Here’s to the land of the shamrock so green.

Here’s to each lad and his darlin’ Colleen.

Here’s to the ones we love dearest and most.

May God bless old Ireland, that’s this Irishman’s toast!

And top o’ the mornin’ to you!

I was always told the family had Irish blood in us and when I explored the genealogy of  my family, it was true.

My great-great-great-grandfather on my mother’s side, those adventurous and diverse New Orleans folks, was Patrick Mulholland, born in Tamlaght O’Crilly, Londonderry, Northern Ireland in 1819.

He was married to Mary Riordon, from County Cork.  Did they travel to New Orleans together as a married couple?  Meet on the ship?  Or later, maybe in church in New Orleans?

I hope to find some ship records and discover the answer to that question.

Patrick died in 1895 in New Orleans, and family legend has it that he had arranged beforehand to be buried in his beloved Ireland.

I don’t know if that happened.

Tamlaght O’Crilly Lower Church.

My violin assignment this week was to learn “MacPherson’s Lament”, which is Scottish.  So I added the lovely Irish waltz, “South Wind”, to my practice sessions and hope to play it for my teacher this afternoon.  Just to celebrate the Irish!

Enjoy your Guiness and soda bread…