The Emerald Isle

Where would you be without your past? Family history is essential. It is important to know where you came from in order to appreciate your unique place in history and advance forward into the future. My family’s history runs deep, passed down for multiple generations through stories, photographs, songs, letters, videos, and memories. In particular, my father’s side of the family has always proved to be full of mystery, wisdom, and strong tradition. Memories, passed down through history, have played an essential role in defining the culture of my family.
My father’s father was born in Limerick, Ireland, in the 1920’s. Like any Irishman living under English rule in those days, his life came with innumerable hardships. The lessons he learned through his suffering in the dirty lanes of an economically shattered country were brought with him on a boat to America, where he passed them down to his family. Lessons about appreciation and knowing to be thankful for what you have. Lessons about faith, particularly the Roman Catholic Church, a beacon of hope for Ireland even to this day. All of this was blended into the values and traditions that define my family.
Ireland is a nation that prides itself on its ability to pass down traditions, values, and lessons through the art of story telling. My family’s history draws strongly from memories about times past, and we do our best to apply them to the present, using the lessons and values learned to aid us in everyday life.

Michael McCool
English 289 Section 012