A Letter to my Irish Grandmother.

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A Letter to my Irish Grandmother.

Dear Grandma Margaret (or I guess Maggie as they used to call you!), I know I never got the chance to meet you, since you passed just before I was born, but I felt your love through my father, and I hope you have felt my love right back.

After many years of researching my family and yours, I had the chance of a lifetime to visit the emerald isle called Ireland! I couldn’t believe anyone would want to leave such a beautiful place, but I know times were tough and your mother wanted nothing but the best for you, so she sent you on your way for a better life, and actually, I am glad she did. From our first steps off the jet after a long trip, I could tell the Irish were some of the friendliest people I had met. After gathering our things we made our way down to Tramore where you called home. I stood on Cove Road where you grew up, walked up and down the street that I know you had traveled, saw where you had once lived and tried to imagine what it looked like through your eyes. Then we went to Doneraile Walk where your brother Richard’s family had their home and looked out over the sea, thinking all the time this is what you saw.

Of course a trip wouldn’t be the same if we didn’t go to Dunhill Castle, the Power Clan castle. Ok, it isn’t really a castle now, but we had to see where our ancestors hundreds of years ago had once lived.

We went to the church where you worshiped and found the cemetery where your father and family are laid to rest. The four of us split up and said, “when you see a Power or Fitzgerald yell out!” Well, we all started yelling. I know, practically the whole cemetery was the name Power or Fitzgerald. We have such original names!  Even though we were told there wasn’t a headstone for your father, we said some prayers for all of them.

Of course we had to hit a pub, and even though I don’t drink I had to try something. Yes, the Irish are the friendliest people on earth!

When it was time to leave, we said good-bye to your brother Edward’s granddaughter who was kind enough to show us around the Waterford area and promised to make our way back. Thousands of miles apart and we can still feel like we are home and with family.

Thank you grandma Maggie, for making us proud to have Irish blood in our veins and to be able to call Ireland home!!  Until we meet again!

Your loving granddaughter,

Patti.

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