The first two weeks of May marks the centennial of my grandfather’s emigration from Ballybunion to Pittsburgh. During that period this blog will retrace his journey and explore highlights of his life in Ireland and America.

The celebration has begun in the April 19 issue of the Ballybunion News, which has just published my short story about Willie Diggin. Many thanks to editor Gerald Walsh for publishing the piece, which appears on page 12.

Please sign up for Ger’s free weekly publication and follow @BallybunionNews on Twitter.

“Willie’s emigration centennial,” my expanded 12-day serial about Willie, begins May 1 on this blog.