Posted on 03/15/2009 5:06:32 PM PDT by Congressman Billybob
On St. Patrick’s Day, everyone is Irish. Maybe just for the moment, or for the next few beers. O’Hara, O’Leary, O’Bama. But some of us have real, biological connections to the Emerald Isle.
One of the reasons I was delighted to make a trip to Ireland last year was the chance to close the circle. By a happenstance the year before, I found the oldest proof of my European ancestors. On the Internet I stumbled across the website of the Compass Inn in Ligonier, Pennsylvania.
What became the Compass Inn was built as a log building in 1799 on the crude road to the frontier town of Pittsburgh. In 1814 the Inn was bought by Robert and Rachel Armor. On the completion of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, Robert built a stone addition to accommodate the many stage passengers.
By 1862, the canals took over, and the Inn was closed and became a private home. For a total of seven generations the Armors lived there. Then in 1966 they sold the Inn to the Ligonier Valley Historical Society. The Society restored the Inn to its 1920 condition as a working Museum. It is still that way.
As you might have gathered, when I contacted the Museum Director, he quickly sent me a genealogy. Robert was brought to the United States by his grandfather, when he was 8. The genealogy that the Director sent, stopped with George Frederick Armor. That was my great-grandfather, who fought in the Civil War. The Society was glad to hear from me.
It was a singular pleasure last summer to walk the land that young Robert had last walked two centuries before. But I learned not just about my family, but about the modern world.
I met a Protestant man whose family was saved by their neighbor, a Catholic policeman. I met the Catholic daughter, now a grown woman. Her boyfriend decades ago was arrested by British troops, convicted and served two years in jail. He denied being involved in the IRA.
The young man went to America. Decades later, he returned to Ireland. He admitted that he had been in the IRA, and that his parents were also members. He admitted he was going out that night to kill British soldiers. He said that his arrest had saved his life.
All these events happened in Londonderry, which has now thrown off the symbol of its British yoke, becoming simply Derry. We saw the history of “the troubles” in that city at its fine museum. It documents the seeming end of the troubles. Now, with three murders in Ireland last week by the Real IRA, the continuing murderers
That reminded me of the last thing I learned in Ireland. The murders of men, women and children for political purposes will not end until there are no more parents left (or schoolteachers) who tell their children that they have a right, or even a duty, to kill other children and their parents in cold blood..
The best way to see where the greatest threats of murder come from, is to read translations of the books used in elementary schools. That is a sad task which is almost entirely in the past for the survivors in Ireland. Elsewhere in the world, these are current events.
I shouldn’t end this piece this way. The Irish have learned. Their rich and ancient history is almost entirely at peace. So, there is hope for us all.
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About the Author: John Armor practiced law in the Supreme Court for 33 years. He now lives on the Eastern Continental Divide in the Blue Ridge of North Carolina. John_Armor@aya.yale.edu
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I loved reading your post. My ancestors name was William Hutchinson. I guess he was a real “Hill Billy”. lol
Billy Hutchinson? Ha ha, I’ll tell you what, see tomorrow whenever everyone else is wearing green let me suggest you and your family wear orange it would be a truer reflection of your ancestry.
Buy Webb’s book, make it your St Patrick’s Day tribute to your ancestors, buy dozens of copies for all your family and let them know how you are descended from the true architects and heroes of the United States and all that green beer nonsense is not your idea of being an Irish American.
If after reading the book you want to discuss it further feel free to contact me again.
What do you mean by this?
(and no undies)
Thanks!
Irish were in what is now called Scotland long before any other people. So in all likelihood you are blessed with Irish blood running thru your veins. :^)
John
Isn’t more correct to refer to them as Celts...from which the Irish and Scots descended?
To my Late Father in Heaven - a Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Daddy - I love you. If I could ask a favor of fellow Freepers, could you wish my Late Father, a Happy St. Patrick’s Day, thank you. It is hard to keep a straight face tomorrow, songs like: Danny Boy and When Irish Eyes are Smiling make me cry. I hope to visit Ireland one day./Just Asking - seoul62......
Congressman, I had the wonderful privilege to visit Ireland in August, 2007. Though we stayed in the beautiful Dublin, we took the train on a day trip to Belfast. Our guide joked that as recently as two years before our trip, taking a day trip to Belfast was akin to taking a day trip to Baghdad! It was a trip I’ve always wanted to make as my ancestors hail from that area, and from Londonderry.
To say that the trip was eye opening would be an understatement. Though things had been quiet for a couple of years, there was still the wall that closed at 6 pm every evening. There was, also, still rubble where some buildings had been bombed. Just outside of the train station is the Europa Hotel, the most bombed structure in Europe.
I’m sorry to hear that there has been violence recently. Things were peaceful when I was there, but there was an undercurrent that made me uncomfortable. If they could raise one generation without violence, I think peace could be sustained.
We had lunch at the Crown Bar. I was raised on cheese and pickle sandwiches, but had never seen them on any menu before. I ordered it, and it was delicious! Never did have enough ice, though. ;o)
Thank you for this piece. I very much enjoyed reading it.
seoul62, I’ll be wishing you and your late Da’ a very Happy St. Paddy’s Day!
May the road rise to meet you,
may the wind always be at your back,
may the sun shine warm upon your face,
the rains fall soft upon your fields and,
until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Happy St. Paddy’s Day, BB! I have Irish on both sides o’ me family (County Clare on one). ‘Tis this time o’ year I’m usually nippin’ a Guinness or two reflectin’ on the ones who came before, their names written in the great family Bible...(hic!)...and there he is, “Paddy McDrill, horse thief”...died of a fall, he did...well, faith and the rope might have had somethin’ to do with it...
“The original “Irish” in America like your ancestor have largely been written out of the story of the United States in favour of the more recent “victimised” Catholic Irish of the 19th Century”
Indeed. My Irish ancestors were here in the early 1700’s. I may get Webb’s book, sounds interesting.
Irish Blessing
“May the road rise to meet you,
may the wind always be at your back,
may the sun shine warm upon your face,
the rains fall soft upon your fields and,
until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.”
That was my mother’s favorite and part of her eulogy. It still hangs today on my wall on a ceramic plaque.
Thanks for posting it,Dixie.
Thank you very much for your kind post./Just Asking - seoul62.......
I do have a wee bit of Scots in me in an otherwise Green bloodline, and I don't know if it was Ulster or Scotland. They were originally Presbeyterians, but converted to Catholicism when one of them married an Catholic Irish woman. They were New York, but the Scots have Kansas roots, so I think it was Ulster. Someone's rolling in his grave with that conversion. It was a scandal from what I know. :)
Green Beer? I wouldn't be caught dead with that....or Bushmills for that matter.
John / Billybob
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