In a recent Celtic Times, I'd asked you the fans to let me know about your Celtic Family history. Mary Brandenburg a big Celtic Thunder and Ireland fan, sent me the piece below. It really is a wonderful history of her familys journey to the USA and what has happened since they got there. It shows how they embraced life in the USA while at the same time never forgetting their Irish Roots and Heritage, even bringing some of it with them. You will read about and see photos of the beautiful Irish Christening gown that has been worn through generations after being made in Ireland, and also the wonderfully carved rocking chair that has helped put babies to sleep many years ago in Ireland; and is still doing it today in the USA. I'd like to thank Mary for the time and effort she has put into this wonderful article about her family. I hope you, our Celtic Thunder fans, enjoy reading it as much as I did.

Elaine

THE IRISH HERITAGE OF MARY A. BRANDENBURG

When I started to research my Celtic heritage, I found many facts of my heritage. Both my Dad and Mom’s families came directly from Ireland.

 I decided to write about my father’s family first, the Kavanaghs.  The matriarch of the family, Alice Kavanagh, my great, great, great grandmother was born in New Ross, County Wexford in 1809 and came to America in 1850 and brought her 4 teen children, Patrick, Joseph, James and Katherine because her husband, Patrick, had died in Ireland and wanted a better life for her children. Her son, Patrick is my great, great grandfather.  His son, Joseph who was my great uncle started our family business in 1866 with a friend, George Smith and called it Kavanagh & Smith. They made pitchers and bowls and other kitchen items from copper, which is ‘Smithing’. After several years, Joe’s partner left and the company was run by all Kavanagh family members and changed the name to Joseph M. Kavanagh Coppersmiths.  Now it is called The Joseph Kavanagh Co., Inc. because some of the work is not done with copper.  Over the years there have been many nephews who worked at the shop. Joe started to contact brewers and distilleries and started to make many of the vats that they use to make beer and/or whiskey.  Before long other types of companies called Joe to do other copper work.  The shop did repairs on many large ships that came into the Baltimore harbor. The business was very successful because there were always new things to make for other types of businesses, ice cream and candy shops that needed vats, Unfortunately, the original shop was hit with the Great Baltimore Fire in 2004. Joe found a small place to keep the business going. The shop struggled after the fire, but Joe had lots of ideas of how to keep the business up and running for many generations of nephews who came and worked at the shop.

This is picture of my great uncle, Joseph M. Kavanagh.

When it was made public that the Statue of Liberty was coming to New York, Joe decided he wanted to see this for himself and offer some of his coppersmith experience.  It was the first time he had let himself leave the shop to a nephew to run.

One of the nephews, James had decided to go into music as a career in New York.  When Joe got to New York he visited with the James and his family.  Joe wanted so much to see this patriotic symbol.

Joe offered his coppersmith experience and Smithing experience to help put the statue together and returned to the site of the Statue and offer himself as a laborer. He was 50 years old now, but still a hard worker. He is confident he can help in some way and, in fact, after a lengthy conversation with several supervisors, Joe is hired. They need the laborers, for sure, but it’s likely that Joe’s background with copper may have played a part. He joins other workers, mostly immigrants, on the ferry to Bedloe’s Island. Since Joe had the experience, he was hired as a senior worker and was assigned to assist in the raising of the pieces.These workers knew it was a very important American event so very far in the future. Such a strong symbol of our nation that it is now. The pedestal was finished April 15, 1886.

Joe then assisted in some unpacking but is primarily involved in rigging the pieces before they are elevated. He does have some metal skills. Joe works through the day all the while in wonder at the lady being built before him. He marveled as the younger gents hang by ropes to place the sections. The pedestal and structure are too wide for scaffolding. They work as safely as they can. Each day a few more sections are raised and attached.

Joe and his fellow workers continue the arduous task of assembly. The Statue is coming together now. Joe enjoys the work. He is not Smithing, but he’s working with others. He feels a bond with these other fellows as he hasn’t felt in some time. He stayed another several weeks. The Statue will not be finished by the time Joe had to go home to his own business. Joe knows he can’t stay away from his business much longer than that. He unpacks crates, he rigs them safely and helps haul each piece to its position. He didn’t want to be one of the workers hanging by ropes to attach them. That seems dangerous to him, though no one dies or is gravely injured during the entire construction phase of the Statue of Liberty. He was very moved when he saw the head of the Statue taken out of a crate.  He felt proud to be an immigrant and proud to be an American.

After many generations of nephews who ran the shop, it was finally handed over to my grandfather, Eddie and his brother, Leo. Eddie married Anna Hartmann.  They had 3 children, Eddie, John (my dad) and Mary.

Dad worked at the shop for a short time and then joined the Navy and was assigned to a Destroyer Escort named the USS Strickland.

The Joseph Kavanagh Company still exists to this day. They now do bending and welding of various metals. It is owned and run by my youngest brother, another Joseph Kavanagh and my youngest sister, Ann. There are also 2 of my nephews who work there.

Dad and Mom met at a USO dance.  They went on one date and Dad told her that she was the one he was going to marry.  It was Mom’s first date so she couldn’t imagine it happened that fast.  Dad and Mom were married on May 17, 1947.They had a beautiful 70+ years of happiness. This is a picture of Mom and Dad before they got married.

Here are pictures of Mom and Dad when they were younger.:

Before I go forward with Mom and Dad’s life together, I’d like to tell you about Mom’s family and who from her family came to America first.

THE MCERLAIN FAMILY

Mom’s grandfather, Bernard Joseph McErlain immigrated to America in 1880 from Skerry East, Ballymera Co., Northern Ireland.  His first wife, Anna Cook who lived in Galway, passed away in child birth with the baby in 1894 Bernard got a job as a night watchman and a chauffeur. He and Anna had 3 other children, Mary, Elizabeth and Delia.

His second wife, Hannah Joseph Desmond was born in District of Cannaway, County of Cork and immigrated to America in 1885 and worked as a cook for the Abel family who owns our local newspaper. Hannah was my Mom’s grandmother and had 2 children. The following is a picture of my great grandmother, Hannah.

Hannah’s daughter, Bernardine, my grandmother, married Oliver Lawrence Crew. They had 3 children, my Uncle Lawrence, Bernardine (my Mom) and Uncle Howard.

When Hannah left Ireland, she brought a handmade baptism dress. It was always referred to as the baptism dress and not a christening dress as was the custom in Ireland.  This dress was made by hand in Irish linen by Mom’s Aunt Jane McErlain, Mom’s grandfather's sister in Ireland. She also made a long slip to go under the dress. The dress was worn by many babies in my Mom’s family history.

The first baby baptized in this dress was in 1899 in Ireland. It was worn by 27 babies in Ireland in Mom’s family. In one case there was a set of twins born so one wore the dress and the other wore the slip. It’s wearing in some places, but we all take care of it the way taught by Mom. It is a beautiful heirloom for our family.

My grandmother, Bernardine Crew was baptized in the dress. My Mom also wore the dress for her baptism. After Mom and Dad got married it became the Kavanagh baptism dress. My Mom had 9 children and her 7 girls wore the dress. Then 2 of her grandchildren and 2 of her great grandsons wore it. Here is a picture of the dress worn by our youngest in the family Charlie who was born this year.

Hannah also brought with her from Ireland a rocking chair that has been in my family for at least 4 or 5 generations This rocker is beautiful.  My grandmother was rocked in this rocker as well as my Mom. Mom had Dad 9 children and all of us were rocked in that chair as well as their 14 grandchildren and 8 of their grandchildren. Here is the picture of the rocker.

My Mom and Dad were special, loving and wonderful parents. With 9 children we always had friends at our house and Mom welcomed them and let them stay for dinner if they had permission from their own parents.  We were so blessed to have them in our lives for so long.  Sadly, we lost both Mom and Dad last year. Dad was 93 years old and Mom was 88 years old. They had been married over 70 years and are now together again Here is their wedding picture.