Our Irish Heritage




	The Seanchie: Helen M. Houlihan


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Our Irish Heritage

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A few years ago I purchased this print from Edmund Sullivan because I think it may well be his interpretation of the Thomas Hannifin cottage in Emlaghslat, Ventry. [Mary Hannifin's Houlihan's birth place, literally.] Why? Over the past 25-30 years I have been to what is left of the homestead many times. I can not help but see the similarity between Sullivan's print and what appears to be how the Hannifin site would have looked perhaps 100 years ago. Unfortunately, the site has deteriorated considerably since I first visited and doesn't resemble the orginal as much. However, here is the clincher- when my wife and I were looking to purchase property in the area we looked at a lot that had another lot adjacent to it that had just been purchased by , you guessed it, Edmund Sullivan. Sullivan's lot was within walking distance of the old Hannifin site!!!

The Hannifin Cottage in Emlaghslat circa 1872?

Click on picture to go to Artist site.

Do did you know:
1.The direct descendants of Mary Hannifin Houlihan number 77. These include her children, grandchildren, great-grandchlidren and great/great grandchildren.
2.That she probably had no more than a 5th or 6th grade formal education.
3. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren hold numerous bachelor, master and doctoral degrees.

4. That her grandson "Jackie" was her absolute favorite grandchild.

Hey, go figure this. Mary Hannifin and Patrick Houlihan get, maybe, what amounts to a 6^th grade education in Ireland. Life in Ireland is difficult and holds little promise for any future. They emigrate to America, marry, and have four children. Patrick dies early on and Mary raises the four with help from her own daughter, Mary. A good part of the reason they left family, friends and country is because of the economic problems foisted on Ireland by the English. Bonnie Ryder [ Dennis and Peggy's daughter and Mary and Patrick's great-grand daughter] literally is in the same sophomore class with the future king of England, Prince Wm. at St. Andrew's College in Scotland. Like I said "go figure" and God bless America! This is truly the land of opportunity for all of us who are their descendents. Best. Jack

Dingle Harbour

The City of Dreams

In my corner of the world

New York goes about its business

With tall buildings scraping the sky

Disappearing into the fresh fluffy clouds

Different races interacting with life

And living an adventure everyday

Words printed creatively on billboards

With puns and adjectives

Then the noise comes

Buses, cars, and people are heard

The yellow taxis line the streets

And add spectacular color to the city

Like worker bees in a hive

The people scurry to make a living

Whether they are a lawyer or a

Supermarket cashier they help

Make up New York,

The City of Freedom.

At dark,

Signs flash with

Lights of color

They are New Yorks nighttime sun,

With every precaution taken

New York becomes a

Home to everyone everywhere

Welcoming anyone to its beauty

This is America

Written by:

Kate Houlihan Ryder

Mary Hannifin and

Patrick Houlihan's

great-granddaughter age 10