Muhammad Ali to visit Irish ancestral home

[Are_grits_groceries]

ENNIS, Ireland, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- U.S. boxing great Muhammad Ali has accepted an invitation to visit the Irish town his great-grandfather left almost 150 years ago.

The town council of Ennis, in County Clare on the west coast of Ireland, invited Ali. His representatives and local officials agreed Saturday he will be in Ennis on the afternoon of Sept. 1.

Abe Grady emigrated from Ireland in the 1860s to Kentucky, where he married a black woman. A granddaughter, Odessa Lee Grady, married Cassius Clay Sr. and moved to Louisville, where their son was born in 1942 and named after his father.

Cassius Clay Jr. later converted to Islam and changed his name.

"This is a very exciting event for the people of Ennis and County Clare, who will get to see the boxing legend when he embarks on a drive throughout the town and the birthplace of his great-grandfather," Mayor Frankie Neylon said.

Neylon said he would propose Ali receive a civil reception, the town's highest honor, and that the boxer be named the first "honorary freeman of Ennis Town."

http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2009/08/08/Muhammad-Ali-to-visit-Irish-ancestral-home/UPI-74971249789570/

You never know. Ya know.

[goclark]

1. Wow! Thank you Mr. President ~ you have made it

a reality and " OK" to know about our ancestors that were not ALL from Africa.

Most young Americans could care less if they are "Black or White."

That gives me,as an African American, hope for the next generation.

I had not thought one way or the other about Ali's ancestors. He looks like thousands of African Americans.

I salute the town and may his journey help the world to realize that all of us are ONE.

Safe journey to "The Greatest!"

[Warpy]

3. A lot of folks are still going to be very conflicted

about the white folks in the blood line because those white folks were likely slave owners exercising their ownership of female slaves in the worst way.

I can well understand the reluctance to embrace those white ancestors.

[NOLALady]

4. Many Europeans entered our lines

through Plaçage and the Quadroon Balls.

[goclark]

5. The funny part is most AA's are not trying to find their White

ancestors, we are too busy trying to find out the names of our African American ancestors before 1870.

We are well aware that there will be no Reparations. White America has made that very clear and to be honest....there is no amount of money that would equal the pain and suffering that we still live with as a result of slavery.

I suppose it could be said that President Obama is our Reparations Payment. :smile:

I would just love to know the names of my relatives before the Census in 1870 ~

What a joy it was to find my gggg? grandmother in the 1810 Census as a "Free Woman." At least I know her name was Dinah.

[NOLALady]

7. Sometimes

you can find them in the Freedman's Bureau records.
Sometimes, parents are listed on marriage licenses. You can also check pension files.

[goclark]

9. Thanks I have been researching for about 8 years

and I have checked the Freedman's Bureaur with no luck.

I have found excellent Marriage Records for many in Rappahannock Virginia. Rappahannock has even put out a CD with all of the Grave Markers in the entire county! It is simply amazing and they have done an amazing job finding African Americans that were buried there.


Still searching for the majority before 1870.

[Alameda]

6. While that is true in many cases...read again about Ali's

great grandfather...."Abe Grady emigrated from Ireland in the 1860s to Kentucky, where he married a black woman. A granddaughter, Odessa Lee Grady, married Cassius Clay Sr. and moved to Louisville, where their son was born in 1942 and named after his father."

[MADem]

2. That gift of gab had to come from somewhere!! Sure and begorrah! K and R! nt

[KamaAina]

8. So The Greatest, President O'Bama, and I are all Irish!

:bounce: