The Buckley Family
Nec Temere, Nec Timide; this is a latin phrase which translates to, neither rashly, nor timidly. This is the motto of my family which expresses how we believe we should live, and through the history of my family we have always proven the rules and restrictions povidided by religion and culture are always broken for the sake of love and family.
It started with my great great grandfather, Francis Heslin, who was born and raised in ireland. Ireland being a poor country at the time, around late 1800’s and early 1900’s, my distant relative decided to join a cause that would benefit his family and country to make Ireland a better place. He joined the IRA, the Irish Republican Army, the IRA’s goal was to separate northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring together an independent Ireland. Because the IRA was considered a “terrorist organization”, because of their bombing and assassinations, Francis Heslin was a target of the British who were the enemy of the IRA. My great great grandfather was forced to leave with his family to another country. This is when my family migrated to New York.
My grandmother, Rosemary, grew up in the Bronx right next to Yankee stadium. She lived here her whole childhood here until she decided to be a nun. This decision brought her to Halifax, Nova Scotia where she would go to school to become a nun. This is how my grandmother met my grandfather, who was also a priest at the time, and conceived my father. My Grandmother moved to Toronto to give birth. My grandad gave her money to make the move while he stayed back. When my father was born, my grandma and my dad lived in a little apartment with only one room. Five days after giving birth, my grandma decided to write a letter to my grandad to say it was a boy and that they are doing well. Five days after that my grandad came to Toronto and married my grandma to start a family. They both broke the rules of their culture and religion for the sake of family.
There was no real reason my family ended up in Canada other than that my grandmother went to school here and met my grandfather. Though there was a reason my older ancestors moved to New York. It was too dangerous for my family to stay in Ireland and there was already a large population of Irish people migrating to New York.
If my family stayed in Ireland things would be much different for me. We would be much more poor and most likely farm for what we need. If my family stayed in New York it would also be different to Canada: Health care would be something we would have to pay for, rather than having a system that benefits everyone: my education would not be as good as it is in Canada; and the crime rates in the Bronx compared to here in orangeville or even Toronto are worse. Also with all the political things going on in the United States, Canada is a much more even and diverse place to live. The likeliness of me being involved in a dangerous organization would be high if my family were still in Ireland because of family history whereas here we are far away from an organization or group like the IRA.
I am very grateful that my family and I live in such a safe and opportunistic place like Canada. Here I have many more opportunities than I would in Ireland or the United States. The likeliness of being successful with a good job and education are much greater as well.
Because my family has always made decisions based on what's best for us, I am fortunate to call Canada my home and country.
Works Cited
The Bronx. Nycmap360, nycmap360.com/nyc-boroughs-map. Accessed 5 June 2017.
Buckley, John Leonard. Interview. 5 June 2017.
Buckley Coat of Arms. Pintrest, www.pinterest.com/familycrests/buckley-coat-of-arms-buckley-family-crest/. Accessed 5 June 2017.
Flag. Weneedfun, weneedfun.com/canada-flag-wallpapers/. Accessed 5 June 2017.
Maioni, Antonia. "Obamacare vs. Canada." Theglobeandmail, 2 Oct. 2013. The Globe and Mail, www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/obamacare-vs-canada-five-key-differences/article14657740/. Accessed 5 June 2017.
"Neighborhood Scout." Neighborhoodscout, 2017, www.neighborhoodscout.com/ny/bronx/crime. Accessed 5 June 2017.
Yankee Stadium. Ballparks, www.ballparks.com/baseball/american/nyybpk.htm. Accessed 5 June 2017.
Well written blog Owen! This was very fascinating to read, and I learned a lot about your family. I cannot believe your Grandpa was in the IRA! I am sure that gives you a way different perspective on the organization compared to most others. I could not stop laughing at the love story between your grandparents; a nun and a priest giving birth. That must not have looked to good to the church, but it is cool that they they loved each other and got married anyways. I also think it is awesome that you were able to find your family's coat of arms. That gives you a true connection to your ancestors and proves that they were honourable people. Overall great work.
ReplyDeleteGreat blog Owen! Your family truly is one built on rebellion. I like your thesis and I think that the events you included perfectly match what you were trying to prove in this blog. Your great grandfather didn't let society dictate his actions, and your grandparents went against the rules of the church because their love prevailed. That is interesting that if your family was still in Ireland, you would likely have to follow in your ancestors' footsteps and be a member of a dangerous organization. History repeats itself, so I am excited to see what kind of rules you will have to break in the future to benefit the greater good of your family.
ReplyDeleteI hate to say it, but Liam was right. This is an unbelievable story that leaves your reader feeling incredulous, amused, and hopeful at the same time. I think you could actually sell the story to Netflix or Bravo. Is this a story that people in your family are told on a regular basis, or is this something you uncovered through your research for this blog? There is predominantly oxen or bulls on your coat of arms: do you know the origin of those images? I also find it interesting that your ancestors, who loved their country enough to fight for it, would flee and never return. Did they continue to have strong ties to their country, or celebrate their culture in a new land?
ReplyDeleteÓ Buachalla is the original name from Ireland which then turned into "Buckley". The original meaning of the name was "herdsman" so i'm only guessing that's why there is bulls on the shield. All of the story is true, though it isn't talked of very much in my family. My dad didn't even know of the story until he was a young man. My grandmother has gone back to visit Ireland but we no longer know of ancestors that live there. I imagine that the reason my family had not gone back would be because of cost to travel and what ever drama they had to flee from. I have the original coat of arms at my house in a frame, but I couldn't figure out how to transfer a picture from my phone to the document. My family that lives here in Canada don't really celebrate any traditions from Ireland, though I do still have a lot of family in New York who do. Unfortunately iv'e never met my family in New York, but through stories my dad has told me about them, i'd love to meet them some day.
DeleteGreat blog Owen! I love the relation that my grandparents had with yours. My grandparents lived in New York for a while then immigrated to the East Coast just like yours. Have you ever gone to Nova Scotia?
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