Wishing you a
Happy St. Patrick’s Day
whether you are Irish through and through, or Irish just for today!
My mother is #9 of 10 kids from Galway, Ireland.
Mom immigrated to Boston at age 20, leaving behind her beloved parents and some of her siblings. She is the smiley girl on the left.
I have shared this picture of her before; it’s one of my favorites. This photo of mom with her little nieces was taken after my mom had been living in Boston for a couple of years, and took a trip home to Ireland.
I don’t have any pictures of my dad growing up in Ireland but he is from Mayo.
He left Ireland at age 16 to go to work in England, and then came to Boston to join his siblings. Eventually his whole family would immigrate to Boston, leaving behind their home. Here he is with his Irish Football team, Erin’s Hope, in Boston (front row, third from left with the wavy hair 🙂 ).
Mom & Dad met in Boston, got married and proceeded to have four babies.
After Dad died in 1976, Mom packed us up and took us home to be with her own mama for the first of several summers we spent there.
The passport photo for our first summer in Ireland (all the kids on one passport!)
We had four families of aunts, uncles, cousins and my grandmother within close proximity to each other, living in the countryside of Galway, and we loved spending the summers there.
I later learned that many of our Irish cousins always dreamed of leaving (however I don’t think I can use the expression “the grass is always greener” when talking about Ireland. I don’t think there is a greener place on earth!)
Our Irish cousins called us “Yanks” and made fun of our accents.
(Those were my favorite pants ever!)
Summers spent in Ireland….
digging up potatoes for dinner…..picking wild flowers in the fields….eating berries from bushes on the roads……wading through streams in our wellies…..going to the well for buckets of water…….making mud pies and getting good and dirty…..the girls having our hair rolled and pinned the night before Sunday mass……turf fires in every house……baking fresh bread…..milking the cows…..collecting eggs for breakfast……chasing the kitties and chickens……drinking tea……nasty nettle bushes…..warm and loving aunties……kind uncles…..saying the rosary as a family at night before bed……coming home with a brogue that we worked on all summer.
I am so grateful for my family and I am so proud to be Irish!
{source unknown}
For your St. Patrick’s Day,
May the sun shine all day long,
Everything go right and nothing go wrong.
May those you love bring love back to you
And may all your wishes you wish come true!
xoLisa
Jenny says
Thanks for sharing Lisa! What great photos! I love old photos, and yours don't disappoint (nor do your favorite pants). 😉 Were you posing for the camera to show them off in that first photo? 🙂
Cyndy Aldred says
Oh my gosh Lisa, what beautiful photos and sweet story. What a rich Irish history. This made my morning! Thank you for sharing!
Cassie @ Primitive & Proper says
such a sweet post- and my what good looking parents, and pants. 😉
Stacey {steward of design} says
What great memories you had there. So fun to know a little more about you. Happy St Patricks Day!
pam {simple details} says
My all-time #1 favorite St. Patrick's Day post!! You were a sassy, stylin' thing! LOVE all your family photos, what treasures, the one with the cousins is a hoot! Cheers to a Happy St. Pats Day!
Vel Criste says
Happy St. Patrick's day to you Lisa! Thanks for sharing your wonderful memories in Ireland and of your family! yes, you should be VERY proud indeed!
Kimberly Lemmon says
Happy St Patty's Day, Lisa! My husband is part Irish too!
Lobster Meets Peach says
Thank you so much for sharing your family's history. Your parents must be strong souls! I don't think I could leave my family at 16 or even 20 for another country!!!
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
So amazing that you have that story as part of your childhood and that you have all of those precious pictures (the passport photo with all of you in one pic totally cracks me up BTW). Happy St. Patty's Day and thanks for sharing your story!
Tiffany says
What a wonderful story of your family. You look just like your mom. Beautiful family and beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing this with us! Happy St. Pat's
Debbie from Wisconsin says
Love this history and the details of your summers in Ireland. Beautiful family! Your mom is stunning! Love these photos! Happy, happy St. Patty's Day (hope you celebrate all week!).
Thank you!
-debbie at http://ordinary-creative.com
Dee D says
What a beautiful post. Thanks for sharing such wonderful memories. It certainly put a smile on my face.
Andrea says
Lisa, what a beautiful post. You are one lucky Irish gal. I love seeing the pictures of your family. What precious childhood memories you have.
Joey C says
Hi Lisa, great blog! I was wondering if you had any more details on the Erin's Hope football club your father played for. We recently found a photo of my great grandfather with his Gaelic football team, Erin's Hope. I know he played in the Boston area but was hoping you may have some more specifics (parish name, town, etc.) The photo we found is from 1906, which is a good bit earlier than yours, but the teams may be the same. Thanks you!