At a local pub in Deadwood, SD
Matt and Ann Smith
St. Patrick had a special meaning to our families over the centuries, and his relationship with our families has been recorded to the time he walked the plains of ancient Ireland::
- St. Patrick’s chariot broke down in Agabog, Monaghan, and the people of this area helped repair his wheel and axel. Agabog is where our Smith and Greenan families lived.
- St. Patrick's journals stated that he baptized two kings of Ireland: Dungalach, king of Connaught; and Crimthann, son of Enna, the ruler of Leinster. Crimthann was one of our great ancestors who lived around 350 A.D., and whose progeny were the Ryans of Carlow and Tipperary
Even in America, St. Patrick has had a special meaning to our family. The churches the Smiths attended in Brooklyn and Wisconsin were named after this patron saint. The church that Batt and Eliza Ryan were married in was called St. Patricks Catholic church. When the McGonigles lived in Leadville, they lived behind the Catholic Church on 6th Street, and must have been familiar with this scene that took place every year:
"East 6th Street was always exciting especially on St. Patrick's Day. All the good sons of Erin would dress up in their Sunday best, attend the 9:00 o'clock mass, then walk to their favorite pub where they would fortify their courage. Once fortified, they would line the sidewalk on East Sixth. On the opposite side of the street the Orangemen (Protestants) would be doing likewise. The festivities began with name-calling, and it was not long before the middle of he street was filled with fighting sons of the green and the orange...win, lose, or draw it was a grand day for the Irish."
Ann, Matt, and I spent today recovering from the Deadwood St. Patrick's Day festivities yesterday. We participated in the pub crawl in the afternoon. The pub crawl is fun because it attracts folks of all ages - our clan's oldest member was around 80. We missed the parade - it must have lasted 10 minutes because we only went to the room for about 15. But we found the Saloon #10 that night and met more interesting folks. We had a lot of fun. Would be nice if more of us could enjoy it next year. (Merida)
(left). The St Patrick Day parade in Deadwood