Six degrees of separation

IS THERE anything worse than this?

You’re in America, you’re introduced to a local and, when they hear you’re from Ireland, their little innocent face lights up, and they positively gush: “Oh, Ireland! My grandparents came from Ireland. Do you know the O’Flahertys? From Cork?”

Actually, there is something worse than this. It’s that chilling moment when you realise that, not only do you know the O’Flahertys from Cork, but they drove you to the airport to get catch your plane.