The Far West Of Ireland

My grandmother came from County Mayo. Her last name was Walsh. Nana sailed to Boston at the age of fourteen. That ocean voyage was so traumatic that she never returned to Ireland, even though my mother and her sisters often offered to fly Nana to Shannon.

"I don't want to travel on that sea again."

"Planes don't float on the sea. They fly in the sky," explained my mother.

"I know that, but once over the ocean is fine enough for me."

She had a way with words and thanks to her blood that I was granted Irish citizenship under the 'born abroad' program. My cousin Oil Can also has his passport.

Members of my family have traveled to the Republic. I stayed in Ballyconneeley for over four months. It was the coldest autumn of my life.

Most recently I served as unofficial writer in residence at a diplomatic posting smack in the center of Europe. Madame l'Ambassador introduced me to the visiting dignitaries as her Irish artist. One British minister was suspicious of my origins and asked, "In what part of Ireland do they speak with that accent?"

"The Far West." My Irish passport in my pocket was proof of my claim.

"Which is?" He wanted the name of the town.

"Boston."

"That's in America."

"Only for those that aren't Irish. For the rest of us there it's the Fada An tIarthar and we celebrate St. Patrick's on the same day as the redcoats evacuated the city for good. It's the best of days."

The British minister said nothing, but Madame l"Ambassador stood up for me. "He's only Half-Irish, but his accent in 100% Far West." We are longtime friends. She had been to Boston with me. It's a lovely town on the water.