How many of you have been successful?

[scottcharles]

Yes, I think wounds run deep on both sides, however, it is incredibly ignorant and incredibly naive to blame visitors to your country for things their ancestors did.

It's just backward mentality, you'll find it anywhere, it's like English people who continue to refer to German people as Nazis or whatever other derogatory term they can think up - despite the fact 60 years have passed since then and the whole country has changed etc etc.

May I ask when you went to Ireland? From what you said about money, sound like you may have gone during the 80s, that was a pretty hectic period and probably not the best time to conduct such research. A lot's changed now, the economy is booming and the place has become incredibly multicultural.

Either way, I'd just hate to see you put off the beautiful country by a few morons.

C (partner)

[Jillie42]

Jillie, I've had English people sniff when I mention being from Ireland, someone from the British Tourist Authority telling me 'you don't want to go there' and even English people being surprised we have washing machines, microwave ovens, computers & have shops where we can buy lovely outfits for weddings here in Ireland!

Funny.....cos that's certainly not how I veiwed the Irish before I got there. I've always had a love for irish music and all things Celtic have always had a fascination. I called my daughter Cara before I ever know I had any irish roots because it sounded musical and I loved it's meaning. I've known for years that Irish monks kept the candle or knowledge and education burning long after it had gone out in the rest of Europe. I've also read about the kind of reception my Irish would have got when they moved to London and believe me, it make me angry - but I wasn't personally responsible I wasn't around then.

I'd gone hoping to find the warm welcome, the oft-quoted Irish genial nature.

As I've already said, I'm certain that the "welcome" we got was probably not typical but where do we go to make sure we don't get a repeat performance?

I realise that I'm going to have to go to Beara to get a look and a feel for where my ancestors came from - but the thought of another week of insults is not appealing.

[Jillie42]

May I ask when you went to Ireland? From what you said about money, sound like you may have gone during the 80s, that was a pretty hectic period and probably not the best time to conduct such research. A lot's changed now, the economy is booming and the place has become incredibly multicultural.


C (partner)

It was two years ago In a place called Tullamore and although I'm certain there is poverty (there is anywhere you go) there, there did seemed to be a lot of very nice detached houses standing in several acres of land being built while we were there. Property was considerably cheaper then in Cambridgeshire and wages seemed to be comparable to England.

Don't misunderstand me. I'm really pleased to see a place becoming prosperous but was really angry to think that for all the bleating about English prosperity my family certainly couldn't afford to have a new house built - not in Cambridgeshire and certainly not on our wages. My parents were council all their life and my grandparents lived in the roughest bit of South London.

[kooky]

Jillie,
       I'm sorry you had a difficult time when you visited Ireland. My father was born in Ireland and I have been 'over' many times.
Earlier this year I was in Dublin, on my own, for 5 days. People could not have been nicer!
The office at Mountjoy cemetery had sent me very promptly [for a fee!] the info. I wanted and a plan of the cemetery, and were helpful when I arrived.
The man at the bus info. office actually made a phone call to the caretaker at Finglas graveyard and made sure he would be in to give me the key. The caretaker's wife gave me lots of local info.
When I went north the post mistress in Forkhill was very kind, gave me post cards of the area and refused payment. The landlord in the pub was very welcoming and helpful.
The staff in the Archives and Reg. Office were helpful and efficient.
I am already thinking about my next trip!
Please do not give up  on Ireland. Try again soon
Kooky

[bodger]

Jillie 42,
            Very sorry that you had such an off putting trip.All i can say is that as a C of E family we moved to Ireland  to manage a factory in the troubled times  of 1968, our children went to a convent school, and were taught through Gaelic, at the time of "Bloody Sunday" we and several other Brits were subjected to some slogan painting and damage to our cars, the local people apologized for what had occurred and told us that it was a crowd of Civil Rights protesters who were the perpertators. With the exception of 1983/6, when i returned to England for family reasons nothing to do with Ireland, we have lived and enjoyed our life here,  on the occasion of rugby matches i wear my English shirt with pride, ok, the recent matches for England have given me some stick from the Irish supporters, but all in good fun, I recently held my 70th birthday in a local bar, receiving greetings and presents from all & sundry.
 I also have visited and drank in Tullamore , and the reception was just like the rest of Ireland extremely friendly, after all, as the adage states: There are no strangers in Ireland,, only friends who haven't met:
                                              Bodger
PS we have a daughter b. in Galway who is proud to be Irish, and travel with her Irish passport, and of course she gives me grief when Ireland win at anything

[Jillie42]

Ok!! Ok!! I give in!!!

Ireland is a wonderful place and you are all wonderful people

I shall be sure to give it another go (maybe next year when I've saved up enough money for a holiday) however, there IS a proviso................all of you living in County Cork have got to be at the airport to give me and hubby a rapturous Irish welcome, then you have to take us to the livliest, friendliest pubs.......after all, it's not much to ask if you want to put right the wrong you county Offaly cousins did us

[Taidquest]

sounds like a good excuse for a cork rootschat meet,
why not copy this subject to the cork board as well.
                                                 regards.anne

[Jillie42]

sounds like a good excuse for a cork rootschat meet,
why not copy this subject to the cork board as well.
                                                 regards.anne

I might just do that. Not sure how welcome I'll be in the emerald Isle now though

Except I have absolutely NO idea how I copy this thread onto another board

[KarenM]

I learned that when I call over to Ireland and depending if I'm doing my catholic research or my protestant research I always say my last name the way each religion would say it   

Karen