Reflections on a Celtic heritage.

I haven't done a blog for a few days and yes I am still around. Yesterday afternoon took Mum to a celebration concert put on by the St. Andrews Caledonian Pipe Band. They got her up on stage to recognise her involvement with it as the first woman piper in about 1938. She was really touched. It is funny that I have always felt Scottish and the skirl of the bagpipes always stirs me.

The reality is, however, is that many of my ancestors are in fact Irish. They are in fact on both sides of the border and different religions. Naturally it has caused divisions and animosity within the families. In 1979 I was fortunate that my parents took me to Britain and Europe as part of their long service leave entitlements. I have always identified with Scotland and really felt I belonged, when I was there. Before arriving in Scotland, we went to Eire and I felt uncomfortable as the tour guides were very anti English and pro- Catholic. My parents were nominally Anglicans and rarely attended services. I was a committed Christian but did not make a fuss about it. During the whole 12 week period I only had a very brief meaningful encounter and that was at Iona, known as the sainted isle in the Hebridies.

Despite strongly identifiying with Scotland, I discovered many decades later, that many of my ancestors actually came from Ireland, both North and South. This surprised me as I vividly remember the strong feelings of hate and ethnic division stirred up by my 1979 visit.These divisions were still apparent within my family history. My father was unaware of his father's Irish roots as my grandparents marriage foundered in the 1920's and he was not allowed to have anything to do with his father.

In the final few weeks of his life, I started out the quest to find his family history but sadly was unable to finally complete it before he died early in 2006. I have also developed an interest in Irish history discover for myself my family roots. As somebody has said, you cannot choose your ancestors, you are born into their family line and inherit their DNA.