There was little extra room in St. Brendan’s Graveyard on Omey Island, just off the west coast of Ireland. I was there searching for the graves of my mother’s family, the Lynches. The ancient cemetery, filled with gravesites on rocky, uneven terrain, sloped down toward the strand where the waters rose and fell with the tides. I walked around the stones with Celtic crosses, some with the initials IHS (in the Holy Names of Jesus) embedded into the pagan symbol. Others were merely marked with dates. And some, through centuries of standing up to fierce gales and rain, were tilting one way or another, wearing away with the weather. Still other graves, clustered together, formed a ringed depression in the ground. Small, nameless, dateless rocks marked their sites.
My family ancestors all lived in the small Island of Groix on the coast of Brittany. In the church archives I found their names down to 1590 for the earliest. Most of them were fishermen or sailors in trade or in the Navy. A lot disappeared in the ocean at a young age. My father was the first one to take a "land" job in construction. I always feel that the land, the sand and the granite are a part of me. Your story reminded me of that part of my life away from Iowa. Thank you for writing it.
I have Irish/Iowa roots as well, Mary. I have visited the County Cork in Ireland looking for the Murphy’s and in Armagh in Northern Ireland I looked for the Berry’s (who are Barry’s there). I admire your determination to find your family roots. I can’t wait to read about your visit with your cousin, the gravedigger.
Hi, Mary. This is a comment for "You Didn't Keep Score?" though I seem to be at the St Brendan's comment site, which I also loved. "You Didn't Keep Score" is beautiful and moving, touched me to tears. Thank you!
Wow! Yes, I agree with Bonnie. Great telling. Brilliant last line. Love how you weave together the stories and earths of Ireland and Iowa.
Archetypal Irish folk telling. Great piece.
My family ancestors all lived in the small Island of Groix on the coast of Brittany. In the church archives I found their names down to 1590 for the earliest. Most of them were fishermen or sailors in trade or in the Navy. A lot disappeared in the ocean at a young age. My father was the first one to take a "land" job in construction. I always feel that the land, the sand and the granite are a part of me. Your story reminded me of that part of my life away from Iowa. Thank you for writing it.
I have Irish/Iowa roots as well, Mary. I have visited the County Cork in Ireland looking for the Murphy’s and in Armagh in Northern Ireland I looked for the Berry’s (who are Barry’s there). I admire your determination to find your family roots. I can’t wait to read about your visit with your cousin, the gravedigger.
I love that you got to find your ancestors. Idove to do the same.
Great telling, Mary.
:-)
Just “swell,” this account and point of view. Thanks.
Hi, Mary. This is a comment for "You Didn't Keep Score?" though I seem to be at the St Brendan's comment site, which I also loved. "You Didn't Keep Score" is beautiful and moving, touched me to tears. Thank you!