of Irish and Amish

Since St. Patrick's day is tomorrow, I've been thinking Irish! I'm lucky enough to know a little about my Irish heritage. In the book Rosanna of the Amish, the story is told how Bridget O'Connor and her brothers John and William came to America. Bridget married an Irishman, Pat McGonegal, and four children were born to them. Before Pat married he worked in Pennsylvania and boarded with an Amish woman. After their marriage, Pat and Bridget lived with this Amish woman, Elizabeth Yoder, until they were able to find a home of their own. They remained friends with Elizabeth, who taught Bridget many homemaking skills. Unfortunately, Bridget died after the birth of her fourth child, Rosanna. During her illness and death, Bridget was cared for by Elizabeth, who also took care of her baby. Pat decided to take his three oldest children to live with relatives in Philadelphia and leave Rosanna with Elizabeth. From time to time, Elizabeth would receive letters from Pat, but eventually they stopped coming and she felt something must have happened to him. When Rosanna was nine years old, her older brother William came to visit and confirmed that Pat was killed while working in a gravel mine. William intended to take Rosanna back with him, but Rosanna did not want to leave Elizabeth, whom she called "Momly" and the only home she had ever known. So she stayed and was raised as an Amish girl. At some point, they moved to the Amish settlement in the Big Valley (Belleville) where Rosanna married and had children of her own. Rosanna was my great-great-great-great grandmother. Her youngest son, Joseph, wrote the book Rosanna of the Amish, which is a very interesting story that gives a true view into Amish life.

When I was in 4th or 5th grade, my teacher read us this book, and it was arranged for our class to make a trip to Belleville and see some of the landmarks associated with Rosanna. One of the houses she lived in is still standing, and we also visited her gravesite. Afterwards, we went to my Grandma Byler's for a traditional Amish church meal of bean soup, moon pies, white pickles, and cold cuts. I grew up eating this food whenever we visited Grandpa Byler's, and to this day, I consider it delicious. To those who didn't grow up with it though, the bean soup can be rather off-putting. It's made with milk and white beans (no meat) and you put chunks of day-old dry bread in it as you eat it, along with a sprinkle of allspice, if you like. Moon pies are basically half moon shaped dried apple pies. My grandma makes the absolute best! 

I've always wanted to go to Ireland, and recently decided I'm going to do it! We're hoping to go sometime next year. I want to see Killarney, where my ancestors came from, and experience the Emerald Isle. 

According to legend, St. Patrick explained the holy Trinity using a shamrock, or young clover. It is rather disappointing that this missionary's life is celebrated among the world by drinking and partying. 

I'll end with an Irish blessing.