This Just In: the Burkes and the Kirwans... Cousins?

In my readings of the Dublin area I explored the land that is in view from the gorgeous Starbucks on the Sea.

The land is called Howth (pron: "Howt" as told to us by the cab driver on our very first morning. I was completely exhausted and barely understood anything he said, but I do remember his insistence at explaining how to pronounce the place).

According to Wikipedia about Howth:

"A popular tale concerns the pirate Gráinne O'Malley, who was rebuffed in 1576 while attempting a courtesy visit to Howth Castle, home of the Earl of Howth. In retaliation, she abducted the Earl's grandson and heir, and as ransom she exacted a promise that unanticipated guests would never be turned away again. She also made the Earl promise that the gates of Deer Park (the Earl's demesne) would never be closed to the public again, and the gates are still open to this day, and a place set at table for unexpected guests."

I think we will have to make an unexpected visit.


Just North of Howth, however, is Ireland's Eye.

According to Wikipedia, the island was called Eria's Island during Celtic times. "Eria" was a woman's name and got confused with "Erin" (which happens to be my nephew's baby daughter's name!), which is derived from Éireann,the Irish name for Ireland. The Vikings (there is no history of Ireland that is not rife with Vikings stories!) substituted the word Island with Ey, and so it became known as Erin's Ey, and ultimately Ireland's Eye!

But here's the really good part:

In September 1852 a woman named Sarah Maria Louisa Kirwan was killed on the island; her husband, William Burke Kirwan, was convicted of her murder. Matthias McDonnell Bodkin claimed in Famous Irish Trials that no murder had taken place, instead that Sarah Kirwan had drowned accidentally as a result of a fit.

My mother's dad (the guy from Ballyshannon) was John Francis Burke.

Sheila's family (from Galway) name (changed on American soils) was originally "Kirwan".

Cousins (by marriage)!