My family roots are Irish
Grew potatoes, the patch is still there
Loughrae, so far away now.
Life was hard with droughts and famine,
My great grandfather went to America
Married, we know not what happened to his wife.
Fought in the Civil War, suffered injury,
Returned to Ireland, a poorer man.
Married my great grand mother
Had numerous children
We are Catholic after all.
Poverty drove him to become a boat person.
His brother was in Australia
He set sail with his family,
My grandfather was four at the time.
They had hopes of a better life
Thankfully they stayed.
I am one small part of an ever-expanding tree
Made one strand greater
By the birth of a seventh grandchild last week.
Today I am grateful
For their perseverance, their resilience
Coming so far, to a land they knew
As down under the earth,
Bringing dreams, hope, character
To a place I call home.
Written for: http://dversepoets.com/2014/06/10/poetics-your-family-history/
Morpethroad 
I love how you traced your family roots Michael ~ Coming to a new country with all the hopes and dreams, I know that that journey ~ And to finally call this land, home is indeed a blessing ~ Congrats again on your new addition to the family ~ Cheers ~
Ah thanks Grace I appreciate your comment. New baby is doing well.
Family heritage is a great thing to keep track of. A hardy people, survivors and land lovers. Good stock Michael.
Thanks Jackie I’m very pleased they made the trip here. It’s a good place to live.
I like your appreciation for the perseverance of the earlier generations. They were brave, weren’t they, to travel so far and begin a new life. So glad that your branch continues to grow, Michael, with the latest birth.
Thank you Mary. My great grand mother even suffered as she didn’t speak English either as her tongue was Gaelic. We are fortunate today to know so much about our past.
nice…congrats on the seventh grandchild…i hope that you tell them the story of house you came to be where you are…i think our history is an important part of our development…knowing where we came from….
Thanks Brian. Oh yes my house is part of our history no doubt about that. I think it’s important to know where we have come from gives us an appreciation of our past what our grandparents lived through.
Yes, congrats…quite the tale of the earlier days with Irish roots and the ensuing events! Thank heavens for the ability to research what we can these days with so many records not kept or lost…how rich your ancestry is.
Thanks Kathy yes you are right we are lucky to be able research our pasts as we can nowadays. Sometimes you discover real surprises.
I cant begin to imagine the perils of that boat trip but am glad everyone survived and flourished! I am so enjoying all of the family stories from this wonderful prompt!!!!!! Thanks for yours.
Thanks Sherry that are fascinating aren’t they.
woot! congrats on the seventh grandchild … that is awesome… and i too like when someone is traveling to try different things in life – even though it doesn’t always turn out the way we expect… cool story tommy
Thanks so much Claudia. I appreciate your comment. Thanks again Michael
Congratulations on your grandchildren Michael, how good that he tried again despite the fact his first “failure” in America… New opportunities in another land,
Thank Bjorn. Lucky for me though that I live in Australia as a result of his bad luck.
Family history, tracing our roots, what brings us to where we are, who makes us who we are. A nice trace back Michael, I’m glad you are of Irish stock.
Thanks Jenny, it works for me. I also have Scottish on my mum’s side.
I knew you were of Irish decent but had no idea your family traveled via the USA before settling down under. I find it fascinating that the Irish seem more proud of their heritage than other ‘ethnic’ groups.
Thanks Gabriella. I think it has something to do with beginning in such dire ways. Poverty famine all contributed to why so many went to the US or Australia. Lucky for me mine came here.
Congratulations on your ever-expanding family! Yes, poverty drove people to search for a ‘better life’ elsewhere, indeed. I had family who went to Canada and Australia, back in the 1800s. A lovely poem, Michael.
Thanks so much Freya I appreciate your comment thanks for reading.
Glad that your story becomes a part of everyone’s story; our history embellished by your addition to this patchwork. Thank you, Michael.
Thanks so much Walt I appreciate your comments.
I love how you bring the story right into the present–making the connections. Perseverance and resilience, sounding as lovely as they mean.
Thank you Jennifer I think all our great grand parents possessed great perseverance and resilience. Thanks for visiting.
Congrats Michael! One cannot help but appreciate the resolve of those who took the life changing decision that brought a whole new beginning to generations after them. And that is now extended with the new-born recently arrived. Wonderful write!
Hank
Thanks Hank good to see you again. I am thankful my forebears did make those decisions. I am in a great place today.
The “luck o’ the Irish” they say! Great story, worth recording and sharing…congrats on another wee twig on the family tree 🙂 we’re waiting for another grandchild any day…
Thanks lynndiane. It’s an exciting business this grandparenting. I expect another in September. Good luck with your new one as well.
What a great post…interesting where people started and end up. My great-grandfather left Ireland to come to Montreal and stayed….only he had the good Catholic family…all his grandchildren had two each. Maybe it’s the cold Quebecois air:)
Well all that cold air Oliana has to have an effect doesn’t it. Thank you so much for reading.
I am playing catch up tonight and enjoying my reads very much:)
My great grandmother was from Ireland – can’t remember where without dragging out the paperwork I’ve started for doing our family tree. Speaking of family trees, I just love the picture that accompanies your post today, Michael 🙂
Thanks Lyn, it’s a cool image isn’t it. You never know Lyn our relos may have been neighbours.
Long live your family! 🙂