Happy St. Patrick's Day 2000

This Page is Dedicated to my Daddy

George Leo Foley
June 23, 1910 - November 11, 1973


Man of God, Loving Husband, Father Par Excellence
Sacrificial Provider, A Passionate Man, A Kind Man
George Foley, the Humble Tenor Loved By All
A true "Gentleman"
An extraordinary man who believed that it was a special blessing to be born Irish


Top of the mawrnin' to ye, Daddy!


Me & Daddy, August, 1957
I still miss you and I love you, Daddy!


To all our Precious Family and Cherished Friends

"Cead Mile Failte"

(A Hundred Thousand Welcomes)

Here we are back again for St. Patrick's Day 2000. Whether you are Irish or just wish you were, I hope you enjoy my "Wearin' of the Green" page. Since I am a full-blooded Irishwoman (that does allow me all the privileges), I would like to share with you some of my heritage as well as a few stories, poetry and folklore which I heard as I was growing up.

   


To My Family -- Our Irish Heritage
Our maternal grandfather, James Laverty, was born in 1884 shortly after his parents came to America from Glascow, Scotland. Our maternal grandmother, Ellen "Nellie" Barry, was born in 1877, shortly after her parents came to America from County Cork, Ireland. Nellie and James grew up together in the "Steel City" and married in an Irish Catholic Church in the early 1900's. James died on January 6, 1935, and Ellen died on November 13, 1943.

             





Our paternal grandfather, John Foley, was born in Ireland approximately 1880. He married Catherine Wickam Mulkern and the young couple came to America where they lived in the "Steel City" while John worked for the railroad. John died December 7, 1942. Catherine, who was born on December 24, around
the year 1880, died on April 4, 1952.





Dear Jack, Mary Ellen, George, Jim & Fran:
Here is where the most important part of our history began! August 5, 1936 -- Margaret Elizabeth Laverty wed George Leo Foley at St. Kieran's Church in Lawrenceville. We Foleys have so very much to be thankful for and to be proud of. We may not have been showered with material blessings, but we had what we needed. Even in the toughest times Mom & Dad made sure we had that which was important: faith and love for the Lord, a stong heritage, and most important-loads of love. Though the Good Lord chose to take them to heaven at an early age, He left these two wonderful parents with us on this green earth until each of us had come of age. I can visualize them now, comfortably seated in that Mansion God prepared for them, awaiting our arrival one of these days. They are probably perched around the card table deeply engulfed in a game of "500" with Sr. Helen Mary and Ann Schaefers. I can almost hear the echo of Dad's whistling -- silenced only by his question: "Are ye painted over there, partner?" Though they are gone from sight they are with us in spirit every day of our lives, as long as we continue to breathe. If we listen carefully and watch attentively, we can see them in the little ones of "The Foley Clan" as they are growing up. I am saddened that I cannot physically share St. Patrick's day with each of you, but I wish you and your families a wonderful and blessed St. Patrick's Day 2000!

Love, Prayers and Blessings,
From Your Sister, Cathy
PS: Don't forget to make your green cake or Ann will be back to haunt you!




St. Patrick
May St. Patrick guard you wherever
you go and guide you in
whatever you do--and may his loving
protection be a blessing to you always.

St. Patrick's Day is Ireland's greatest national holiday as well as a holy day. The date marks the anniversary of the death of the missionary who became the patron saint of Ireland. It is a happy holiday for the Irish wherever they may be - in Dublin, New York City, Boston, Austin, San Francisco, York, Pittsburgh, or even Dixonville. The Irish celebrate with many festivities such as parades. Everyone wears green on St. Patrick's Day, even those whose forefathers never touched the shores of Ireland.


A Blessing from Saint Patrick
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields and,
Until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.



The Leprechaun
Near a misty stream in Ireland in the hollow of a tree
Live mystical, magical leprechauns
who are clever as can be.
With their pointed ears, and turned up toes and
little coats of green
The leprechauns busily make their shoes and
try hard not to be seen.
Only those who really believe have seen these little elves
And if we are all believers
We can surely see for ourselves.





An Old Irish Wedding Blessing

May God be with you and bless you.
May you see your children's children.
May you be poor in misfortune,
rich in blessings.
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.

"May you be in heaven a half hour
before the devil knows you're dead."





The Shamrock
There's a dear little plant that grows in our isle
'Twas Saint Patrick himself sure that set it.
And the sun on his labor with pleasure did smile,
And a tear from his eyes oft-times wet it.
It grows through the bog, through the brake, through the mireland.
And they call it the dear little Shamrock of Ireland.

Happy St. Patrick's Day 2000

To All of Our Friends and Family!

Erin Go Bragh!

Top O' the Mornin'

From Our Cottage in God's Wildwoods to Yours!
With Love, From Cathy & Wayne


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This page designed and created by Cathy, The StampLady.
Last updated March 17, 2000