People just like me

It's pretty obvious to me that I have roots in Ireland; besides the fact that Nolan is a well known surname here, I have been fascinated by how many times I have met a man in the street who looks like my grandfather or one of my uncles . During the induction (orientation) sessions for international students, the pro vice chancellor who welcomed us to Queen's said that we would notice how briskly Belfast people walk--he joked that, with all the rain, they choose to get wet quickly. Maybe that's where Grandpa Nolan got it. He was born in Manchester shortly after his parents emigrated from Ireland. After the war, he began work as a mail carrier in Regina. When I got to know him he was retired, but he still walked at a pace just short of jogging; in fact, he did everything with verve, and his enthusiasm never seemed to flag. When he was in his 70s, he discovered Hockey Night in Canada, and Grandma showed us the spot in front of the TV where he had worn out the run by "skating" with the NHL players up and down the ice. At about the same time, he started writing poetry, and in his 80s, he taught himself to play the keyboard so that he could put his poems to music. My dad clearly has the same genes; even now when he's in his mid-70s (how can that be?) I haven't a hope of keeping up to him.
Now here I am in my 50s, bringing the family line full circle by coming back to Ireland. I'd love to do some searching to see if I can find the link back from Manchester to Ireland--and I will, if I can find the energy.