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04.14.13

The search for my Irish ancestry part II: Turns out I’m pretty Canadian

If you’ve been following my Ireland journey you’ll know that some things didn’t go as planned. The breakdown: I met some of the most incredible people in County Waterford, but as explained in my article for Matador Network, it looks like I’ll never REALLY know where my family came from. I’m Canadian as Canadian can be.

I did all the research. Met all the right people. Was interviewed by radio stations and newspapers and tried to host my own Gathering in Dungarvan…but didn’t really find anything at all. The help of Waterford Gathering was monumental, and I appreciate every minute of it.

Instead, I got to know an area of Ireland that I would likely have never explored if I hadn’t been sent on this journey. And as you know, it’s all about the journey.

I cruised the Copper Coast on a brilliant sunny day. Had my share of pints at The Local, where I sat in on my first real trad session led by the most talented of musicians (including the pub’s owner, a famous bodhran player named Donnchadh Gough)…although it seems like everyone in Ireland is the most talented musician. Seriously, does anyone here NOT play an instrument? I stayed in the 700-year-old Lismore Castle, and had the entire Burlington Wing to myself. I collected a mass of stories that will take me at least a full year to tell here on this blog.

The journey was an emotional one. I felt like I had failed my first real journalistic mission, and I was humiliated about it. I was hurt. I mean, this was literally my DREAM writing trip. I knew there were people counting on me to deliver a story and I just couldn’t figure out what that story was. And then one day after crying about it in the car, Scott went to take photos of a castle and I sat down and wrote everything out on the back of a Dublin guide. I suppose the best stories are rarely ever the most successful ones.

The rest of my Ireland story is a much happier one. I’m currently in Sligo – I’ve been here for a week and amassed a group of friends that I’m devastated to leave behind – and heading up to Belfast tomorrow. But it’s been one hell of a ride, Ireland, and I doubt I’m done with you just yet.

Life. Interesting, innit?

Princesses live in castles. And then there’s me.

Oh hi, today I’m going to Ireland for five weeks to research my ancestry

I freaking love Galway

The best music scene in Ireland? I vote Sligo

  • April 14 2013
    Savoir Faire Abroad

    I’m so happy for you, Chica!!

    Reply
  • April 14 2013
    Rika at Cubicle Throwdown

    I have ancestors in Ireland too but can’t imagine all the work you did there to try to find your roots! Kudos to you!

    Reply
  • April 14 2013
    Rika at Cubicle Throwdown

    I have ancestors in Ireland too but can’t imagine all the work you did there to try to find your roots! Kudos to you!

    Reply
  • April 14 2013
    Rika at Cubicle Throwdown

    I have ancestors in Ireland too but can’t imagine all the work you did there to try to find your roots! Kudos to you!

    Reply
  • April 14 2013
    Jackie D

    I think it’s still really cool that you got to do something like this even if it didn’t exactly work out like it was meant to. My dad has researched our family tree a ton and it generally involves many nights of wine and “Goddammit!” while sitting at the computer, so I can imagine how stressful and frustrating the process can be.

    Reply
    • April 18 2013
      Candice Walsh

      It was like a treasure hunt! Eye opening process. So much work. But definitely, definitely worth it.

      Reply
  • April 15 2013
    Grosse Harper

    Thanks for the very thought-provoking post. In my experience, most
    tourists and travelers just simply pass through a place, without knowing
    the intricate power struggles that are in place behind the things they
    see. http://www.toshalijunglelodge.com/about-resort.html

    Reply
  • April 15 2013
    Grosse Harper

    Thanks for the very thought-provoking post. In my experience, most
    tourists and travelers just simply pass through a place, without knowing
    the intricate power struggles that are in place behind the things they
    see. http://www.toshalijunglelodge.com/about-resort.html

    Reply
  • April 15 2013
    Grosse Harper

    Thanks for the very thought-provoking post. In my experience, most
    tourists and travelers just simply pass through a place, without knowing
    the intricate power struggles that are in place behind the things they
    see. http://www.toshalijunglelodge.com/about-resort.html

    Reply
  • April 15 2013
    Grosse Harper

    Thanks for the very thought-provoking post. In my experience, most
    tourists and travelers just simply pass through a place, without knowing
    the intricate power struggles that are in place behind the things they
    see. http://www.toshalijunglelodge.com/about-resort.html

    Reply
  • April 15 2013
    Grosse Harper

    Thanks for the very thought-provoking post. In my experience, most
    tourists and travelers just simply pass through a place, without knowing
    the intricate power struggles that are in place behind the things they
    see. http://www.toshalijunglelodge.com/about-resort.html

    Reply
  • April 15 2013
    Grosse Harper

    Thanks for the very thought-provoking post. In my experience, most
    tourists and travelers just simply pass through a place, without knowing
    the intricate power struggles that are in place behind the things they
    see. http://www.toshalijunglelodge.com/about-resort.html

    Reply
  • April 15 2013
    Grosse Harper

    Thanks for the very thought-provoking post. In my experience, most
    tourists and travelers just simply pass through a place, without knowing
    the intricate power struggles that are in place behind the things they
    see. http://www.toshalijunglelodge.com/about-resort.html

    Reply
  • April 15 2013
    Grosse Harper

    Thanks for the very thought-provoking post. In my experience, most
    tourists and travelers just simply pass through a place, without knowing
    the intricate power struggles that are in place behind the things they
    see. http://www.toshalijunglelodge.com/about-resort.html

    Reply
  • April 15 2013
    Grosse Harper

    Thanks for the very thought-provoking post. In my experience, most
    tourists and travelers just simply pass through a place, without knowing
    the intricate power struggles that are in place behind the things they
    see. http://www.toshalijunglelodge.com/about-resort.html

    Reply
  • April 15 2013
    Sofie Couwenbergh

    Looking forward to some more details!

    Reply
  • April 15 2013
    Andi Perullo de Ledesma

    I’m so sorry that you couldn’t find out more about your family, but I’m delighted that you’ve made so many awesome friends!!!!

    Reply
  • April 20 2013
    Shane

    I’ve never been but apparantly our lot, the Donovans, have a big gathering every once in a while at the old family seat, Castle Donovan. That’s an occasion to watch your wallet, I’m sure.

    Reply
  • April 20 2013
    bkidney

    What kind of documentation were you able to find there? Was it scattered or did you have a few central locations you could use?

    I’ve always wanted to do a check my family history in Ireland and wondered what the process would be like.

    Reply
    • May 13 2013
      Candice Walsh

      There are a great deal of research centres scattered all over the place…the ones I visited already had the info entered into a computer system, so it was pretty easy to research. But just like Newfoundland, most of the documents that are any older than 150 years are likely to be missing. :(

      Reply
  • April 22 2013
    Martina Mc Auley

    Hi Candice, it’s a shame that you didn’t get to find out more about your Irish ancestry. As you said though, you got to see a part of Ireland that you probably wouldn’t have gone to otherwise. The amount of people that you met must have been phenomenal. At least you can say that you tried your best. You’d be kicking yourself if you hadn’t.

    Reply
  • April 22 2013
    Martina Mc Auley

    Hi Candice, it’s a shame that you didn’t get to find out more about your Irish ancestry. As you said though, you got to see a part of Ireland that you probably wouldn’t have gone to otherwise. The amount of people that you met must have been phenomenal. At least you can say that you tried your best. You’d be kicking yourself if you hadn’t.

    Reply
  • May 01 2013
    MaiLynn Stormon-Trinh

    Hi Candice,

    How awesome that you’ve decided to look more into your ancestry. I think that many of us can’t be bothered and/or don’t even think about it.

    I just spent three months in Vietnam looking for my “roots”and any family connections I have there. I was lucky and wildly successful. I wrote about it on my blog at http://www.tigerbombtales.com if you want to check it out.

    I think you’ll find if you keep your eyes and heart open, you’ll keep finding more missing pieces to that crazy puzzle we call “identity”.

    Keep searching :)

    MaiLynn

    Reply
  • May 01 2013
    MaiLynn Stormon-Trinh

    Hi Candice,

    How awesome that you’ve decided to look more into your ancestry. I think that many of us can’t be bothered and/or don’t even think about it.

    I just spent three months in Vietnam looking for my “roots”and any family connections I have there. I was lucky and wildly successful. I wrote about it on my blog at http://www.tigerbombtales.com if you want to check it out.

    I think you’ll find if you keep your eyes and heart open, you’ll keep finding more missing pieces to that crazy puzzle we call “identity”.

    Keep searching :)

    MaiLynn

    Reply
  • May 01 2013
    MaiLynn Stormon-Trinh

    Hi Candice,

    How awesome that you’ve decided to look more into your ancestry. I think that many of us can’t be bothered and/or don’t even think about it.

    I just spent three months in Vietnam looking for my “roots”and any family connections I have there. I was lucky and wildly successful. I wrote about it on my blog at http://www.tigerbombtales.com if you want to check it out.

    I think you’ll find if you keep your eyes and heart open, you’ll keep finding more missing pieces to that crazy puzzle we call “identity”.

    Keep searching :)

    MaiLynn

    Reply
    • May 13 2013
      Candice Walsh

      Oooh, nice! Will definitely check that out. Congrats on your hard work!

      Reply
  • May 12 2013
    Colleen Conroy Murray

    I’m training to be a genealogist, and everyone says Irish research is one of the hardest, due to destroyed records and so on. Don’t be discouraged, keep looking, especially in Newfoundland- some clue may still turn up. I certainly share your pain re: the common surname, but I keep plodding along & every now & then I’m rewarded with a little nugget. Good luck in the search!

    Reply
    • May 13 2013
      Candice Walsh

      Thanks, Colleen! That encouragement is needed these days! Haha

      Reply
    • May 13 2013
      Candice Walsh

      Thanks, Colleen! That encouragement is needed these days! Haha

      Reply
  • June 23 2013
    Margaret Brown

    Hi Candice. I saw your post on the Gathering website and just wanted to give you a link to the Genealogical Society of ireland – http://www.familyhistory.ie/index.php/en/
    They are great at giving people assistance with tracing their roots and have documents going back through the centuries so maybe check them out. Good luck with your search for your heritage. Margaret

    Reply
    • August 08 2013
      Candice Walsh

      Thanks Margaret! I reached out to them awhile ago, I think. I think my search is over, sadly. But who knows what will resurface someday?

      Reply
  • August 02 2013
    Juha_of_Espoo

    Hi Candice, what was the one lasting memory for you of the ireland trip, if you had to pick one?

    Reply
    • August 08 2013
      Candice Walsh

      Most definitely my time in Sligo. Made so many terrific friends there! My favourite day was stand up paddling, followed by the most epic Irish trad session, and then retiring to a castle for the evening…

      Reply

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