HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY
May the luck of the Irish be with you! If you’re enough lucky to be Irish...you’re lucky enough! And, if you’re enough lucky to be a Ramona man...you’re truly lucky enough!
With Saint Patrick’s Day approaching, this lucky Irish-American lass thought she’d share a bit of her ancestry. You’ve probably wondered where this magical creature came from, so consider this a glimpse into my lineage- one filled with rebellious spirits, defiant escapes, and a touch of old-world charm. Some of us even fought at union soldiers in the Civil War, but I digress…
My family came to Brooklyn in the 1800s, before Ellis Island, and remained rooted in New York for generations. Most of my Irish lineage hails from Northern Ireland, particularly County Monaghan, where my great-great-great-grandfather arrived from in 1837. He married twice- his first wife tragically dying in childbirth- before settling down with my great-great-great-grandmother. Some of my ancestors were Scottish settlers in Ulster, staunch Presbyterians, while others were English Protestants likely from Berkshire. And yet, true to the unpredictable nature of Irish history, my family mixed both Catholic and Protestant bloodlines over time.
Then there’s Patrick, my Irish Catholic ancestor from County Cork, whose rebellious streak might explain mine. As a boy, he adored his preist uncle’s horse, spending every free moment at his side. His family assumed this devotion meant he was destined for the priesthood and sent him off to seminary at Maynooth- without asking him. Patrick, refusing to accept his fate, secretly wrote to his cousin in Brooklyn, who sent him the £5 he needed to escape. He jumped ship to America, took a job with the City of Brooklyn, married an Irish-born woman, and built a successful life.
On the other side, there’s a mix of Irish, English, and French blood, including a distant connection to Niki de Saint Phalle- perhaps the source of the many artists in my family. But enough about me- tell me about your lineage at our next meeting. After all, heritage is meant to be shared… along with a bit of Irish mischief. May you live to be 100 years, with one extra year to repent—so come behave badly with your favorite Mistress. Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!
Your Mistress,
Ramona Ryder
Kiss my Irish ass!
