have grown up in my crazy family. :D

      Thanks for warming me heart today. Blessings, dearie!

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  19. I love the farmhouse print! It's beautiful!
    Lisa
    deiselbuffs@yahoo.ca

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    1. Thank you, Lisa. I wish I could claim to have painted it, it is just the sort of landscapes I adore. But alas, someone else gets to take credit for a wonderful talent! :)
      Best of luck to you on the giveaways.

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  20. Great post Kathleen! I'm mostly Scottish, but my redheaded grandmother on my father's side was Irish and Cherokee. My daughter looks just like her. A precious reflection of her heritage.

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    1. Oh, Marji, the red hair is so loovely. My daughter has dark brown, but in the sun it glows with gold and red highlights.
      That's neat how we were just talking about Irish and Cherokee on Terry Burn's email loop. There must be something about that combination. Smart and beautiful people, for sure. heehee

      Thanks for coming by.

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  21. I'm not Irish, or if I am at all it's only a tad, but I thoroughly enjoyed your story. I love history, particularly Civil War era. The farmhouse print is beautiful! Thank you for sharing and for offering this print as a giveaway!
    Nancee
    quiltcat26[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

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    1. Nancee, I share your love of Civil War. My novella coming out in May depicts the Civil War draft riots in New York City, summer of 1863. I also sneak in a bit more of my Irish family history--a true story about how my great great grandmother had two suitors, a doctor and a violin teacher. You wouldn't believe how she settled the rivalry and chose a husband. But I mustn't spoil the surprise. :)
      Thank you for coming by, and good luck on the print.

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  22. We have wee bit o' the Irish in our heritage, too. And Linda's right - it's just a feeling, and one you can't ignore! Wonderful story of how your family came to America. Wouldn't you like to be able to go back in time to visit?

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    1. Hi Brenda and Judith! Nice to see you two lasses here.
      Yes, I would dearly love to sit down with these amazing people with a notepad and pencil and try to snatch tidbits of their stories, dress, mannerisms, and conversation. That would be high heaven!
      How is spring shaping up way up in Maine? Here in upstate NY, it is chilly, with more snow expected. Someone needs to take that Punxetawny ground hog out to the woodshed for giving us false hope! :)
      Have a great day, and good luck on the print!

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  23. Love reading about the Irish in America. I'm Irish from both sides of the family, and we do have our tales to tell. Terrific post, Kathy. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Hi, Linda. Thank you! Your kind words warm me heart. :) I'd love to hear your family's history, too. Each one is so unique and yet, so many similarities. Bless you and your clan, and good luck on the giveaways.

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  24. Wonderful post! Thanks for sharing, Kathleen!

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    1. Thank you, Carrie! So nice of you to drop by. I can't wait to read your upcoming stories about Highclere Castle. So ready to see what you've been working on.
      Blessings!

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  25. Love it especially the photos. I do have Irish in my family--both sides! O'Neal changed to Neal and Perrin.
    Diana

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    1. Funny how they shorten a name and its still wonderfully Irish. :) Welcome, Diana. It's a good day to be Irish. Of course every day is!

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  26. Loved reading about the Irish in America. I don't have any Irish in my background, but appreciate being Irish for a little while...lol My folks were both born in Russia, as were their parents. However, the ancestry goes back to Swedish and German from there. So I consider myself American. Not quite sure what else would fit :)

    Betti
    bettimace(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Hi, Betti. Ah Russia has a fascinating history. Romance, tragedy, intrigue, faith. It's all fabulous and very drawing. It's good to meet and share in the land of opportunity and freedom, isn't it? American is a proud thing to be!

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  27. It is so awesome that you know so much about your ancestors, I don't know near that much.

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    1. I am blessed, indeed, and I owe it all to my mother's stories. She kept the history alive to us. It was always a thrill to learn about something in history class growing up and being able to say, yeah, my so and so lived through that! No wonder I love history.
      I pray you find a way to connect with yours, my friend, if that's what you desire. God has a great way of restoring what we think is lost. :)

      Good luck on the giveaways. Thank you for coming today. <3

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  28. Hey Kathy! Coming on the scene late here. Great and interesting article. Interesting about the mad as a hatter. I never knew that. Too bad you didn't hold on to some of that Irish accent. I could listen to that all day long. ;o) And CONGRATULATIONS on the sale of Bachelor Buttons!

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    1. Hey, Debbie Lynne, my Irish BFF from a town as Irish as Patty's potatoes. ha!
      I wish I had retained a brogue, but I am more likely to have a downstate NY flair to my speech. heehee. My clan all settled in and around NYC--some in Westchester County, some in Poughkeepsie. One in Boston too. I'm the country cousin.
      Thanks for the shout out on Bachelor Buttons.
      Wishing you a gorgeous first day of spring!

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  29. My Great Great Grandmother died aboard ship coming from Ireland. My Great grandmother was twelve at the time. Her father was already here waiting for them. I wish I knew more of the story I wish I would have asked my Great grandmother more questions when I was a child. I know she had somewhat of a hard life but lived to be 97.
    I love the print, the left side of the house reminds me of the house I live in right now. I will be happy for whoever wins, it is very lovely and serene. Who is the artist?

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    1. Hi, Mary
      The artist signature appears to be Billy Jacob. I have another if his prints, of an old white church with a bell tower steeple. He does such amazing work. Puts me back a hundred years, looking at the land without telephone poles and wires. LOL

      Your family story is heartbreaking, and shows once again the hardships, risks, and sacrifice of our forebears. My grandma Cronin also lived well into her nineties. She was a tough, practical and wise woman. It was a generation that I greatly admire and respect. During the Great Depression, they were so frugal and hardworking, they not only survived, but were able to help my grandfather's brother by letting him run their general store. I pray that if truly hard times come, we will have the grit and determination they had.
      Thank you for sharing about your people, and for coming by today.

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  30. This is my first visit to your site, I really like the time line and pictures at the top.

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    1. Thank you! Our gals did a tremendous job at designing it. Kudos go to Christine Rich, Debbie Lynne Costello and Vickie McDonough for their hard work and skills.
      We are so glad you came by today. You really added to the discussion.
      Good luck on the giveaways! <3

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  31. This contest is so much fun. I am learning so much! I am officially Irish--O'Neal. I have heard many stories from my mom. The print is very pretty. Thanks for the opportunity to win. Have a great week! Linda

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    1. Linda, it's so nice of you to come by. Wish I could collect all of these ancestor stories--what an anthology that would be! If you ever want to do a guest blog post on my personal blog, I would love to hear your stories! my email is kathleenleemaher AT gmail DOT com if you might want to do that.

      Good luck on my giveaway and also on the Kindle and gift card!

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  32. I"m part Irish..my grandma and Dad have the bright red hair to prove it!!

    thanks for the chance to win
    truckredford (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. Eliza, oh another wonderful Irish lass. Thank you for coming by! The luck of the Irish be with you on the giveaway.
      Blessings!

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  33. A very nice post indeed, Kathleen! My Irish relatives came over during the potato famine in 1848 from County Coleraine, Northern Ireland.

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    1. Janet, that makes us practically Irish twins! LOL Thank you for sharing. I believe my people were from County Cork and County Kerry. My grandmother Cronin claims she was the "black Irish" that may have had Spanish influence from the sinking of the Spanish Armada off the coast of Ireland. shhh, don't tell Cromwell. ;)

      I'm plotting out a story about that very idea.

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  34. Hi Kathleen! Really enjoyed your post! Heritage and genealogy are fascinating. I'm currently trying to trace my family to Ireland, the U.K. and Germany.

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    1. Thanks for the giveaway chance! :)

      morganleanna16@yahoo.com

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    2. Hi, Morgan! What a fascinating journey that must be. My mother and sister spent some time on ancestry.com and connected with a relative that we never met who has been researching the family. It's been a nice experience, and my mother was able to guide her in her research and fill in some of the missing pieces. And correct some of her misinformation. LOL
      Thank you for stopping by. Good luck on the contests!

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  35. Kathleen, you ask about the O after Paula, I put the because there were two Paula's in my LIH group that I belong to, so just started doing it on everything, I do feel like maybe some of the little wee folks are in my history...enjoy the comments today.

    Paula O

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    1. oh! LOL Hey, why not make you our honorary O'weefolk, then. heehee

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  36. I just love Irish history! I have Irish blood in me too and have traced my ancestory way back, but have not found anything overly interesting yet. I love the story you told of your ancestors! And now I know what "mad as a hatter" means. lol
    Thanks for this post!
    farmygirl at hotmail dot com

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    1. hi, Sue! Isn't it wonderful to uncover fun and fascinating facts in history, especially our family history? I'm sure you'll discover many wonderful things as you search.
      Speaking of Irish heritage, I "discovered" an older movie now with a gorgeous Irish heroine. Have you ever watched Tristan and Isolde? One of my all time faves.

      Thanks so much for visiting. Good luck on the giveaways.

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    2. OH yes, spectacular movie! I need to watch it again. :)

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  37. Hi Kathleen,

    My dad's family, his father and grandfather, came over from Ireland to New York around 1890 and settled in Brooklyn. My great-grandfather was a ship captain and sailed back and forth between Ireland and New York. Love Irish history, especially since I've been researching my ancestry! Maybe our ancestors knew each other!

    Cheers,
    Sue

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    1. Wouldn't that be something, Susan. Odds are, one of my people may have met yours. We have Allemans, Meehans, Cronins, Lees, and an original Dutch NY settler family named Teeter in our lineage. My novella coming out in May talks about New York City Irish in the draft riots during the Civil War. Really fascinating stuff. And I feature the Lee and Meehan courtship in the story, which was a lot of fun.

      Thanks so much for joining the conversation today. All the best in your research and travels, and good luck on the giveaway!

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  38. Thanks for the post and giveaway.

    Rose
    harnessrose(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Thank you for participating, Rose. Lovely to have you here today.

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  39. I'm proud to have some Irish blood runnin' through me veins I am! Course it's not a lot and it is mixed with Scottish, Dutch, Swedish and German.

    The Farmhouse print reminds me of a cross stitch picture I did for a friend of mine. It appears to be the same house only my cross stitch was an autumn scene. Thank you for the chance to win.

    Smiles & Blessings,
    Cindy W.

    countrybear52 AT yahoo DOT com



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    1. Smiles and blessings, to you, too Cindy! One drop if Irish is all you need, right? :) How wonderful that you do cross stitch,and that you are so generous with your talents. Your friends are surely blessed by your generosity. Best of luck on the giveaways, m'dearie. :)

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  40. Kathleen,

    I'm part Irish--and proud of it. My kids once did a geography fair, which is like a science fair, except that each person researched a certain country and made a poster and reported about it. We chose Ireland and discovered that there's a county in Ireland called McDonough county. McDonough is our last name. The kids were excited about that, and I found it very interesting. We checked out several books from the library, and one had a lady on the cover who looked like she could have been my twin sister. She looked more like me than my real sister. It was rather freaky. Must have been one of my long, lost relatives. :)

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    1. oooh, a doppelganger! How intriguing. Almost makes you want to write a speculative! LOL I have heard of McDonough County, though I know very little about the actual places and spaces of Ireland now. Makes me want to do more research!
      Thanks for adding to the conversation, Vickie. You are fascinating as always. <3

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  41. This was a very interesting post. It's nice you have knowledge of your ancestors. I don't think I have any Irish ancestors. The farm house print is lovely. Since I'm a farmer's daughter, I enjoy farm scenes.

    pmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

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    1. Oh, Pam, I'll bet you have wonderful stories of farm life to tell. I envy you that. I have always loved the smell of hay and of warm horseflesh and the look of the fog as it rises over a meadow in the morning. Some day I will live on a bit of acreage. But for now I enjoy it in art and story.
      Thanks for joining us today. Good luck on the print and the Kindle and the gift certificate.

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  42. Kathleen, interesting post, especially about the hatters! I'm proud of my Irish blood too, but it's well mixed.
    Blessings, Laurie Kingery

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    1. Thank you, Laurie! My lineage is mixed, too, believe me. My father was from Estonia, so that brings a whole 'nother story to the mix. :)
      Blessings to you, too! :)

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  43. Kathleen, enjoyed hearing about your Irish ancestors. Also, enjoyed the reminder of quote by Mr. O'Hara--makes me want to read that book again!
    may_dayzee (at) yahoo (dot) com

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    1. Hi, Kay--ah, yes, *sigh* it's been a few years--well, about 15 since I last read GWTW. I read it as a teen, and then as a young mother. Each time I came away with different viewpoints of Scarlett's slightly conniving/resourceful personality. I wonder what I would feel now, having weathered a few seasons. hmmm, yes, I think it is time to reconnect.

      Thanks for your comments. Good luck on the giveaways. :)

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  44. I have always wanted to go to Ireland and maybe one of these days I will get that chance.
    Thanks for entering me in your giveaway.
    Janet E.
    von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. I hope you do get that chance, Janet. I don't have many travel dreams, but Ireland would be a lovely stop on my bucket list.
      Thanks for coming by today. Only 45 minutes until we select a winner for the print. Good luck!

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  45. Ms. Maher,

    Up until last year, my own family couldn't find the Irish connection until a cousin of ours found us! Turns out, my Aunt was right all along, as she was told we had Irish in us from my great-grandmother!! :) What is interesting as you start to knit together your ancestry is the possiblity of unearthing the details of their individual lives,... so far, I cannot say that we have as much to go on as you do, as we cannot find pieces that were written up about them, either in the papers or journals. We continue to have hope, so that one day, we can add a bit of historical antidotes to our living histories, by which we have an immeasurable amount of pleasure in having present! :) :) Thank you for being so open about your own past, and the connection your family has to the St. Patrick's Day Parade!

    Ooh, one thing in closing, I always felt something for Ireland long before I learnt I of the direct connection,... something about the Celtic ballards,... Ireland draws you in! :) I'd be plumb excited to win the farmhouse print because we had land at one point in time and would love to have a farmette in the future! Being hugged so close to nature is a beautiful gift! Thank you for bringing back such fond memories for me!

    inkand-blogaways(at)usa.net
    //Florida

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    1. What a sweet comment! There is something so drawing about the Emerald Isle, isn't there? What a wonderful journey of discovery you are on. But beyond the lineage of blood ties and human heritage, I pray your searching yields a treasure trove of faith and blessings, of forefathers who knew the Lord, and that you yourself know Him to be the One from whom all blessings flow.

      Thanks for visiting, dear. I pray you find that farmette and that it brings you and yours great joy. Meanwhile, good luck on the farmhouse print and the other giveaways!

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  46. I'm not sure of all of my ancestors in my family.. They a year or so ago they had a spot on TV called Do you know who you are. They took different stars way back through their families history and the people even got to visit those places and check out the history of the places. I wished so bad that I had been on there. I do know that members of our family came in through Galveston andd then to other places. The older generations moved back to the Waco area from the Carolinas. Our Lloyd I read in a book had originally been Laird. Don't know how much truth there is to that. I do know that my dad, 2 sisters, 2 brothers, a number of cousins, and a granddaughter all have red hair. I do know there is a small amount of Indian from both parents. Great-great grandmothers back in time. The house in the prrint looks like some where we lived when I was growing up. Maxie mac262(at)me(dot)com

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    1. Nice of you to stop by, Maxie. I remember that show. It was cool how they invested in all that research for the people. Most of them seemed genuinely appreciative. I think most of us would be, to satisfy that longing to know who we are and where we come from. I have great respect for those who came before me, but it is only proportionate to how well they modeled the faith and fought the good fight.
      Thanks for stopping by. Good luck in the drawing!

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  47. And the winner of the rural farmhouse print is Angela Holland! Congratualtions, Angela. Random.org drew you as my winner tonight.

    Please be sure to stop back in April 1st when we announce the winner of the Kindle and the Amazon gift certificate. Meanwhile, you can continue to enter by commenting on each post this month.
    Thanks you everybody for celebrating all things Irish today.
    Be blessed!

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  48. I don't have much Irish blood (just one found so far and she was born in Dublin in 1755) but I do love all things Irish! I am very proud of my one wee drop of Irish blood :)
    Jasmine A.

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    1. Hi, Jasmine
      Thank you for leaving a comment. One wee drop is all it takes, and you're in. :) That's awesome research you've done, all the way back to the 18th century.

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  49. Hi, Kathleen. That's one gorgeous giveaway. I'm right there with you in loving Ireland. According to our family tree, I manage to be descended both from Irish and Scottish ancestors. :o)

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    1. Janalyn, you're twice blessed. :) Scotland is a beautiful and rich heritage, too. Lots of Scotch/Irish posted here. Tis a bonnie heritage, and seems to indicate lots of writerly talent.
      Blessings!

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  50. So interesting to learn about our ancestors!

    bonnieroof60@yahoo.com

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    1. Bonnie, me lass! Thanks for stopping by the parlor. 'Tis a blessing to meet so many good people and share stories.

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  51. I thoroughly enjoyed your post, Kathleen! Thank you for sharing a bit o' the Irish with us. :o)

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    1. Thank you, Kim! So happy to see you here. Thanks for stopping in. :) May the roads rise ot meet you and may the wind me always at your back. <3

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  52. Wonderful post, Kathleen. Being from a large Irish family myself (Feagan), I appreciate your heritage:) This rich history can only enrich your own writing, I'm sure.

    Please exempt me from the drawings. Just wanted to stop and say hi!

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    1. Top of the mornin' to ya, Laura. My cousin married into Frantzes, and her name is Meagan, so I always think of her when I see your name Feagan Frantz. LOL I loved your Scottish violin player, Silas. In my upcoming novella, I have an Irish violin instructor based on the life of my great, great grandfather William Lee. What a lovely gift music must have been to these immigrants who had so few pleasures.
      Thanks so much for stopping by.

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  53. So late replying. My great grand father was born in Scotland and mum always wondered why they would name him Patrick. It wasn't til my cousin started doing the family tree we found out they moved from Ireland to Scotland because of the Potato famine and were there around 5 - 10 years then came to Australia.

    When I saw the title I'll take you home again Kathleen I remember a story mum would tell about her brother in Law. Jimmy was Irish and had moved to Australia with his aunt as a teen to escape some of the fighting there. He was Irish to the core and loved his beer. He was a merry drunk and as he would drink he would sing and mum often told how he would be singing I'll take you home again Kathleen with tears pouring down his face. She couldn't listen to it without crying herself. It was so special to him and always affected him when singing it. I never got to meet him but I am sure I would have loved him.

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    1. Oh, that story just gets me right in the heart. Poor Jimmy. That's the sentimental Irish for you. Wonderful snapshot of a life, Jenny. Thanks so much for sharing that.
      How fascinating that your g-g-grandfather started his journey in Scotland first. Don't you just wish you could pick his brain?

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  54. Bachelor Buttons is finally out and ready to purchase for only $2.99 http://www.amazon.com/Murray-Puras-American-Series-ebook/dp/B00CLJD4JW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367425852&sr=8-1&keywords=bachelor+buttons+by+kathleen+l.+maher

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