tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6875529476113835592.post6563159035077700230..comments2024-01-12T19:09:03.990+10:00Comments on That Moment in Time: MOVING ONCrissoulihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148084999701286044noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6875529476113835592.post-79836796238684070622013-11-11T16:01:49.790+10:002013-11-11T16:01:49.790+10:00James, my grandmother's family were the same.....James, my grandmother's family were the same... they also held wakes. It must have been so hard to watch them leave, one by one, or with mine, sometimes two at once. The girls seemed to leave in pairs... at one stage, there were three siblings here, two brothers, one sister. One brother was killed in a tree felling accident, the next two to come were to be my grandmother-to- be and her sister. They came via New Zealand and the sister stayed there, as one brother was already living there and she thought he might be lonely. So, with the comings and goings, we ended up with two girls and the dead brother in Australia, a brother and sister in NZ, one brother in the US ... but various others moved between Australia and the US, living for short times, before returning to Ireland. It has been a real challenge to keep up with their travels.<br /><br />As far as I know, my Greek grandfather was the only one of his siblings to come to Australia, though one brother moved to the US, however, several of my grandmother's siblings left Greece for Australia.<br /><br />I have an Irish cousin who came out here for a while, but had to go back to Ireland, but he'll return as soon as he is able to... as you say, there is little work there, and many friends have children who had to leave and head here. <br /><br />At least we now are able to keep in touch, something our ancestors weren't able to do.<br /><br />Thanks for your comments...<br />Crissoulihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10148084999701286044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6875529476113835592.post-73541426453277873952013-11-11T15:01:17.030+10:002013-11-11T15:01:17.030+10:00Chris, in the old days when a family member left I...Chris, in the old days when a family member left Ireland they were waked by their family. They knew they would not likely ever see them again. It was such a stretch to save up the fare to America, it was not easy to think that could be repeated but for two fares. My grandfather came to NY in 1907. His sister came a few years later. I have yet to find her as she did not marry. I always have just few leads to chase down. <br /><br />But just to put a cap on this, I met my dad's cousin Michéal in Clare, and he mentioned coming over to the states in 1980 and visiting my parents in Los Angeles. My dad asked about his Aunt Noni, so Michéal checked on her and she said she was very sad as she hadn't heard from that part of the family for a very long time and she wondered what had happened to them. In fact Michéal did not to my knowledge tell my dad what he found out from Noni. Strange how that is. I suppose it would have been difficult to tell on a long distance call or a letter. <br /><br />It was all so sad for so many, even today there are precious few jobs in Ireland, the children stay long enough to graduate from college and then leave for where they can find employment. I know my cousin Jim's daughter left to be with her family as her husband got a job in Northern Africa. It is a tough life but they do get back to Ireland several times a year and it is such a celebration. I was fortunate to be on hand for two of those occasions. <br /><br />We are so lucky in USA and Australia that there are usually jobs for the college graduates. Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08795216622221371743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6875529476113835592.post-15093582296111448202013-11-10T16:48:33.757+10:002013-11-10T16:48:33.757+10:00Thank you, Sharon. There is nothing like the pull ...Thank you, Sharon. There is nothing like the pull of family ties to give you a sense of belonging. It may be felt at times, by simply going to a place that your family once lived... I guess we all need to belong.<br /><br />It's great that your husband was able to meet with his family.<br /><br />Thank you for taking the time to comment.Crissoulihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10148084999701286044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6875529476113835592.post-88791276962881344292013-11-10T14:54:13.797+10:002013-11-10T14:54:13.797+10:00Very well written. I have had the same thoughts.
...Very well written. I have had the same thoughts.<br /><br />My husband is a first generation Aussie (his brother was born overseas). My husband had often commented on his lack of family in Australia and had an amazing time when we went to Germany and he was able to meet his cousins, Aunts and Uncles. He felt at home immediately.Sharonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06636761469099608281noreply@blogger.com