My maternal ancestors, the Morrisons, came to Canada from County Mayo in Ireland 160 years ago. As far as I know, we weren’t chased out of the country by a torch-bearing mob of our angry neighbours so it was a peaceful departure.
And while we weren’t reviled, it looks like we might have gotten out of Ireland just in time because the parties celebrating our departure have just gone on and on ever since.
Last week, for example, three Mayo sisters all gave birth at the same hospital in Castlebar ON THE SAME DAY and a fourth sister is due any day now.
Here’s me, a long-ago lost former Mayoan, making an uneducated guess: That was one hell of New Year’s Eve party!
Either that or the Irish in Mayo are a lot more organized and precise than I had given them credit for. So, three first cousins will all share the same birthdays henceforth. A sure savings on balloons and birthday cake at future birthday parties.
But, oh no! When they grow up, there’ll be family New Year’s Eve parties. Extra shifts for the staffs at the Castlebar hospital coming up in a couple of decades or so.
©2015 Jim Hagarty
