Agonotheta

St. Patrick's Day

March 17, 2004

Sometime in the 19-teens (1910-1919), Christopher Fitzgerald O'Callahan left his native Ireland and set sail for America. He was just a young boy, leaving a prosperous Irish family because of some family problems, and willing to try his luck in the States. Later in life, he joked that he dropped the "O" in the ocean when he changed his name to Callahan, but in reality shortened it to appear less Irish. He settled in Rhode Island for a time, made his way to California, met my Grandmother Ella and bore a daughter Sharon. Sharon, married my father and birthed a son. Me.

I love my Irish descendancy and all that it stands for. Maybe someday, if you're lucky, you'll hear the story of the origin of the name Neil.

So, here's an Irish toast for you today:

The race of men named the Gael,
Is a race God surely made mad.
For all of their wars are merry
And all of their loves are sad.

Sláinte and Erin Go Bragh!