Many readers of this blog were raised by Irish or Irish American mothers.
In this little corner of the internet, we easily recognize the traits and characteristics which make Irish mothers unique and exceptional.
Irish mothers are supportive and attentive, caring for us in their uncomplicated ways, loving us with quiet, unassuming devotion.
Deep love and power is conveyed through their simple acts of caring.
In day-to-day life, we pay little attention to the tasks our Irish mothers automatically do out of love, unaware of the special significance and importance of their nurturing care, blossoming under their ever watchful attention.
Our Irish mothers are unflappable, resourceful, and above all, have hearts of gold.
Our Irish mothers may not be very demonstrative when showing their love. They may not hug and kiss us in public with wild enthusiasm. They may not verbalize their love as others do. They may not shower us with praise when we do ordinary things.
But their love is always there.
It's through their simple, everyday acts of kindness, that we grow to appreciate their loving, resilient and hopeful ways.
In today's post, I'm delighted to share a special tribute to an amazing Irish American Mom written by her daughter, Lily Tierney.
This is a poignant tribute to a wonderful Irish American Mom, Rose Tierney from Brooklyn, New York. I'm honored to share it with you today.
A Tribute To My Irish American Mom
When I got home, I saw my mother had taken my clothes off the clothesline.
She was always doing things like that for me.
I never asked her to, but she would just think to do it.
She would run errands, and always took her shopping cart even when she had a doctor's appointment.
Sometimes, she would be standing by the train station waiting for me to arrive from work.
We would walk back home, with her pushing the shopping cart.
She would always push it in front of her like it was a baby carriage.
At times, there were groceries in her shopping cart, and at other times it was empty.
I was so wrong.
Her cart was never empty, and I realize that now.
She pushed that cart remembering my brother who had passed away.
She pushed that cart for the love she had for her four children.
She pushed that cart through the bad times to get to the good times.
Her cart was never empty, but full of love.
She was my mother.
Rest in Peace
Remembering Rose Tierney,
Brooklyn, New York.
Many thanks, Lily, for sharing your beautiful memories of your mother with us today.
Your words brought tears to my eyes thinking of my own Irish mother and grandmothers. They too perfected the art of quiet, selfless love.
I'm quite certain your piece will bring back lovely memories for many readers. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Slán agus beannacht,
(Goodbye and blessings)
Mairéad -Irish American Mom
Pronunciation - slawn ah-gus ban-ock-th
Mairéad - rhymes with parade
If you enjoyed this post here are some other stories and tributes you might enjoy.
Eulogy For An Irish American Mother
Between The Jigs And The Reels
Sheila
So beautiful- Lily’s words capture that quiet dedication and love many of us experience from our Irish mothers. Thanks for sharing.
Irish American Mom
I'm so glad you enjoyed these lovely words, Sheila. Thanks for stopping by to checkout this beautiful piece.
All the best,
Mairéad
☘️☘️☘️
Jeff
Beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
Irish American Mom
And thank you, Jeff, for stopping by to read this lovely guest post from Lily in New York. Have a great week.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
☘️☘️☘️
Martha Sweeney
Lily showed us her mother's love in such nice ordinary words - waiting at the train; bringing clothes in from the line; pushing her cart before her - just as I am sure her Mother, Rose, put everyone before
herself - that is another characteristic of Irish mothers. Often, I say to my brothers, 'I don't know how
Mam did it', it being so many things: raising 11 children on her own after my father died at 43 years of age - my mother was 38! I cannot imagine having 11 children at such a young age but that was the times that were in it then. Lily's appreciation and love shine through every thought. Lily, thank you for your memories of your mother it reminds all of us of how blessed we were to have Irish mothers.
Irish American Mom
Hi Martha - I think it's Lily's ordinary words that make this piece so special, and highlight how through the everyday tasks of life, her mother, Rose, showed such devotion and love for her children.
My grandmother's story is very similar to your mother's story. My granny was 39 years old when her husband passed away, and she was pregnant at the time, with the youngest of 13 children. She too was an amazing woman. She ran a farm after her husband died and took care of her family through the hard times of rations and World War II. She did get some help from relatives in America. It was those ties to the States that brought her through the toughest of days.
Many thanks for sharing your family story, Maureen, which is a testament to the blessings of our Irish mothers.
All the best,
Mairéad
☘️☘️☘️
Leslie Carroll Lotz
Hello,
That was a touching tribute, thank you so much. I also found the comment about Irish mothers not being particularly demonstrative interesting. My American Irish mother, as was her mother, was not one to show a lot of affection, and, yet, she was a very caring individual whom I admired and one to give much in small, quiet ways, too. She was quick to offer help to others. But she didn't enjoy talking about emotions. I think it made her uncomfortable, yet she was enthusiastic and very positive in her outlook. Her mother, my maternal Irish grandmother, was the same. I always think about my mother as one who skipped across the surface of life. She was funloving, and unlike me, she did not try to "get to the bottom" of what others might be feeling, or to think very deeply about issues that were troubling. She hid from us any sorrow she experienced. She didn't want to trouble others with her troubles. She liked to look on the bright side and was loved and admired by her family and her friends for her happy dispostion. As my son said at her passing, "We could all take many lessons about how to live from Nan."
Irish American Mom
Hi Leslie -Thank you for sharing your story about your American Irish mother and Irish grandmother, and their outlook on life. I think many Irish people do not like to delve too deeply into emotions, and this was especially true in years gone by. When I first moved to America I had to adapt to the American way of hugging often. I would often hold out my hand to shake hands as a greeting, and then was completely taken aback when I received a big hug. But that's probably a topic for another day, or even another two or three days.
All the best,
Mairéad
Joan
So touching.
Joan
Irish American Mom
Hi Joan - Thanks for checking out this tribute to Lily's mother.
All the best,
Mairéad
Marilyn
Thank you for sharing.
Marilyn
Irish American Mom
And thank you, Marilyn, for taking the time to read this little tribute.
All the best,
Mairéad
Marion
What a lovely tribute from Lily Tierney to her mother Rose Tierney. God Bless.
Marion
Irish American Mom
Hi Marion - I hope Rose is smiling down from heaven as she is remembered in this little corner of the internet.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Lynn
Thank you for sharing Lily's tribute to her mother. I'm glad they had those close moments together. We often don't realize how love is shown until we stop and think about it, and bring back the memories of our loved ones. We carry those feelings with us, and repeat them with our own families, and hope our children will feel the same kind of love, and will have happy memories of us when they look back some day.
Irish American Mom
Hi Lynn - I agree with you completely. We often don't realize that the greatest love is often shown through simple helpful acts, that little helping hand even when it is not requested. It is in the ordinary that we often experience the extraordinary power of love.
All the best,
Mairéad
Lynn
It's sweet, too, that they both, mother and daughter, have flower names. I wonder if Lily's name was chosen for that reason (maybe a favorite bloom of Rose's) or if it was happenstance. That would be a fun family tradition--so many possibilities. I follow Seal Rescue Ireland on Face Book and they use themes to names their seals, and botanical names are the current theme.
Irish American Mom
Hi Lynn - When I first started working as a physical therapist over 30 years ago I noted how many of my elderly patients had flower names. I treated many lovely ladies with names like Iris, Violet, Rose , Lily, Poppy, Marigold and Daisy. I believe these names for girls were very popular in the early decades of the 20th century. They truly are beautiful names.
All the best,
Mairéad
Lily Tierney
I know everyone has similar memories about their great Irish American Moms, and I was glad I got to share mine with all of you.
Thank you!
Lily Tierney
Irish American Mom
And thank you Lily for sharing your lovely tribute. So many of us enjoyed reading your beautiful words.
All the best,
Mairéad