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On my "paternal" side is my immigrant Irish grandmother who was born in Co. Limerick, Éire. On my "maternal" side is my immigrant Irish mother and maternal grandparents born in Co. Sligo, Éire. Here is my story ... My paternal grandmother was an 'Enright' (an anglicized spelling of an ancient Irish surname). In the Irish Language Margaret Enright was known as - Maighréad Nic Ionnrachtaigh and born in Co. Limerick in 1881. The 'Mac Ionnrachtaigh' were also to be found in Co. Clare and were part of the Dál gCais (Dalcassians) under Ireland's High King - Brian Boru. She would emigrate to America at the turn of the century. In America, she became the personal maid to Alice Roosevelt Longfellow. Meanwhile, my paternal grandfather Lars Larson was an immigrant from Norway born in 1884, and a chef on J. P. Lamont's yacht. When both yachts would get together to socialize ... the servants would meet and socialize too. It was there where "Lars met his Irish sweetheart, Margaret". After getting married they had three children and lived in New York City. One of those children was my father, Lawrence, who was therefore '50% Irish & 50% Norwegian' and carried the paternal surname of 'Larson'. Nevertheless, he was proud of both nationalities and eventually married a 100% Irish woman himself. My mother Bridget Hannon - Brighid Ni Annáin emigrated from Co. Sligo, Ireland at the young age of 15 yrs old. She came with her sisters, my uncle and my maternal grandparents in the year 1925. Like other young Irish women who had been leaving Éire in large numbers for decades, it was because Irish males were simply getting married late in life when they had land and a home to offer their bride. Unmarried Irish women at the time wanted to marry and start their families in their twenties, and therefore found emigration a more suitable alternative than waiting. In 1926, Saorstát Éireann (Irish Free State) reported "unmarried" males within these age groups: 25-30 yrs. old (80%), 30-35 yrs. (62%), 35-40 (50%), 55-65 (26%). These numbers reportedly at the time were the highest unmarried male statistics in all of Europe. While in comparison here in the USA the 25-30 yr. old age group unmarried was only 39%. Arriving in America my great Aunt who had preceded my mother to NYC told her, "All the young Irish girls are named Bridget in America. You will have to change your name if you hope to find a man." So she began to use her middle name, 'Agnes', as her forename and years later married my father. They had five children and raised us all on Long Island, NY. When I was old enough to start to see the world, my maternal grandparents and paternal grandmother were already passed. My only 'Irish' influence came from my mother, her sisters and my uncle. For years I recall the St. Patrick's Day Parades as a very big event in my family. The local parade held on Long Island brought out my aunts and my Irish cousins. My mother had her special place right in front of Our Lady of Loretto R.C. Church where she chose to watch the parade annually. It was as if Saint Patrick himself was looking down upon us as we stood in that same location every year. One year as children seem to do, we made my mother late and she lost that perfect spot she had promised to hold for the rest of the family. We never heard the end of that mistake - and consequently we were never late again.
QUESTIONING MY IRISH HERITAGE:
I suppose I should thank, Bill, though for his earlier questioning of myself (and a few of our other Irish classmates that same day). Bill's false belief was based on the flawed theory that the only true Irish surnames were the "Top 100" most 'popular' Irish celtic surnames. Yet to believe that is to ignore completely the other lesser known Celtic surnames that for various reasons have received less publicity. Those surnames in many cases are older than the "Top 100" - and just as Irish if not more so. Beginning research in 2004 and lasting over three years, the University College at Cork found that Ireland was home to 3,700 Irish surnames spelled 11,500 different ways. This as a result of the ancient tribal migrations to Ireland.
CLANN Ó hANNÁIN - O'HANNON:
As President, I have been in touch with Hannons who are descended from Ireland's Wild Geese living throughout Europe. These "Wild Geese Hannons" wish to know more about their Irish ancestry; and in many instances know less than we do because little of Ireland's history was translated into their adopted country's language. Oddly enough, throughout the centuries these descendents of the Wild Geese have kept their Irish surnames while inheriting first names and the languages of the countries that their Wild Geese ancestors had emigrated to some 3 centuries ago. While others living in Australia and beyond have proven to me that the Irish Diaspora is real and far ranging in its scope. Today, the An Taoiseach's Office in Dublin states there are "70 Million Irish Worldwide". That equates to 94% of all persons claiming Irish descent - are actually living today in the Diaspora.
When not attending cultural events, being a flag bearer for the Michael Collins Pipes and Drums, or performing my function as clann President - I am also the DNA Project Administrator for our Irish clann. Most registered genealogical Irish Clanns today are involved in DNA research for their members, through both paternal y-DNA and maternal MT-DNA. With Ireland having experienced four separate celtic migrations beginning nearly Three Milleniums ago, even the Celts in Ireland have some interesting differences. I was able to trace the "maternal" mt-DNA I inherited from my Irish celtic mother -- back 2,500 years ago in Ireland -- yet some geneticists believe that is understated. Professor Bryan Sykes of Oxford University who earlier performed extensive DNA research in Ireland (2006) believes that most maternal (mtDNA) lineages in Ireland are actually older. His research tells him the maternal DNA lineages in Ireland's women are between 6,000 to 7,000 years old.
COLORADO IRISH FESTIVAL:
IRISH NETWORK COLORADO:
TEACH TÁBHAIRNE FÓGRA:
Ken Hannon Larson
[Banner logo includes the ruins in Co. Sligo where my mother was born, and the ruins where my Great Grandfather Patrick Hannon was born in 1840.] |
At Chaminade High School in Mineola NY, I recall being questioned about my Irish heritage on St. Patrick's Day, 1964 by none other than the likes of Bill O'Reilly of Fox News. He questioned me as to why I was wearing "green" stating that he had never heard of "Hannon" as being an Irish surname. Later upon hearing that comment, my Irish mother was so infuriated to the point of wanting to call Mrs. O'Reilly (Bill's mother) on the phone and find out who really was the more Irish mother between them! Next day, when I advised Bill O'Reilly that our mothers needed to speak to each other, he was very reluctant to have that phone call take place. Bill refused to give me his parents' phone number so I guess you could say "that he was just looking out for the folks (his)". Never again would Bill O'Reilly question my Irish heritage. Never again would he question me wearing 'green' on St. Patrick's Day. Years later in 2005 after receiving my dual citizenship "Irish Passport" from the Republic of Ireland, I decided to contact Bill O'Reilly to remind him once again that, Hannon - Ó hAnnáin, is an ancient Irish surname. Not surprisingly, Bill O'Reilly failed to respond to my email.
In 2002, I was one of the founding members of Clann Ó hAnnáin-O'Hannon, and currently President. We are today an international Irish "genealogical clann" with members in 17 countries on 5 continents. Each of our members is seeking knowledge of their own Irish ancestors. Some can easily find it while others do have a more difficult search ahead of them. Our members are not alone since I have personally spoken to many non-Hannon Irish who also are hoping to find at a minimum the location of their ancestral roots.