I am Scotch-Irish (or some prefer Scottish-Irish), descending back to three Alcorn brothers who lived in Belfast long ago. There are indications the three brothers came from Scotland.

When I was a kid my dad told me my ancestors came from Ireland, but never mentioned they were Scottish, so I grew up believing I was Irish. When I was thirty or so I found out from my cousin James Alcorn, the family historian, that I was really Scottish. I looked at my dad and said, “You told me we were Irish.” Dad shrugged and said, unfazed, “Guess not.” Every Saint Patrick’s Day since then, and every Irish Spring commercial, I say to Nanci, “I used to be Irish.”

Some get confused between the Scottish and the Irish. Here is a quick and entertaining clarification.