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| Happy St. Patrick's Day ! |
Went walking around my house looking for something that might seem like a St. Patrick's Day photo. Found a few "Irish" looking things...
Our family name is "O'Regan/Regan". Yes, we are Irish Catholic. The basic story is that my great grandfather was from Ireland and moved his family to England at some point where my grandfather (William Edward Regan) grew up and married an English lady (my grandmother, Eleanor Fredericka King). Grandpa William moved his wife and children to the US around 1918. His brother Richard moved his family to Canada. The name on the Ellis Island Ship records is "Regan", but my dad later re-took "O'Regan" when he became a US citizen. So (long story short...) my maiden name is "O'Regan". I've tried to use Ancestry.com and can follow the family line pretty well back into England, but haven't had much luck getting info from Ireland...
My dad met my mom in New Orleans. She was 19 and he was 27. My mom's parents (Pe'pe're and Me'mere') spoke mostly French in the house in New Orleans and seemed to like this Irish/Englishman (my dad). Mom thought him too old for her at first... but he eventually won her over. They were married for 47 years when my dad passed at 75. When mom turned 80, she moved in with us here in Texas. DH and I have never lived in Louisiana after graduating from college, so it was nice having her to ourselves. She passed at 94.
I'm not sure why I wrote all this. It was just supposed to be a few pictures for St. Patrick's day...
And truth be told, except for Pe'pe're (who died when I was about 8), I never knew my other grandparents. Pe'pe're was the sweetest gentlest man I ever knew. He reminded me of Maurice Chevalier (most of you may be too young to remember him - did you see the movie, "Gigi"? ) And my Grandpa William... oh, the stories I've heard. He did a little of everything in his life, from fighting in the Boer's War, mining for gold, Captain of a gunboat on the Persian Gulf, etc. I think he would have been fun to listen to.
But I digress. I really just wanted to say Happy St. Patrick's Day to everyone!
Pretty tea-cup with the bear. It's so wonderful to know your roots. I think it helps to keep you grounded. Deb
ReplyDeleteThat green cup is an Ansley's second. I found it and another pretty pink one in Stoke-on-Trent in England in 1996. They had some really pretty cups and even though they were 'seconds', they looked perfectly fine to me. You would love it there. Ansley, Royal Dalton, Wedgewood, and a few others all have second shops. Portmeirion has one too, but it's not in Stoke.
DeleteIt's easy to be sidetracked and wander down other "lanes" of our minds. I think it's great you know so much of your family history.
ReplyDeleteAnd happy St. Patrick's Day to you!
Kim, I'm afraid that my 'monkey' mind is easily sidetracked.
DeleteLovely "vignette" photos, Rian...very pretty. You do have a wonderful talent for these...magazine quality!
ReplyDeleteI love hearing about family roots and stories of my blogging friends. I am proud to say that I am also a 1/3 Irish, on my mother's side of the family.
Happy St. Patty's Day, Rian!!!
Thanks, Jan. It's fun playing with the pictures. And congrats on being 1/3 Irish!
DeleteAnd a bit o' the luck of the Irish to you, lass! :-)
ReplyDelete'Top of the morn'in to ye too dar'lin!'
ReplyDeleteI have no Irish in me but Steve and Jay, from their father, have a touch ...from their GG-Grandfather and so the twins and Olly get a sprinkle from this line and of course their mother,Emma, is Irish Catholic. Love your TY Teddy xx
ReplyDeletea 'touch' is all you need...
Deletebut you know, Angie, I've not a bit of the Scottish in me (from what I know... actually we may all have a bit of *everything* in us if we go back far enough)but when we traveled to Scotland, Lord, DH and I loved the Scottish people!
Happy St. Patrick's Day to you too. I have a little Irish in me too, but know nothing of it really because my parents divorced when I was 4. But I love to wear some green on this day and acknowledge my roots I guess (and my happy childhood).
ReplyDeleteDiana
Yes, Diana, do wear your green today!
DeleteOhhhhhhhh! Where did you get those little Dragons????????
ReplyDelete"Auntie"
Auntie, I bought those at Scarborough fair years ago. But I may begin making a few of my own... with clay.
DeleteTotally sweet post!!!
ReplyDeleteWondering, if you are *still* Catholic? Not being nosy. It's just that there are many Irish, and they aren't all Catholic. Depended on whom our ancestors married and etc. In my mother's family, my Scottish grandfather married my Irish Catholic grand mother and.... Catholic became the "name of the game." :-))))))))
HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY...!!!
"Auntie"
No, all Irish aren't Catholic. But yes, I do still consider myself Catholic. It's more than a religion to me, it's who I am. But... that being said, I'm not a religious person. God (or whatever word you prefer) comes to me through Nature. Each of us must find our own path, yes?
ReplyDeleteI'm Italian Catholic but my son-in-law is part Irish so there is some Irish in the family.
DeleteMy religious beliefs are very close to yours. I'm not a religious person but I'm trying to find my own way.
Happy Saint Patrick's Day Rian!
I'm glad you digressed with those fascinating snippets of family history, Rian. A happy Saint Patrick's Day to you too.
ReplyDeleteAnd to you, Perpetua! :)
DeleteI too am a little bit Irish. My grandmother was a Kilkenny. The story goes that her grandparents were emigrants of course from Ireland. Her father was born in this country and so being patriotic Americans this last addition to their family was named George Washington Kilkenny. I have a tintype or daguerreotype of him and he is a quintessential blue-eyed, black-haired Irishman-------quite good looking as well.
ReplyDeleteThen you should be wearing your green today, Vic! Happy St. Patrick's Day!
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