'An tOcras Mór' The Great Hunger.

irishman living in berlin germany !

Dublin born and raised, living in the sierra of Madrid

I am an independent researcher, freelance graphic and web designer, teacher, and activist.

I run the political campaigning website, Contact.ie.

American born, Irish heritage (McDugle-Murphy-Holland-Maxwell-Dunn)

Passionate about Ireland, organic farming, animals, gardening and homestyle cooking.

I am half Irish on my mother's side. Unfortunately since my grandfather NEVER talked about his father or his origins (he was apparently totally unforgiving as my great-grandfather left my great-grandmother), I have very little information to go on. All I know is that my great-grandfather's name was Joseph Edward Hanegan (or Hennegan, O'Hanegan, O'Henneghan, or O'Hannigan) from County Mayo; my grandmother's name was Mary Collins, from County Cork. I have not gotten very far in trying to research his geneology with such limited information. On my grandmother's side, the family name was Skinner.

The name was corrupted down to Hanegan; when I divorced I took my mother's maiden name, hence I am now known as Karen Hanegan. I live in Olympia, Washington, USA; I was born in Chicago, where they dye the river green and have a grand parade every St. Patrick's Day, so I always have been keenly aware of my Irish heritage. I moved out to the Pacific Northwest (Seattle) in 1976. I spent most of my life working either in the social work field, and later for 30+ years as a legal secretary/assistant.

I am an avid reader, especially of history, so I was quite aware of what happened in Ireland from the time of King Henry XIII on, and especially about the events surrounding the Holocaust from 1845-on. 

I am now disabled. I spend much of my time on the computer. I am now involved with many groups and organizations that are fighting in one way or another against the coming world holocaust that will occur if the richest nations (including the US) do not stop their over-consumption of resources and adopt a sustainable lifestyle; the depletion by 90% in the past 10 years of many fish and marine mammals; our contribution to global warming, and the billions of people who now exist in total poverty. Those organizations include, but are not limited to, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, The Taiji Dolphin Action Group, Save Our Sharks, Rainforest Action Network, Stop the Serengeti Highway, World Wildlife Fund, etc.

I would be very pleased to hear more from the members of this group! Thank you.