It’s the Irish in me that celebrates St. Patrick’s Day honestly

In the U.S. we make more of celebrating St  Patrick’s Day than do our cousins in Ireland. I am one of those who can claim my Irish ancestry quite honestly.

Six of my great great grandparents (and their parents) were born in Ireland giving me these surnames: Hanley, Walsh, Bowler, Fitzgerald, Keliher, Green, Cook, and Moriarty plus others I have not yet discovered. A great great great great grandmother is supposedly Irish and that surname is Saggers.

Two of those great great grandparents came to Minnesota, a Cook and a Moriarty. Catherine Moriarity’s mother Ellen (Green) Moriarty also joined them in Rice County.

Three of my great grandparents who were born in Ireland came to the U.S.  That brings the surnames Cook, Hanley, and Walsh (Welch) to Minnesota. Hanley and Walsh came to Winona County.

The Winona and Rice counties ancestors came north to live in Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota. Their descendants met and fell in love at at dance at the Saint Paul Hotel in downtown. This was during the Roaring Twenties! I am so glad my grandparents met!

Clarification: These are all on my mother’s side of the family. Nary a Irish gene on my father’s side.

© 2017, Paula Stuart-Warren. All rights reserved.

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