I have a mix on my father's side of English and Irish. The family is mixed with Scots here and there after coming to the colonies, but the original clan is Irish - one of the few that remained with an ancestry that goes back centuries. Not many in Ulster do. The English were brutal and unfortunately they finished what the clan fighting started. From what I understand, the landscape of my ancestors did not make things easy for others to take over - they had some good defensive strategic positions. Then again, we can never underestimate just plain old politics. One of my ancestors, a clan head, married a daughter of Edward I - better known as Longshanks from Braveheart fame. Their European royal connections brought with it certain perks. Staying intact in Ulster being one, and immigration to the colonies was another.

I guess some immigrated to the colonies to get out while the getting was good - the political winds in Europe were a changing and the Brits were fickle as to whether favor would continue. They immigrated and set up homesteads and other operations in the colonies with their wealth rather than stay in Ulster. I actually have one colony born ancestor that was a young drummer for Washington. The Continental army bought his first three drums. He kept getting holes shot in them. The last four he had to purchase himself. Also as a side note, I have a non-Irish ancestor, the son of a Mennonite, that was with Washington when he crossed the Delaware. My father's side of the family has been in the US since the beginning.

Thanks for the update on the Irish political factions all jockeying for position. I always tell people that the appearance of peace in Ireland is only a facade for the tensions that lie underneath - its in our DNA. Lol

I am afraid that the next couple of years could push many long held animosities to break forth in Europe as things degrade. Europeans have been fighting each other for centuries with only short periods of truce. A united Europe is a modern construct held together by mutual financial benefit. When the squeeze happens and that benefit is removed, there will be nothing to hold them together and we may witness those old national rivalries resurface for nationalistic self preservation. The continent once again may find itself in struggle and chaos. I just pray that the Irish find their fighting spirit buried within them so they can survive what is coming. Their geography will protect them to some extent - but they will need to do the rest.