the Irish side of my family!

                                 

As it is St Patrick's Day, I thought I would take this time to tell a little about my Irish heritage.  This is an accounting that I got from my Mother. 

Most of my relatives that came from Ireland came around 1840 or after.  Most came from Mullingar, which is in County West Meath.  County West Meath is in the middle of Ireland.  One relative came from Multyfarnum.  Some of the family names were:  Mahon, and Mulvaney.

Other Irish relatives were Gallagher, McCarthy, and Collins.  They came to New York and settled there some time before 1912.  Most of mom's relatives settled in New York City.  Her relatives are buried in Calvary Cemetary which is in Long Island, New York City.

 

The Irish are on my Mother's side.  

 

My Great grandmother's mother was Anna Mahon.  She was a hat maker for the theatre in New York.  She could sew anything.  She would go to the store, see something and make it.  She was in the choir where my Mom was married - Our Lady of Perpetual Help. 

 

My Grandmother's mother married Christian Stemple.  He was German.  He died when he was 39. 

 

They had my grandmother (Grandma Chrissie - my Mom's mom).  She was fourth generation Irish.

 

Because Grandma Christine's parent's died so young, she was raised by Mom's Great Aunt.  Her name Marcella Mahon.  She was my Mom's grandmother's sister.  She was always in Church.  She was in a third order and wore a habit.  She raised Mom's mother.  She had a junk shop.   Mom's grandma died when when my Grandma Chrissie was only 14, and Mom's grandfather when Grandma Chrissie was only a baby I think.  That is why Marcella had to raise Grandma Chrissie.  Eventually Marcella retired from the junk shop.  She died at age 80.  She paid everybody's rent and bought them food.  Margaret, another sister, was called Nanna.  Margaret owned an orchard in Staten Island.  

 

My Mom went on the Staten Island Ferry over 100 times.  She was a scaredy cat to do it, but she did it anyway.  She did it to get to Staten Island to see Margaret Mulvaney (used to be Mahon) and Nancy.  Nancy was Margaret's daughter.

 

Nancy Mulvaney married Bill Dudley (English).  Nancy was a good nurse.  Nancy was my Grandma Chrissie's closest person.  Nancy and Bill had three children.  Francis (Franny), Bill, and Marguerite (a nurse).

 

Margaret had another daughter.  She was Nancy's sister.  Her name was Mabel Mulvaney McCarthy.  She married a McCarthy from County Clare.  They had two sons, Jack and Vincent.  My mom says Jack and Vincent were very special people.

 

Margaret's son, and Nancy's and Mabel's brother was named Jim Mulvaney.  My Mom describes him "as a nice guy that showed up once a year".  He lived in the bowery.

 

Getting back to my Grandma Chrissie, three of her children married Irishpersons.  My Aunt Chrissie married Eugene Gillis and became Christine Majorossy Gillis.  By the way, my Aunt Chrissie is my Mom's identical twin sister!  My Uncle Bill Majorossy married Teresa Daly.  And my Uncle George married Clare McNamara.

 

Now a little background on my Mom.  She grew up in an all Irish neighborhood.  She had many Irish friends.  Her Mom (Grandma Chrissie) had all Irish friends.   

 

My Mom's favorite Irish dance was always:  The Stack of Barley.  This was a common dance when my Mom was a teenager.

 

My Mom's favorite Irish song is: The Irish Colonial Boy.  She said it was sung every time the Irish have a party, sort of like an irish anthem.

 

My Dad also wanted me to throw in that his Aunt Ida and Uncle Pete Walsh (Pete being the Irishman in the family) raised him for awhile after his Mom died.   Pete was very Irish.  They owned a theatre and a hotel.  Pete was a drinker.  Pete introduced my Dad to wine.  My Dad is sober now though.

 

I know that this account is kind of choppy and has holes in it.  But I thought I would at least try to do it for my family.  Mom, if you see mistakes, please let me know!

 

Erin Go Bragh!

 

                     

 

Tags: Irish Heritage