Cousins in the Tree

When I review the Irish and Italian (Catholic) branches of our family's tree, I can't help but think of the Monty Python scene from The Meaning of Life...not for those sensitive to the dogma of the church, but funny as heck.

If I did the research correctly, and I trust much of it, but I do find errors, our family can trace roots to about the late 1780s. Not bad, but I was able to trace my wife's family back to the 1500s.

The Ryan family is quite large. I've accounted for close to 400 plus cousins and it's growing. The top of the tree begins with my 5th great-grandparents Michael Ryan, William Caples, Phillip Kennedy, and Honora Maher. I'll research that generation next fall and winter as it will be time-consuming to search Irish church and civil records, but the subsequent generation's names keep growing.

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The Dingle

So busy, it's difficult to find time to write. We're go, go, go. and the wifi is not so good at our place. We left Galway Tuesday morning and drove a couple hours to an area of western Ireland called The Burren. It was a ridiculously foreign landscape and beautiful. Steep, sharp limestone mountains covered in scrub brush, grasses and dotted with livestock. As we drove through the emerald countryside, we saw a sign that said Birds of Prey display and Aillwee Cave. Rick Steves wrote in his travel guide that it was interesting, but not worth the fee. So, of course we decided to check it out. What the hell does he know :) Cliffs of Moher After that we stopped in Doolin and had lunch while overlooking the Atlantic. A short drive to The Cliffs of Moher. We lucked out with a sunny day. The kids attributed that to their Nana. The cliffs are worth the visit, especially if you go later (after 2pm) as we did. We drove to the S...

The Magical Traveling Shamrock, John Wayne and our Mother.

If you travel to Ireland and you do not spend some time at the Lawcus Farm B&B and its surrounding area, then you are doing a serious disservice to an Irish experience. Now, I understand to each his own, but it should be a mandatory stop for all travelers. I know I mentioned in earlier paragraphs about this place, but we strongly believe there was a connection for our kids, for us, and for my father. The owners of the establishment are characters in themselves and put forth great effort to ensure their guests are not only treated well, but making sure your time in their country is memorable. I’ll get back to Mark, who has an uncanny resemblance to John Wayne and Ann-Marie again. Our final day in Stoneyford and the Farm started as usual with a solid breakfast. Coffees preceded a small fresh fruit cup for all, followed by homemade porridge with prunes, and granola and local honey from their abundant Jaspers. Ann-Marie take...

Shirley Maclaine, Iberia and the Mormons

The surname Ryan is the fourth most common name in Ireland, the 177th most common in the United States and 2,000,714th most common in Bangladesh and Uzbekistan. The name comes in many forms O'Ryan, O'Malorian, O'Riaghn, Royan (French) and Rein (German). The name Ryan derives from many sources-Celtic, Gaelic, Norman and others. It's meaning has been interpreted as "little king" or "illustrious one", to the Welsh meaning "hero"to an ancient Irish word for water " Rian ". The most agreed upon derivation is from the anglicized adaptation of O'Riain, or descendent of Rian . I tend to agree with another interpretation of ancient Irish as Righin, meaning "sluggish" or "dilatory". An accurate account if you observe my teenage children in their natural habitat, or... if you ask my wife- me Friday through Sunday. The Latin phrase used as the Ryan motto is Malo Mori Quam Foedari. "I would rather die ...

A Hibernian Voyage to America. Our Irish Ancestors

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