Genealogy at Its Finest!!

Was today the best day ever, or what?

Did it rain?  Sure it did.....buckets........ as a matter of fact.

Did we get wet?  You betcha!

So, what made the day so wonderful?

We managed to finally meet Annie Harvey Burke!  And, she was SO excited to finally meet us.

After a morning spent touring Donegal town (which I'll have to detail in another blog, later),   we headed to Letterkenny, which is about an hour away from Donegal, to the hospital where Annie had been admitted two days ago.

Two of her daughters were there, Mary and Rose,

and they informed us that nearly everyone in the hospital had been made aware of our impending visit.....thanks to Annie.  We had a grand time discussing the family genealogy, and we soon found visiting hours to be over, and it was time to bid this lovely lady farewell.

Rose was so eager to show us the lands of the Harveys. so we followed her back through Donegal town, out to the little village of Frosses, where we were able to visit the very Church where the Harveys and Burkes had been baptized and married for generations.

Quite simple, but certainly lovely.

She drove us by the dancing hall, where family members would have met so many years ago.

Then we found ourselves driving down a very narrow country road, across an even narrower bridge, up a hill, around some curves, and we stopped at the original Harvey homestead.

No one lives in the home now, and Rose wasn't quite sure who actually owned the land, but it was still awesome to find it still standing.

Then we headed to the house where Annie lives, and right behind it stand the original house where William Harvey, Annie's father was born.  The roof used to be thatched, but was modified over the years.  And, another house stands in front of this one, facing the road, relatively new, overlooking the hills in one direction, and a wee bit of the Atlantic ocean in another.  It place was beautiful inside and out.

The view from the front window makes you wonder why anybody would have wanted to leave.

Several of the Harvey siblings emigrated in the 1890's, but many stayed on the same homestead as well.

Annie married James Burke, and together they had eleven children that they raised on this farm, while carrying for both of their parents in their old age, at the same homestead.  Pretty amazing, if you ask me.

We met Rose, Angela, Mary, Theresa, and Tom as well as Angela and Theresa's husbands.  Rose set out a delightful meal that she had thrown together of scrumptious quiches, brown bread and butter, and of course...tea to go with the meal.  We were amazed at this hospitality, considering the condition of Annie in the hospital and the concern by all for Annie's health.

But, they had promised Annie that they would show us a good time...and so they did.

All joined in the family history discussion around the table, each with their own family tree. Annie has taught them well, and they showed me a book that Annie had put together......brimming with all of the items that genealogists drool over.

There were birth certificates..

and census sheets

marriage licenses

not to mention old family photos

Annie was certain that she saw a strong resemblance between her dad, pictured above on the right, and Marty.  (We'd need a hat, to decide for sure.)  It was the mustache that really intrigued her.

Aye....it was a grand time that we had with this family tonight

and midnight before we actually headed out the door!

oh..... and I almost forgot to mention Annie's wee dog, Darky.

He was extremely eager to meet us as well, and what a sweetie he was!

Yep.......I do have to admit........it was certainly Genealogy at its Finest!