Besides having Scottish ancestors (as mentioned in the recent post about bagpipes), I also have Irish ancestors.
I’ve been thinking about one of my grandmothers lately, the Irish one.
The one I’ve been thinking about is my father’s mother, Anna McNamara. She was born in Ireland, of Irish parents, and she had Irish ancestors as far back as they knew. She came across the Atlantic Ocean on a sail-rigged, steamship in the late 1800s with her parents. The ship landed and they disembarked in Canada.
My Irish grandmother, Anna McNamara, married my Scottish grandfather, Archibald, in 1896 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Archibald’s father and mother came over the Atlantic from Scotland in the middle/late 1800s, also arriving in Canada. Anna, from Ireland, after marrying Archibald, from Scotland, gave birth to my father in 1898, and then Anna died four years later.
We have no photos of her. The only records from Ireland that I find (that I’m sure of) list her as being born in County Clare (Clair), and list her as living near the River Shannon, but that’s it, nothing more, not even her parents’ first names. So when I stumbled across the short video below about an early morning spent by a fellow in a canoe on the River Shannon, I was sure enough pleased. It’s just a bit of connection that makes my heart feel good. 🙂
The River Shannon, where my grandmother was born, is in the Republic of Ireland which is not part of Great Britain. It’s not ruled by England. The Republic of Ireland is a separate nation unto itself.
[Northern Ireland, on the other hand, is the small northern part of the “island” of Ireland and certainly is part of Great Britain and is ruled by England.]
So my grandmother, Anna, was born in Ireland, somewhere along the banks of the River Shannon.
The River Shannon is the longest river in all of Great Britain (England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland) and the longest river in the independent country of the Republic of Ireland as well.
The River Shannon is so large and so important that it first appeared on Graeco-Egyptian maps around 150 AD. The River Shannon is said to begin in “Shannon pot”, a small pool (photo below) that feeds into underground limestone caves near the town of Derrylahan on the side of Cuilcagh Mountain in County Cavan, after which the water surfaces and becomes the young River Shannon, a beautiful small trout stream.
Kingfishers (called Cruidin in Ireland) are native to Ireland and live up and down the length of the River Shannon (and all other waterways in Ireland). Irish legend says that Kingfishers were the first two birds to fly from Noah’s ark after the flood. The variety that lives in Ireland is the Common Kingfisher. It’s said they received the orange color on their breast from the setting sun, and the blue coloring on their backs from the blue Irish sky. Kingfishers are considered a symbol of peace, promising prosperity, and love.
Vikings settled along the River Shannon in the 10th century and used the river to raid the rich monasteries deep inland. I have a bit of “Viking” DNA in me too (Norway and Denmark) so this may be where that DNA came from.
According to Irish mythology (or factual history!) ….
The River Shannon was named after a woman named Sionann (older spelling: Sínann or Sínand), the granddaughter of Lir. She went to Connla’s Well (possibly where Shannon Pot is today), not to find power but to find wisdom, despite being warned not to approach it. She caught and ate the Salmon of Wisdom who swam there, and she became the wisest being on Earth. However, the well then burst forth, taking Sionann and carrying her out to sea, creating the River Shannon. The drowning of a goddess in a river is common in Irish mythology and typically represents the dissolving of her divine power into the water, which then gives life to the land. A small myth of Sionann tells that the legendary hunter-warrior Fionn mac Cumhaill was attacked by a number of warriors at Ballyleague near north Lough Ree. It is said that when Fionn was near defeated, Sionann arrived with the Stone of Sionann and rescued Fionn by giving him the stone. Fionn threw the stone and the warriors were immediately killed. However, Fionn was afraid of the power of the stone so he then threw the stone into the river, where it remains today at a low, shallow spot in the river, where the river can be forded on foot. It is known that if a woman named Be Thuinne finds the stone, then the world’s end is near.
There are many more legends, lots of history, that travel along and surround the River Shannon.
In the song/video below, one line says “from here you start your odyssey”. I suspect the author of the song probably meant the odyssey or the journey of the River Shannon, but I know that my grandmother Anna, who was born and raised on the banks of the River Shannon, started her journey here as well.
Sometimes, in the evening, here at home, I get curious and go online and go looking for things of interest. I look for videos about other countries and cultures, other music, languages, people, science, farming, art, and I look for videos about the land and nature around the world. People are wonderful the world over. Yes, there are the odd folk who aren’t so pleasant, but sure and begorrah most folks are good and kind and pleased to have a chat. The first name on my very own birth certificate is “Anna”, just like my Irish grandmother’s name.
I don’t know what the words in the song below translate to in English. I don’t think I need to know. I think they speak of love and of missing someone.
Somewhere, wherever she is, my grandmother Anna knows that I think of her and love her.
Loved every bit of this!
🙂 Thanks Marge.
That river is beautiful, what a history (whether “myth” or fact). Really interesting. I used to canoe, this makes me want to again.
Me too. I’ve kayaked, but not for a number of years. Gotta get out on the water again, Ben!
The loss of someone dear to you, even if you never met them, is huge. It meant a lot to me that you shared this. It made me feel just a little bit, well, more ok, I guess. I don’t want to make this a downer, but I do want to thank you for sharing your feelings. It helps. And I loved that Kingfisher video! 🙂
The loss of someone we love is so hard. I’m glad this blog gave you something that helps, not erases, just helps a bit. And yes, weren’t those Kingfishers spectacular!
I lost my mum three years ago. Thank you Greg. My mum was part Irish. Indeed, a small world and a kinder one by the people here on this blog. Thank you Ann.
I’m sorry you lost your mum, Henry. She was part Irish! That’s great! 🙂 We all connect in so many good ways with other people, don’t we? I’m glad you’re here Henry.
Really beautiful. I loved the canoe on the river. Last night I slept in the backyard in a tent, and this morning the birds were like he described. So wonderful. Have you been there? I think it might be magical to walk along the river, thinking about your grandmother.
Oh that canoe video was gorgeous. I haven’t slept outside in decades, maybe I should try it! My trailer is great but it is definitely “indoors”.
I have not been to Ireland. Since I first learned that my grandmother was born/raised on the River Shannon, I’ve always thought of going there, partly to see if I can find more information but mostly just to see the river … and listen to the birds that she must have listened to.
This was so sweet. Brought a tear to my eye but it also made me happy. Loved the Kingfisher video. I loved all the videos, and your connection with your grandmother, how special even tho you never met her.
Thanks Ruby. I even had a tear in my eye while I was writing this blog post. 🙂 The videos are so beautiful. While writing the blog post, I kept wishing my grandmother could be sitting here with me, telling me her stories. Sigh.
I didn’t know any of my grandparents, three were from Scotland and one was Danish. This was really special, made me appreciate them. Yes, the Kingfishers! The story of the beginnings (the true beginnings by the woman Sionann) of the River Shannon in Ireland is magnificent. Why these histories are called “myth” is beyond me. 🙂
That’s great ancestry, I’d bet you have a Viking or two in your ancestry. 🙂 For my part, I didn’t realize how important it was to get the stories from my parents and aunts and uncles until after they were gone. I hope you have some stories.
Ha! indeed. The word “myth” seems out of place! This is factual history, no?
Bless you Auntie for sharing this bit of our shared family history! I love our Irish ancestry and Celtic music on the Harp is running deep within my heart.
Love, hugs & more from Sister & me❣️
The music plays on the strings of our hearts, yes? Love you both madly. 🙂
Magical!
Oh yes!
I liked your blog post about Scotland and indigenous people. And this one too. Every human being has ancestors, has a connection to a certain piece of land, a place, on this earth, even if an island in the ocean. Maybe we each don’t know what or where that place is, maybe we’ve lost track of it. But we still have it inside us. You are Scottish and Irish. I am Sioux. Someone else is Peruvian or Thai or Ukrainian or Congolese or native Australian. It means a lot to me that you love your grandmother tho you never met her. She knows. She knows. With your blog post, I have hope for the world. Thank you. Magical indeed. 🙂
Well said, Sesapa! Thank you. And thank you for knowing that she knows. With your comment, I have hope, too. 🙂
I don’t have a clue who my ancestors are, none of us kept track. But I’ve sent email to young relatives who might be digital savvy. This was one cool story! I might buy a canoe in the near future. 🙂
Oh Nebraska, I would like to share my ancestors with you so you can have some. My ancestors are great and they would love you! I hope your younger folk can find stuff out. Keep after them. They may not realize how important this will feel later on, you know how young folks are. 🙂 Buy a canoe, find a river, imagine what wonderful ancestors you have.
Oh the light and the birds and the music and the river, and your grandmother. I like to think she looked at the same parts of the river as was in these videos, some of them anyway. Have you been there? Another reader said this brought tears but also brought happiness, me too. This was really special.
I haven’t been to Ireland (yet), but I hope to go one of these days. These videos sure make me want to go. The loss of not knowing hardly anything about my grandmother (not even a photo) … and the joy of knowing where she came from and knowing that she and I have the same name … well, it’s a package isn’t it? Just like life is a package. Thanks Ruth. 🙂
Lovely!
🙂