Back to My Roots

I knew I was from Ireland as my great-great-great grandfather was an Irish sea captain according to our family genealogy. He came from Ireland and settled on Mt. Desert Island in Maine. Since I have the opportunity to be in Ireland coaching a team for USA Athletes, I have begun to understand some of the things my grandparents and my mother would refer to in our family discussions or get togethers. I have seen the name Carroll several different places while traveling about through Ireland--Dublin, Cork, Limerick and all the other little places here and there. The tour is called the Irish Roots Tour. Now I think that is pretty clever as many of us could probably trace our roots back to Ireland. The team I am coaching has some of the nicest young women on it. There are seven players: 1 -grad student from the University of Mobile-she also played at Ole Miss; 1-from Columbia College in South Carolina; 2-from Clark University; 1- from Rowan University; and 1-from Montclair University; and 1-from Hollins University. This is one of the best trips I have been on in terms of the locale, the culture, the hospitality, the players and their personalities, the food, the people we meet and come into contact with, and the experience. Even our basketball has been fun and exciting. They play a very aggressive and physical game over here. Our team had to adjust some, but the officiating was fairly consistent. At any rate, I'll write more during another chance with free wi-fi.