Post by Whisker on Apr 15, 2014 12:32:26 GMT -1
Irish Ghosts: Searching for Family in Ireland
By K. Ford K.
Author, 'The Wife of John the Baptist' and 'The Concubine's Gift'
link
I enjoyed this article. Am surprised that people confronted her about the fact that she was alone. Maybe a person, specifically female, from another country takes a risk driving alone. I've driven alone in England, Scotland, Wales and California - and survived to tell the tale. Also, for an American in this part of the world, there is the issue of driving on the other side of the road. That could be difficult for some. Good story!
By K. Ford K.
Author, 'The Wife of John the Baptist' and 'The Concubine's Gift'
My ancestors hail from eight different countries and three separate continents, yet my Irish ties have always held a special fascination. Maybe it's because my Irish relatives are so colorful and they tell such good stories. Whatever the reason, I'd always imagined that my Irish ancestors were somehow bigger than life. On my first trip to Ireland, I'm hoping to find out if this is true.
Upon arriving in Dublin, the first thing I am aware of is that I am the foreigner here and I'm not comfortable with that. I wanted to feel at home, to be welcomed by the somehow familiar faces of ghosts. Instead, I see retired Americans fulfilling a life-long dream and young parents proudly herding their red-headed offspring through museums and castles. I'm surprised to discover that they have come for much the same reason I have. They are all a little sheepish and apologetic about it. They have no explanation for the strong pull that Ireland has always had on them. Seems my journey is not so unusual after all.
Upon arriving in Dublin, the first thing I am aware of is that I am the foreigner here and I'm not comfortable with that. I wanted to feel at home, to be welcomed by the somehow familiar faces of ghosts. Instead, I see retired Americans fulfilling a life-long dream and young parents proudly herding their red-headed offspring through museums and castles. I'm surprised to discover that they have come for much the same reason I have. They are all a little sheepish and apologetic about it. They have no explanation for the strong pull that Ireland has always had on them. Seems my journey is not so unusual after all.
linkI enjoyed this article. Am surprised that people confronted her about the fact that she was alone. Maybe a person, specifically female, from another country takes a risk driving alone. I've driven alone in England, Scotland, Wales and California - and survived to tell the tale. Also, for an American in this part of the world, there is the issue of driving on the other side of the road. That could be difficult for some. Good story!
