Deep roots: Local residents trace Irish ancestry
While St. Patrick’s Day is traditionally toasted with drinking, parades and more drinking, for many in Southwestern Pennsylvania it presents a chance to celebrate family and heritage.
How deep those Irish roots go varies, but all share a sense of pride in their lineage.
Both of Dorothy Weldon’s parents emigrated from Ireland, and she is of pure Irish descent. Ron Malmgren was unaware of his Irish heritage, and only recently learned about relatives who came to the United States during Colonial times. Kelly Sadlek, a local high school teacher, is a first generation Irish-American. And 19-year-old Landon Sprowls has spent considerable time researching his Irish ancestry.
Weldon’s parents met after they had separately immigrated to America in the early 20th century. Her father, Martin, came from an Irish family with 15 children in County Galway to Pittsburgh, where he worked in the mills.
“Then my mother, she was born in County Kerry, Ireland. My mother was a natural redhead. Curly hair, never put a roller in. Never used any dye. Just a beautiful woman,” Weldon said.
Her mother, Mary, worked in Oakland until she saved enough money to return to Ireland and take her own mother to parts of the country they could never afford to visit.
Mary went back and forth between countries, and eventually met Martin.
Though Dorothy Weldon was born in America, she describes her upbringing as distinctly Irish.
“I wasn’t allowed out after school. My mother baked, made all of our meals. We didn’t go to the store for this and that,” Weldon said. “It was a whole different life. It was the Irish life. I lived it with two parents.”
Her upbringing and Irish hospitality were evident when Weldon welcomed a visitor to her home. Her dining room table was prepared with a spread of documents, photos and newspaper clippings. At the head of the table, a place was set for the guest with a glass of ice water. A pen and pad, for note-taking, were nearby.
While Weldon was raised in Irish tradition, Malmgren did not always know the extent of his Irish lineage.
Malmgren, of South Strabane Township, recalls taking a college course on genealogy in the late 1970s that required him to research his ancestry for an assignment. He got an A.
“Over the years I’ve added to it. With computers and things it’s a lot easier now,” Malmgren said.
What Malmgren learned is that he is related to Andrew Lynn (Malmgren notes that his research shows multiple spellings for the surname, including Linn), who arrived in Boston as an infant in 1701.
Malmgren was able to trace Lynn’s path from New England to New Jersey, where Andrew Jr. and William Lynn were born. From there he described how the family continued to move west, eventually settling in what is today Redstone Township, Fayette County.
At the time, however, it was Westmoreland County.
“Andrew Lynn Jr. was a captain in the Westmoreland County militia during the Revolutionary War. His brother William became a captain also,” Malmgren said. (William) actually went down the Ohio and the Mississippi to New Orleans to get arms and medicine from the Spanish.”
He added it was a two-month trek back up north for William.
What brought the Lynns to the area? Land, according to Malmgren. Benjamin Franklin issued the deed to Andrew Jr. for his property in Redstone. His father and brother died in Kentucky and Ohio, respectively, while looking for more real estate.
“They were always looking for land,” Malmgren said.
Sadlek’s upbringing was similar to Weldon’s. The North Strabane Township resident – a 10th-grade biology teacher at Canon-McMillan High School – has always been keenly aware of her Irish heritage.
Theresa Keegan, Sadlek’s mother, came to America by way of County Leitrim, Ireland, in 1956, at the age of 11.
Keegan arrived at the New York City harbor with her parents, two sisters and two brothers, and moved to Canonsburg.
“Growing up and listening to Irish music everyday, that was a big part of my life. With my grandmother and I doing the jig,” Sadlek said.
Mary Margaret Hennigan, Sadlek’s grandmother, worked at Hahn’s Greenhouse until she was 80 years old.
Sadlek visited Ireland once as a teenager, but had the opportunity to return to the country last June with two of her three children. They were able to go to the house her mother grew up in, built by her grandfather.
“It was amazing, thinking about the trip,” Sadlek said. “It was very emotional.”
Weldon, too, has made the trip to her parents’ homeland.
“I can tell you this much, if there is a heaven, that’s where it is. It’s that beautiful. I say that honestly,” Weldon said.
In 1955, Weldon married Dr. John Weldon, who was the director of anesthesiology at Mon Valley Hospital. He died Sept. 19, 2022.
Weldon said her husband was Irish on his mother’s side, and both took an interest in celebrating that heritage.
She continues to be active in the local chapter of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, serving as president of the national organization from 2006 to 2008.
However, keeping organizations such as the Hibernians running gets more difficult as time passes. Weldon notes that the male-only Ancient Order of Hibernians in Charleroi folded after the death of its president in 2020.
William “Bill” Lee died Dec. 18, 2020. Weldon spoke highly of Lee, describing him as such a gregarious leader that the remaining Hibernians did not want to continue without him and refused overtures to join the Pittsburgh branch.
“That was how dynamic he was with those men, and he ran that like a show,” Weldon said, adding that they all told her “no” when she passed along the offer from Pittsburgh. “But the men from Pittsburgh did come up and hear the word ‘no’ themselves.”
For the ladies order, it has been difficult to generate interest in the group to grow membership. About 15 members remain.
“So we just have the women now, and we’re losing them,” Weldon said.
That’s not to say there are not younger people of Irish descent who take an interest in their ancestry.
Consider 19-year-old Landon Sprowls, who has been researching his family’s roots since the age of 13. Sprowls, of South Franklin Township, has spent much time researching and talking with older relatives about his family history.
Though not much is known about his early life in Ireland, John Sprowls immigrated to America in 1794. By 1976 the family had made their way to Washington County. John Sprowls bought 100 acres of land for $150 in East Finley Township in February 1804.
Sprowls currently lives in Washington County, but grew up in Scranton.
“My dad moved there not too long after he graduated. Recently, we just moved back. Like two years ago. That might be the reason – I was disconnected from it for so long. I wanted to find out more,” Sprowls said.
Sadlek hopes to keep the Irish pride alive in her family by passing on the stories and traditions to her children. She has a strong sense of the sacrifices made by her grandparents. That will be top of mind on St. Patrick’s Day.
“It’s more than getting drunk; it’s about celebrating your ancestry. I guess that’s hard to understand if you didn’t grow up living it. I lived it. It made me who I am just from hearing stories about how my grandparents came over,” Sadlek said. “Just to take that leap and to be a hard worker.”
Of course, those with the blood of Irish aren’t above having a good time on St. Patrick’s Day.
In the past, Weldon has marched in Pittsburgh’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and even served as the event’s grand marshal. This year, she will attend Sunday morning Mass at St. Andrew’s in the Mon Valley, followed by a meal of corned beef and cabbage in the social hall.
On Saturday, Sadlek may pay a visit to Mullaney’s Harp & Fiddle in Pittsburgh’s Strip District. But on Sunday, it’s all about family.
Sadlek will make soda and treacle bread for a large family gathering.
“I’m having a huge celebration with my aunts and my family,” Sadlek said. “I have a new little granddaughter. She’s going to be christened soon.”
Malmgren may have a more lowkey weekend, but repeats a common refrain about the inclusiveness of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
“We recognize it. The kids like to celebrate it. My wife, not so much. She’s eastern European, primarily,” Malmgren said. “But I think everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day.”