the 102nd birth anniversary of my father - Norwegian, not Irish, but a redhead in his youth anyway

Norwegian he may have been - but remember all that Viking that went on ? With Norsemen sweeping down on Ireland, pillaging, plundering and taking the women home with them (Those Norsemen knew beautiful women who were great cooks and hellcats in bed when they saw 'em) So I think that red hair may have been come through the geneological line.
The Irish are everywhere, one way and another![