Well, you may have opened a can of worms on that deal about Paddy.
My ancestor James Sterling Harper who was a blacksmith in Tennessee was an Irishman. His son was James Thomas Harper (1840-1928) of the 5th Tenn. CSA who fought all over the South during the Civil War. He was wounded at Shiloh, went home and healed and then still got up and fought on.
At the age of 43 after coming on to Arkansas, James Thomas Harper married his second wife and had a houseful of kids with her after losing his first wife. He later lived at England, Arkansas and was a deacon in the Baptist church. Not a more dependable man ever lived unless it was his son who was my grandfather.
I got the pug nose, the blaze between the eyes and a headful of hair just like he had. I believe I have also got the outspoken ways of the family and I know I inherited a great pride in my family history.
So this is one lady who is proud to say she descended from the Irish.
Linda T. Acrey
gg grandchild of an Irishman