I have been wanting to get Ireland colored in on my TravelFeed world map for ages. I have only ever been there once, for a couple of days a long time ago back in 1991 but I still think it counts and I would love to have some way to remember it. I am a bit disappointed with my self for backpacking that far back in the 90s but not really documenting it. I have a few things and photos from other parts of my backpacking trip through Asia to Europe but just noting at all from the few days I spent in Dublin. I could not even find a passport stamp though I may not have needed on as I was travelling on a British passport at the time.
I visited and stayed with some relatives in Rhyl in the north of Wales before catching a train to Holy head and then the ferry to Dublin. I stayed at the Youth Hostel for 7 pounds per night, One of the only things I still have is the stamp in old YHA booklet.
I did a quick google and it looks like the hostel has closed but the building is still there.
I back in those days I was pretty good a chatting and mixing in with other travelers to see and visit the local tourist attractions in town, I distinctly remember having quite a few drinks in a small little pub that was playing all the Irish music, maybe that why I am struggling to remember much else of the trip.
Not having any photos of my own for my old trip means I have got these more present day shots from unsplashed.
One of the reason for my little side trip was visiting a few places that show up on my family history tree. A DNA report I had done recently shows I am 12 percent Irish. My dad used to talk about some Irish relatives but struggled to explain the connection until I got my Grand fathers birth certificate which led me to finding my great grand parents and great great grand parents on the English census records. This in turn stated that one set of my 16 great great grand parents was indeed born in Ireland.
Matthew Horan and Maria Docherty were recorded born in 1835 in Ireland on the census and would have probably travelled to Manchester in England during the Industrial age or the potato famine in Ireland looking for work.
Matthew and Maria had a daughter Julianna who's son Frederick is in the photo above with the slick looking mustache. photo is from about 1914.
My cousin has a lot more Irish ancestors than me and help with the research on our common Irish descendants. He found a good match for a Matthew and Maria in some church records in Kilcloon situated in the south-east of County Meath in Ireland.
So my Great grand father married Julianna Horan in 1883 after doing some time in the army (1875) and being stationed in Cork, Ireland . First up I thought they meet while he was in the army over there but the census records already had the Horan's in Manchester at that time. My Great grand father was born in Norfolk in England but I found it interesting that different people moved from different places then settled in the same area probably all chasing work. When I was growing up I just assumed all my ancestors where just from the same place in England.
.
View this post on TravelFeed for the best experience.