In 2012, while researching my Irish roots in Canada, I discovered the Ireland Reaching Out (IRO) organization which aims to build links between the Irish diaspora and the civil parishes in Ireland. I responded to their request for stories/information from Irish abroad by writing an article about my great-great grandparents, Patrick and Margaret Heffernan, who emigrated in 1825. My article was based upon a photograph of Patrick’s youngest son, Thomas, and his family. I was pleased to discover that my writing was accepted by IRO and published on their site. For a while, I volunteered for the organization and worked to disseminate information about IRO which even included marching with a banner in the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Vancouver, British Columbia.
In 2018, I travelled to Ireland to research family history for a book that I was writing
about my great-great grandparents’ experiences while journeying to Canada in 1825.
As part of my research, I visited the Cobh Heritage Centre which is located at the port from which they departed never to return. Upon entering the Centre, I paid the entrance fee and was handed a ticket. When I looked at it, I saw that the name Patrick Heffernan was printed on it, and I actually began to feel dizzy. I couldn’t believe my eyes. After staring at the ticket in disbelief for a few seconds, I held it up so the clerk in the ticket booth could see it, and asked,
“Is this for real?”
I felt as if someone was playing a joke/trick on me. The clerk didn’t respond. Then, I
said,
“This has my great-great grandfather’s name on it.”
She remained silent and a confused look came over her. I repeated myself,
“This ticket has my great-great grandfather’s name printed on it.”
I was trying to make sense of it all. Then, I explained my connection to Patrick and the clerk’s eyes began to widen as the strangeness of the situation sunk in. She was as stunned by this fact as I was. However, after a few more seconds, a look of 'I-understand-what-is- happening' came over her. She remembered that the article I had written for IRO about my great-great grandparents had become part of the Heritage Centre’s display, and that Patrick Heffernan was one of the names that had been chosen for tickets.
Recalling that event continues to boggle my mind. It is even more impressive because,
when I paid, the clerk had been holding a bundle of tickets and she could have handed me one from any of a dozen with other names on it. I likely would not have noticed the
significance but, no, she handed me the ticket with Patrick’s name on it!
Cobh Entrance Ticket
M.E. Cooper Photo, April, 2018, All Rights Reserved
Cobh Heritage Centre
M.E. Cooper Photo, April, 2018, All Rights Reserved
Cobh Port, The last port of the Titanic, and for thousands of Irish Emigrants
M.E. Cooper Photo, April, 2018, All Rights Reserved
Cobh Port, the last port of the Titanic, and for thousands of Irish Emigrants
M.E. Cooper Photo, April, 2018, All Rights Reserved
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