Is That Childhood Story Blarney?

I was reading around my Suite 101 editors area and came across a Childhood Memories Event. Instantly the thought of Irish storytelling came to mind. It's hard to tell if storytelling is a blessing on the Irish race or a curse. It had to have filled up long boring nights or long rainy days. Whatever the reasons the storytelling began, the fact is, the stories get better and better with each telling to each new Irish descended generation.

What's this got to do with Irish genealogy you ask? Well, when Irish emigrants came to the states, or other places, they certainly didn't abandon the storytelling practice that was so engrained in their culture. Instead, what our emigrant ancestors seem to have done is accommodate their leaving Ireland into tales that often twist Myth, legend, fantasy and reality into a learning experience. The stories quite often hold some threads of truth between the flights of fancy. They also tend to give us a glimpse at the unique Irish people and culture. That is if you know what you are looking for.

It's worth noting that much of the older genealogies in Ireland were oral and not without a lot of mystical magical turns. Come on folks, do you think the the Irish lass Etain, that has a long oral genealogy in the myths of Ireland, was actually turned into a moth and eaten by the queen and birthed again into a princess of Tara, then carried away to the fairy Tir na nOg [land of youth]??? Nah..I don't think so..well..emmmm....hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....maybe!!!!!!

Your job is to get as insightful as possible and discover the truths within the stories. Never dismiss them because you may overlook a valuable tool for learning about your family and your "lost culture." My advice while interviewing your Irish Grandparents is to try unlocking the puzzles within the tales told to you.

One of my family "stories" seems to have taken the typical twisty-turny path through myth, legend, lore, truth and back again. Here is an abbreviated version of the tale.

Once long ago there lived a small boy on a brooding troubled Emerald Isle. People were falling ill all over the Island and the crops were failing. The family was quite worried and decided it was better for the wee one to go live with his sister. He was packing his belongings into a satchel, for the long ship voyage to America, when there appeared a tiny gray-haired man. The man whispered , "My name is Seamus. Long ago I became indebted to your family. I have swore allegiance and vowed to protect the family treasure for all it's generations. I'm going with you to America because you are the sole remaining son."

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