As I began researching my family history, I found that my family on all sides has deep roots in America. It took awhile before I found a generation that stretched across "the pond". But I never found any individuals born in Ireland or even leaving an Irish port to come to America. I began to question my Irish heritage. Maybe I wasn't as Irish as I thought (or had been led to believe).
As of today, I have only found one direct ancestor who was born in Ireland. I have to go back 6 generations before I find Charlotte Townsend who was born in Ireland in 1780. However, both her parents were likely born in England. Does this even count as an Irish ancestry? If so, those Irish roots are not very deep at all. I have found a Joseph Murphy in my family tree. Murphy is an Irish surname but he is my 7th great-grandfather and he was born in Kentucky in 1744. I have not found a reliable record to trace his parents so I don't know how far back his Irish roots extend. The search continues for a reliable Irish ancestor. When I find one, it will surely be many generations ago.
So the question remains, am I Irish? Maybe, but I'm definitely not very Irish at all. I feel sort of disappointed by this realization and St. Patrick's Day is no longer "my holiday". I'm very German so I can totally get into Oktoberfest, which lasts a whole month!
