a tribute to my great, John Smith Ireland, on his birthday
his Scottish immigrant parents settled in Ontario, Canada
his name, John Smith, honors his Scottish great-grandfather
his Scottish siblings welcomed him in their Chatsworth home

my mom and dad proudly named me John, in loving tradition
my grandfather, Pop Ireland, cried with the honor for his dad
with tender tears in his eyes, Pop gave me this prized photo
passing his loving ancestral stories to me is a gift for life

one day I will leave this earth and reunite with my greats
I look forward to meeting all my folks flowing within
my Celtic soul believes in the mystical Tir Na Nog
infinite adventures in the Land of Eternal Youth...

In loving memory to my Pop's dear bagpipe playing dad...

John Smith Ireland...born August 26, 1859