Mulli of the MidWest

Historical Mutt

From the very old photo discovered of my mothers family, it is apparent that I have been part of the family for a VERY long time. Now I have made the discovery that my roots go back even further!

Mom has been watching a showing on the A&E channel called "Irish in America." It is a several part series, tracing the path of the Irish from Ireland to America.

It seems the Irish were a rather contentious lot, and a disproportionate number of Irish were part of the Patriot Army fighting against the British Redcoats. Seems that the recently immigrated Irish were only too happy to take up arms against the British, whom they already hated, and made up a very large portion of the first American fighting forces.

Anyhoo, Mom's family has been able to trace their earliest Irish roots in America to around the 1840s. During the early to mid 1800s the Irish were fleeing to America by the boatload, or rather the Coffin Ship, as they were called. Hunger can be quite a motivator!

On the TV show, in a picture of a large group of Irish, who do you think was sitting? Yes, me, Mulligan. It is unclear exactly when the photo was taken, but must have been at the very beginning of the invention of photography.

I looked rather thin. I suppose famine will do that to a dog.

I can surmise some important information from this Historic Photo:

1. Obviously my name, Mulligan, comes from my Irish roots.

2. My steadfast defense of the Mulligan Compound must stem from my inherent hatred of the Repressive British Rule. I view interlopers to the Mulligan Compound as tyrannists anxious to seize my land. Yes, the United States and Great Britain have put aside their differences and are now great friends. However, in the majority of countries, long-standing differences are NEVER put aside, so I feel quite justified in maintaining my animosity and must view all who cross my path as potential enemies.