I is for Ireland

Photo courtesy of Ivan Walsh – flickr

Ireland had never been high on my list of must-see world sites. Why make a trip to the Emerald Isle when I already live in the Emerald City? Could Ireland possibly claim a greener landscape from its year-round misty rains than the Evergreen State?

But reading my mother’s  initial journal entry after her own heritage trip – her first and only trip abroad near the end of her life – gave me pause: “The beginning of the first day of my life . . .” Hmm . . . Maybe she was on to something.

Photo courtesy of Sharon Mollerus – flickr

Through a family priest in Upstate New York, she had managed to connect with distant relatives of my great-grandmother who had emigrated from Carlingford. Before long, she was speed dialing her Irish family with one hand while packing her bags with the other.

Skimming through the pages of  my mother’s journal now, I’m tempted to do the same: “Everyone here is so friendly, interested, and affectionate . . .”  “The Irish have something very precious – the art of making and keeping family, friends and neighbors . . . ” “The scenery here is so beautiful . . .” “We had a great laugh over that . . . “ shows up on almost every page.

Photo courtesy of obbino – flickr

Now why wouldn’t I want to take my own heritage trip to Ireland in the not-so-distant future?

What about you, wanderboomers? Have you made a heritage trip to trace your ancestral roots? Please share your experience with us here.