How an Old Irish Song Unraveled a Family Mystery

Sometimes, the past finds us in the most unexpected ways—through a song, a memory, or an old Victrola.

Though the author's mother enjoyed a wide array of 78 records, she loved one Irish song in particular. Biba Kayewich

Come, sit by the fire, and let the blustery March winds fuss and fret beyond the door. Sit while I share the true story of how an old song revealed a connection between my family and that emerald isle across the sea. A place where fairy rings and hawthorn trees still enchant the wayfaring wanderer, and where the Irish Sea forever laps the sandy beaches of County Down.

It all started with the antique Victrola that sat in the corner of our living room.