22 Comments

How lucky you were to find the cottage still present, even if in ruins. I think of how my grandparents’ beautiful farmhouse in Greene County is long gone; nothing remains of the buildings they built and made memories in. The physicality of your ancestors’ home truly resonates in a way a patch of land with new buildings will not.

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Ah, I'm sorry to hear of your erasure of your grandparents' farmhouse. Here, we tend to tear things down and move on to the next. So sad. Stone is a whole different kind of building material.

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Aug 28Liked by Mary Swander

I love it!!! Good on you. You made it happen. stay away from Bush Mills, they are protestant......😉

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founding
Aug 31Liked by Mary Swander

Thank you for this beautiful, powerful reflection on your family and your roots, Mary. Once again,

I felt like I was standing there with you.

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Thank you, Kathi. I sure appreciate your responses and your support.

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Aug 29Liked by Mary Swander

I’m loving your stories of Ireland. Shoes and a metal roof - they were fortunate people. Thanks, Mary!

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Yup, they were fortunate. Thanks for reading and responding. Great to see you in Davenport!

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Aug 29Liked by Mary Swander

You might find the anonymous submission of the origin of the surname Lynch on the Forebears website interesting. https://forebears.io/surnames/lynch

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Aug 28Liked by Mary Swander

Beautiful! I've shared with my brother and sister.

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Thanks, Mike!

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Aug 28Liked by Mary Swander

Thank you for shari g. I will share with members of our family that have Irish heritage.

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Aug 28Liked by Mary Swander

So tojoching, Mary. I am certain your great-grandmother's spirit enjoyed your visit.

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Thanks, Robbie.

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Aug 28Liked by Mary Swander

What a nice visit to nostalgia land. I love the look of the stone cabin, but I would be afraid of being buried under rocks if anything every went wrong.

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Well, that exact thing happened during the Famine. Those with thatched roofs had to keep a fire going all the time to dry out the thatch. Otherwise, it would get soggy and collapse in on the household, bringing the stone walls down with the roof. In the Famine, often the whole family was too weak and sick to keep a fire going and they were buried in their own houses.

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Aug 28Liked by Mary Swander

Yikes there is no way to respond except to click the little heart, but I do not heart the thought of sick families getting buried in the rubble of their huts. I think a lot of us forget how easy life has been in this era and this place. (Bill may be coming due soon.)

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Yup, things were really grim during the Famine. Not easy at other times, either. But way, way better today.

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founding
Aug 28Liked by Mary Swander

What a treasure--the loving letter, finding the site, and some remains, of the family home. Very moving.

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Thanks so much, Deba.

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So beautiful, so poignant, and such a vivid bringing to life your people and their place. The spirits of your ancestors must indeed be well pleased.

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Thank you, Elizabeth.

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founding

inspiring

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