“According to the United States Census, there are 34.5 million Americans who list their heritage as either primarily or partially Irish. That number is, incidentally, seven times larger than the population of Ireland itself (4.68 million).” (Washington Post, 2013).

(Canon 5D shot at 1/160 sec, f/14, ISO 320, 50mm; Lightroom 4 spot removal, tone mapping)

“Many Irish people roll their eyes when they hear about the Yank coming to Ireland to trace their Irish ancestry” (Irish Times, 2013).

(iPhone 4s shot at 1/160 sec, f/2.4, ISO 50, 4mm; Lightroom 4 B+W conversion, contrast)

Gatekeeper to the extended family, coordinator for the family reunion, and blood-related to the ethnographer as a first cousin, twice removed, Liam Madden functions in a multi-faceted manner by hosting and introducing relatives for the first time.

(iPhone 4s shot at 1/30 sec, f/2.4, ISO 50, 4mm; Lightroom 4 B+W conversion, contrast, noise reduction)

Prior to an era obsessed with documenting trivial, daily activities on social media platforms, storytelling functioned as a means to pass down oral tradition through the generations. Paralleled to the role of the bard in Irish history, elders are expected to recall colorful scenes that revolve around family members who are now deceased. Kevin Madden embarked to America and resided there for nearly 15 years. He is able to retell encounters with Jack Madden from the mid 1950s.

(iPhone 4s shot at 1/120 sec, f/2.4, ISO 50, 4mm; Lightroom 4 B+W conversion, contrast, noise reduction)

The older a family member is, the further back in time his or her memory can reach. Therefore, memory becomes a commodity in the art of storytelling. Details, remembered or forgotten, can determine how well an individual’s memory is functioning. Jimmy Madden’s earlier memories include his childhood in the 1940s. He shares stories about Jack Madden as well. His details cross-reference with Kevin’s, establishing a degree of vivid authenticity.

(iPhone 4s shot at 1/60 sec, f/2.4, ISO 50, 4mm; Lightroom 4 B+W conversion, contrast, noise reduction)

Sometimes memory fails. In these instances, a photograph goes a long way. An image can refresh the mind, which helps when there are family members that share the same name. Jimmy Madden is shown here with his father James. In this regard, a picture is a tangible detail that can authenticate or clarify a story. Images can also distinguish which family members exist in a particular generation. Both Jimmy and Kevin Madden mistook Jack Viere as Grace(McNamara) Viere, skipping a generation that has not been in Ireland since the 1970s. Grace Viere is in the bottom left corner, visiting in with her sister Kathleen McNamara and mother (not shown) Kathleen (Madden) McNamara.

(Original photograph taken in 1969 by Kathleen McNamara; Lightroom 4 B+W conversion, contrast, noise reduction)

Since Jack Madden immigrated to New York, little is known about him beyond the stories told by his older nephews Kevin and Jimmy Madden. “In the attempt to alleviate the concerns of the gatekeeper and thus secure permission for entry, the researcher must convince managers that there is some benefit either to them or their organization by allowing the research to proceed.” There was an expectation that the ethnographer, the great-grandson of Jack, would have these detailed stories formatted in a similar, Irish-bardic fashion.

(Canon 5D shot at 1/50 sec, f/1.8, ISO 400, 50mm; Lightroom 4 B+W conversion, contrast)

Only miniscule details have passed down about Jack Madden, most likely due to a rapid decline on the importance of heritage in American culture. Still, these few glimpses of the Irish immigrant connect an American branch of the Madden family tree back to Galway City, Ireland.

(Original photograph taken in 1952 by unknown photographer; Lightroom 4 B+W conversion, contrast, noise reduction, sharpening)