Found a bombshell about my Irish heritage.

[greatauntoftriplets]

I always knew that I was part Irish. No doubt about it, not to mention the fact that my name is 100 percent Irish!

Family history had it that my family came from Mayo, though very little was known beyond that. Many years ago on a trip to Ireland, I visited Mayo but could learn nothing about my family. No clue about exactly where they were from, not to mention which parish.

On Saturday, I decided to Google my great-grandfather's name and where he lived here. I hit pay dirt in the form of a genealogy site for a branch of the family, specifically a long-dead greataunt's descendants. Because I couldn't see everything, I applied for membership and was accepted today.

So, the bombshell: My family did not come from Mayo, but from Wexford! I now know the village and the parish. As a 17-year-old, my great-grandfather sailed around the horn and prospected for gold (this was about 1855) in California. Later, he traveled overland to the Midwestern town where my father grew up and where a good share of the family already lived. It's a fascinating read.

I realize that this post may be more appropriate to the genealogy group, but I wanted to share it with the Irish members. Of course, now I want to visit Wexford, but ill health and finances prevent that.