The Emerald Isle
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| My Last Day to Drive in Ireland_2015 |
I’ve been off enjoying another time in Ireland and no matter who I tell about my trip, they come back with, “My roots are in Ireland.” It seems the Irish poured into the states and had a few children.
My maternal grandfather and grandmother were definitely Irish. Riley and Murray to be exact. And I’ve tracked the line back to the 1800’s where I found my great-great+? grandfather who was a doctor and a horse breeder in Tennessee.
As I sat sipping my Guinness in a local pub with some distant, but ever so wonderful, relatives it became very clear that I was sharing time with people from the same gene pool, and I was quite at home. I wanted to call my gram and gramps and tell them all about the experience, but that’s no longer possible. I’ll have to enjoy it without their knowing that after a few generations, a Riley-Murray enjoys returning to say hi.
One of my best excursions was to Leap Castle (often pronounced /lep/ by the locals). J.H. Moncrieff posted about this haunted castle in her AtoZ Challenge this year, and I discovered I was staying a short walk away. It was being redone, but from what I saw, there would be many years before you could say that process was complete. The “Tour” was interesting and a bit spooky as it should have been. I’ll tell you about that next week.
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| Leap Castle, The Most Haunted Castle in Ireland
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Quote of the Week
“The trouble with history is that there are too many people involved.” Novelist Nick Hornby
So…are you Irish? Ever been there? Do you love haunted castles?
Hehe, great post! As far as I know I'm not Irish, but it's so cool that you were able to track your ancestry back that far!
I'm a couple of different things on my mom's side (honestly, we're not completely sure; just know there's a lot of Black in there somewhere). But on my dad's side, I come straight from Ghana. Haven't been there yet, but maybe someday. ๐
Alexa
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I am catching up! I love ancestry and this is great that you went back so far and that you got to visit this castle
Welcome home, Lee. Sure I'm Irish. One of the floors of the Guinness factory is named after my ancestors–the Gilroy floor. Aren't I lucky? 'Cept I don't like Guinness. Hubs does. And yes, I've visited County Fermanagh where my father's folks came from, close to Enniskillen. ๐
Ooh, that castle looks eerie! I haven't done all the research yet, but I know at least one of my maternal great-grandparents is of Irish descent.
That counts! Very much.
I'd love to visit Ireland one day. I've encountered many people with Irish in their blood. I signed up for your mailing list.
I don't know of any Irish in my family (there's some Welsh), but I've always wanted to go to Ireland. Still do. And that castle looks so mysterious!
Oh, and yes, I LOVE haunted castles and hope to visit Ireland some day VERY soon… Like next year.
Hi, Lee,
I've always thought I had Irish in me, because as a kid I was a blue eyed blond and lived in an area with so many Irish residents. But, alas, the old family tree was completed by my first cousin… on my Dad's side and my roots stem way back to Vikings in the 12th Century, Egyptian in the 14th century, Spaniards in the 17th Century… so I guess, Like so many others from the Mediterranean coastline, I am mixed. But my immediate family (great grandparents) arrived in NYC in the 1880's from Southern Italy… SURPRISE… no Irish. LOL.
Argh! Glahhh! You're still keeping me in suspense!
I'm not Irish, but I am Scottish. Kissing cousins, you might say.
Nope, not Irish. Welsh. Does that count? I'd love to visit haunted castles. Your trip sounds amazing!
My nine-greats-grandpap may have been Irish, though that would still only give me a drop of Irish blood. I'd love to visit Ireland, since I've long had a great love of the Irish people for how hard they fought for their independence and to maintain their culture in the face of British domination.
I love that you were able to visit that castle! I have a mixed bunch of roots – German, Dutch, Scottish, Irish, and English. So, I have a wee bit of Irish in me, and I would agree that Irish definitely seems to be in everyone's family tree somewhere. ๐
Yeah, well, you won't hear me say that my roots are from Ireland. I'm French through and through. Not sure that's a good thing, but whatev. ๐ Way cool castle, btw.
There's nothing cooler than a castle, wherever it may be. The iconic picture for a horror/suspense novel is a castle on a cliff with lightning in the background, and one light on in a castle window. Scaaaarrryyy!! ๐
I'm not sure about the Irish, although my roots do go back to England, Scotland, Wales, and Germany, so there may be Irish there too. You never know. ๐
I love Ireland and have been there a few times to visit relatives:) For people who haven't been there, I tell them picture hobbits, but way cooler;)
I visited Ireland in 2005, and it was a wonderful trip! My DNA says I'm 25% Irish, though I have yet to track my family history back to Ireland.
Hi Lee – looks wonderful and sounds as though you immersed yourself in your Irish roots and had a lovely time: also adding to your family journey through the centuries now!
Ireland is lovely isn't it .. had a magical trip as a 21 year old in Cork, and a girl friend and I travelled up the west side … and just generally chilled out. Came over to the Comeragh Mountains and on to Waterford. Also had another trip to Dublin in 'living' memory!!
Would love to see more .. and now you're inspiring me … cheers Hilary
Most are convinced my partner (redhead) is Irish, but she's Welsh. Not sure I have Irish blood, mostly English, Austrian, and Scandinavian according to my grandparents. I keep meaning to research my family tree more.
Thanks for the tips on Dublin. Much appreciated!
I'm from Scottish descent. Haven't done any research though…
That castle looks like a "story waiting to unfold…" – beautiful & SPOOKY!
Genealogy research confirms that I am indeed Irish. ๐
Love that quote about history!
That castle does look spooky. Not sure I'd want to be on the inside of it.
Good luck with reorganizing.
It be true, tis that famous celebrity author, Lee,
Humblest of humble apologies for not commenting on your previous "I Was Seeking Gary" post. Which means, I shall maybe give you an even more interesting than usual comment on this post that you have shared with your ever growing fan base.
Leap Castle could be just the place for you to reside in. Nice of you to be in the same time zone as myself. Heck, I could hear the cheering in Ireland in celebration of you being there.
Yep, I'm honorary Irish and one of my best friends is from Dublin. Even though I haven't a clue what he's saying, I do somehow manage to nod my head at the right times. What's the craic, Lee?
Your starstruckest fan,
Gary ๐
I don't believe I'm Irish, but I do feel like a lot of people are. I'd love to visit Ireland sometime – glad you enjoyed it.
-Lauren
I lived in Ireland for a few years, I know of a very lovley man from Ireland my Danny Boy.
Loved your post great to read.
Yvonne.
I adore me Irish people, they're very much similar to my own people here both in history, character and music … even in their love of booze
Glad you had such a great trip. I'd love to visit an old castle like you did somewhere in that part of the world.
Hope you get a chance to do it. It's great fun.
I have only been to Dublin, but would enjoy an opportunity to travel the Irish countryside.
It is truly beautiful. Be sure to do it.
I can only image how beautiful Ireland is and to be able to visit a haunted castle would be an extra bonus. Sounds like a wonderful trip.
It was and far too short.
Sounds like you had a nice trip. I'd love to hear about that haunted castle!
I'll be telling about the castle next week.
I would love to explore an old castle, haunted or not. My mother's side is Irish, the Kelley's, and a small bit of the Irish on my husband's side.
Susan Says
Kelleys are surely Irish. When you tell people there your Irish name or names, they can tell you where your ancestors immigrated from.
I would love to explore that castle.
Despite my red hair, I don't believe I have any Irish in me. I'm a quarter Dane on my mom's side and German on the other.
I did see some lovely redheads in Ireland. The children are particularly adorable. There must have been some Irish visitors to Denmark and Germany.
I have one stray Irish ancestor. Husband has a passel ๐
It's easy to get a passel of Irish ancestors.
That is so cool that you went somewhere that JH mentioned in her challenge!
I'm not Irish, but I feel that I am because I love everything Irish and have dreamed about going to Ireland since I was a kid.
I hope you get your dream. It's always worth the trip.
My hubby has some Irish in him. A relative did some family history, but I don't think it went too far, so no idea how far his roots would take to get to Ireland.
Most of the immigrants came during the potato famine in the late 1850's. That's where I can trace my ancestors to.
Glad you are having a great time. Sorry but I am not Irish. I have never been to Ireland but would like to go.
We can make you an honorary Irish woman if you'd like. ๐
Seems if one isn't from Ireland or has roots in Ireland, there's talk of the luck 'o the Irish ๐
I'm glad you're enjoying your trip. I look forward to what you share about your tour of the castle.
We are a lucky lot. Either that or we drink enough Guinness and think we're lucky.
I don't think there's any Irish in me… Scottish, English, French… I'd still love to go to Ireland, though and visit the haunted castle. That would be way cool.
The Scots came through Ireland a few times along with the Vikings who came through every country. We're all related in some way. Visit. You'll love it.
I think I'm part Irish (long story–my family can't make up their minds on this apparently). My fiance definitely is.
Hope your trip was fantastic!
Well, if you are–may guess is yes–you're among a great group of people.
I'm part Irish waaaaaay back on my mother's side. Looking forward to hearing more about the castle. (I loved JH's A-Z posts!)
It was quite a great way to spend a few hours.
My roots are close by – Scottish all the way back ๐
I'd love to head back over to the British Isles – so much to see and love!
The Scots are very different than the Irish from my experience, but still interesting and the countryside can't be beat for beauty.
oooo, spooky castle.
No Irish for me — that I know of *wink wink*
DNA!
I'm not Irish but I do like haunted castles. I'd spend the night in on in a heart beat.
Take your long jons, then. The unrestored ones are not noted for warmth and comfort. I'm not sure about those that have been done over.
That's cool you got to visit the castle! I remember JH's post about it.
I think my roots go back to Scotland but not sure.
Hey maybe we're cousins. Everyone I met last week was.