I have no interest in Ancestry.com or tracing my roots. I know most of my DNA and it’s all Irish on my mom’s side. Her father, the son of a Ballylongford, County Kerry, farmer, was named Tom Keane. He emigrated to America sometime around 1900 – it’s believed he had to hightail it out of Ireland because of his IRA affiliation, and that doesn’t surprise me at all. Tom had crossed … [Read more...] about Photo Album: Tales of New York
Heritage
First Word: The Gift of Heritage
Happy Christmas to all our readers. I love this time of year. New York is abuzz with lights and window displays, and good cheer. ’Tis the season… To make time for a little reflection to go along with a lot of celebration. To look back on the year, remember the highs and let go of the lows, and look forward to what’s to come. The holidays are a time when stories get handed … [Read more...] about First Word: The Gift of Heritage
Roots: The Hogans, Logans and Cogans
Although these surnames sound alike, the similarities end there. The Hogans are a Dalcassian family. Hogan comes from the Irish word óg meaning young. In Irish mythology, the land of eternal youth is called Tir Na nÓg. The Irish name of Hogan, Ó'hÓgáin, denotes that they are ancestors of Ogan, who was a direct descendant of Brian Boru, the last great High King of Ireland who … [Read more...] about Roots: The Hogans, Logans and Cogans
Roots: The Hogans, Logans and Cogans
Although these surnames sound alike, the similarities end there. The Hogans are a Dalcassian family. Hogan comes from the Irish word óg meaning young. In Irish mythology, the land of eternal youth is called Tir Na nÓg. The Irish name of Hogan, Ó'hÓgáin, denotes that they are ancestors of Ogan, who was a direct descendant of Brian Boru, the last great High King of Ireland who … [Read more...] about Roots: The Hogans, Logans and Cogans
Roots: The Ulster Clans O’Neill and O’Donnell
Outside the city limits of ancient Rome at the top of the Janiculum hill is the 15th century church of San Pietro in Montorio. The church was supposedly built on the site where Saint Peter was crucified in 64 C.E. and its courtyard holds a small, circular, domed building meant to mark the exact spot of his crucifixion. The “Tempietto” (lit. “little temple”) was built by Italian … [Read more...] about Roots: The Ulster Clans O’Neill and O’Donnell