Happy Saint Patrick's and Half-Way Day

 

Happy Saint Patrick's Day! A friend recently said I was proud of being Irish. But, it's not so much that I feel proud, but that I feel part of a larger group. My father was more aware of his Irish roots than others; he and my sister even researched our family in Donegal. 

Dad always loved to sing. I can hear him singing, "If You're Irish (Come into the Parlour." It's a welcoming song with lyrics like, "whoever you are, you are one of us" and "this is the place for you." 

Two years ago, I wrote about my DNA results from Ancestry. My results indicated 50% Scottish and only 19% Irish. I felt adrift, as if what I thought I knew about myself wasn't true at all. 

But that wasn't the final analysis. Ancestry added additional records. 

The July 2024 update listed 25% Scottish and 24% Irish (followed by Germanic Europe, England and Northwestern Europe, Wales, Spain, and Iceland.)

When I logged into Ancestry over the weekend, the analysis didn't break out the Scottish from the Irish. 

Current results:

Celtic and Gaelic

31% Central Scotland and Northern Ireland

22% Donegal, Ireland

7% Southern Wales

4% Connacht, Ireland

England

20% Southeastern England & Northwestern Europe

15% North East England

Southeastern Europe 

1% Slovenia

So, Gaelic and Celtic it is with 64%. 

 

Today is also Jeff's and my half-way-day: we've been married 37.5 years. Happy anniversary Jeff.