Growing up in a Donegal emigrant household in the New York Metropolitan area shaped my life profoundly. From the beauty of the Gaelic language spoken in our sitting room to the wild yarns spun around the kitchen table to impromptu trad seisiuns and step dancing at parties, our rich cultural heritage permeated every aspect of our family life.

I'm saddened that my seven-year-old daughter, Brídín, has missed out on these experiences. She was born and reared in Tennessee, and although I…