“When Irish Eyes are Smilin’”
March 31st, 2008 at 8:30 am (Articles)
It is March as I am writing and St. Patrick’s Day no less. Well my Irish side is smiling. It is a nice day outside, a little cold, but nice none the less. We are celebrating with green cake and Irish music.
It is amazing the effect that Irish music has on me. I remember as a little girl listening to stories that my grandfather told. He said as a boy growing up in Missouri, the Murphy side of the family, would play bagpipes and Irish music. I think that is still in my mind somewhere and whenever I hear the Irish jigs I feel it in my soul.
When working on genealogy I find it helpful to get a feel for the place I am researching. Local customs and mindsets, help to explain how the people from that area think or thought for their time. You might have a better understanding of the strick laws and customs. Any time you can put yourself in the life and times or your ancestors there is a better understanding of how they lived and who they were.
If you are Irish, you might try the following:
“Of Irish Ways” by Mary Murray Delaney. For anyone Irish or those that just love the Irish, this is a great place to start. Inside you will find Irish history, customs, literature, landscape, traditions and more. This is an older book, but the information is still informative.
“Ireland” by Lisa Gerard-Sharp is a tour book of Ireland. Festivals, abbeys, hotels, museums, castles, country side restaurants, pubs, and mars are listed for your use. The cover makes this claim: The guides that show you what others only tell you. Included are vibrant color photos and maps, along with timelines and historic information.
“Touring Ireland” (VHS) A Questar Home Video Presentation. Visit Dublin, the Ring of Kerry, Killarney National Park, Rose of Tralee, Cork, Wexford, Galway, Connemara, the Aran Island, Donegal, and Sligo. An island of radiant greens, like that facets of an emerald, Ireland is known as the friendliest land on earth. Shrines, castles, hallowed abbeys, jigs, reels, festivals, farms, fishing villages, quaint shop fronts and more.
This video breathes the spirit of Ireland.
There are many other sources at the library on Ireland.
Stop by and check them out.