Monday, September 18, 2017

94 Years Remembered in 94 Posts-Post 73 (Finding Irish Cousins)

I started my blog when Patrick and I went to Ireland in 2008. When Teresa and I went to Ireland in 1978, we did everything we could to try to find information about Grandma Roughan's family in County Mayo.  There were very few records kept so we didn't have a lot of luck.  

One day I had a comment on one of my posts.   It was from Michelle Knefsay O'Sullivan.  Our great grandmother's name was Knefsay which is not a common name.  And because she couldn't read or write, she never had the exact spelling.

I responded to her but knew that she might not see it as she would have to go back on my blog.  I waited a few weeks and found her phone number and called her.   

We have remained in contact and I absolutely believe that we are distantly related.  She came to Arizona in 2009.  Here is my post from then:


I have a lot to write about for this weekend, but that will have to come later as we have a lot going on over the next few days. Our cousin, Maggie, is getting married in a few hours and we are getting ready to go into Phoenix to St. Mary's Basilica. So many of our wonderful family members are here for this weekend.

For those of you who have followed my blog over the past year and a half, you might recall that because of my blog, I found a cousin in Ireland. Her name is the same as my great grandmother's, Kneafsey, and her family is from County Mayo where my great grandmother came from. Well, she is here for this weekend for Maggie's wedding and to meet our Aunt Teresa and all of the family.

Michele brought pictures from Ireland and a lot of information about our roots. I intend to write much more about this in the next few weeks, as well as write about the wedding. However, I wanted to post this with a picture until I have more time.

It has been wonderful getting to know Michele. She is delightful!!

This picture is from the old Kneafsey homestead in Foxford, County Mayo. It is a picture of the hearth, the heart of the family cottage. This is unbelievable to me for so many reasons.....

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