My Big, Green Irish Vacation

My husband is such a tease.

No, not in the way you might think.

You see, he KNOWS how much I want to travel to Ireland. So he keeps forwarding these emails to me from Aer Lingus advertising airfare sales to Ireland, knowing full well that we can't go right now. I don't even know why he gets those emails in the first place, now that I think of it. Probably just so he can be a pest and forward them to me.

But all teasing aside, I do hope that we'll be able to get to Ireland while I'm still young enough to enjoy it (and before my daughter is old enough to hate family vacations).

I want the full tour: shamrocks, warm Guinness, plunging cliffs, crumbling castles, old cemeteries, and stuff made from wool. Yes, I know that's kind of vague, but I'm jut not very picky. I want it all.

Plus, I don't have a lot of leads as to where my Irish ancestors originated from.

However, a couple of places that do need to be on my all-inclusive Ireland tour include:

• County Clare - home of my McGraws and Genans

• Belfast - suspected home of my elusive Delaneys

I'd also like to hop over to Scotland for a cruise to the Orkney Islands, but that's a post for another day.

For now, I'll just dream of that big, green airplane in the sky, and wish I was on one.

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Written for the 14th Edition, Carnival of Irish Heritage and Culture: Irish Vacations.

Copyright © by Elizabeth O'Neal

Wordless Wednesday: Great-Grandpa Frank

Swanay, Frank. Photograph. Undated. Digital image. Privately held by [NAME AND ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Benton Co., Washington. 2009.

About Wordless Wednesday.

Copyright © by Elizabeth O'Neal

Wordless Wednesday: DAR HQ Gets a Facelift

"DAR Headquarters Renovation Project" (Washington, District of Columbia). Photographed by Elizabeth O’Neal, July 10, 2009.

About Wordless Wednesday.

Copyright © by Elizabeth O'Neal

Elizabeth Goes to Washington

Well, my gowns and gloves are packed, and I'm ready to go. This morning, I'm off to Washington, DC, for the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)'s 118th Continental Congress. It's kind of like the Super Bowl of lineage society events, if you know what I mean.

You can read about my trip last year here.

I decided to spend a few extra days there in order to do some genealogical research at the DAR Library, and possibly the National Archives, something I usually don't have time to do. Am I more prepared than I was last year? Not really. I guess I'm just going to have to wing it (I know, I know: where's my research plan, right?).

Even if I'm genealogically disappointed, I'm looking forward to seeing old friends, meeting new ones, and having an exciting week. As a stay-at-home mom, I don't get to play dress-up (for real) very often.

I'll be Tweeting using the hashtag #darcc09, so you can follow the fun, if you like. I encourage anyone else attending to also use this hashtag so we can keep up with each other!

And to DAR Geneabloggers: how many of you be there, too? I know of at least 2 of you, so let's plan a GB meet-up! Leave me a comment or send me an email with suggestions for when/where we should meet. My suggestion is either before Opening Night, when we're all gussied up in our glittery finest, or at the National Defense Luncheon, or _____??? This is an extremely busy week for everyone, so let me know what works for you.

Safe trip to everyone heading to DC this week!

Copyright © by Elizabeth O'Neal

Celebrating Independence Day

On this anniversary of America's Independence, our family would like to wish a safe and happy 4th of July to all of our readers.

Our family's (known) Revolutionary War patriot ancestors:

• Burwell Blanton (NC)
• Simon Herring (NC)
• William Hughes (VA)
• Isham Lane (NC)
• Henricus Stonecypher (NC)
• Leroy Taylor (NC)
• William Underhill (NC)

Our prayers go with our current service men and women, who risk their lives daily in support of freedom. You are not forgotten. May you come home safely to your loved ones as soon as possible.

Copyright © by Elizabeth O'Neal