THERE'S MORE

THERE’S MORE

If you didn‘t catch it, Frank McCourt, the author and Pulitzer Prize winner, died on Sunday, July 19, 2009 in New York. He was 78. Of course it reminded me of his book - “Angela’s Ashes”. I really enjoyed reading it. Probably, because of my Irish descent. My Mother’s grandmother - Elizabeth Foy - was from Sligo, Ireland. She emigrated to this country in 1840. This was before Ellis Island, and four years before the Irish Potato Famine. I tried tracing the ship, that brought her to America, at the great Family History Library in Salt Lake City, to no avail. My Mother said that Elizabeth was 18 years old in 1840, but I couldn’t find her on any ship manifest during that period. It would have helped if I had known which port she departed from (Sligo?; Liverpool?) and which port of entry in the U.S.(New York?). This information would have helped me to determine whether she traveled alone ,or with her family.
I have always liked the wit and humor of the Irish, along with their proclivity to talk. The Irish accent always helps. Most Irish are adept at telling stories and Jokes. I have never met a bashful Irish man or woman. Two friends of mine, Gene Doyle and Dennis Horgan have these vocabulary skills. I never tire of their humor - even though I had heard the same thing before. A sense of humor ran in our family, for which I am grateful. My Mother could laugh even when the joke was on her. Not many people can do this.
RCL 7/28/09.