Brave Hearts, by Californian author and fellow Irish American, Jean Mahoney is a novel of tenacity and resolution, bravery and love, recounting the story of her family's American journey.
The complete title immediately resonated with me, and I just knew this novel would be a perfect fit for our Irish American Mom Community.
BRAVE HEARTS: A San Francisco Story:
The Grit and Dreams of an Irish Immigrant Family
I'm thrilled to introduce you to this unforgettable story of grit and determination, set in the colorful San Francisco Bay area and to offer a copy as a prize for a lucky reader to win.
Before I share details of how to enter for a chance to win, let me first tell you a little bit about the book and its author, Jean Mahoney.
About The Book - Brave Hearts:
Five generations of the author's Irish American family inspired this saga which spans centuries and recounts the plight of these intrepid immigrants, and stalwart settlers of the American West.
The cast of characters from this devoted family includes survivors, artists, homemakers, lovers, business owners, dressmakers, house painters and farmers.
Beginning with an ocean crossing from Ireland in the 1840s, the family experiences the 1906 earthquake, a devastating train wreck, farming, drought and family tragedy with remarkable resilience.
Poignant, harrowing and ultimately triumphant, Brave Hearts tells a quintessential American story and Irish immigrant tale through the unique lens of a talented writer.
About The Author Jean Mahoney:
Jean Mahoney is a San Francisco native, grew up in Palo Alto, and has studied San Francisco and the greater Bay Area history for decades.
She is a writer, poet and award-winning educator whose writing has appeared in the Santa Cruz Sentinel and Sisters Singing: Blessings, Prayers, Art, Songs, Poetry and Sacred Stories by Women.
She taught public school in Santa Cruz for twenty years, and worked as a pioneer in environmental education. She lives in Santa Cruz, California.
Interview With Jean Mahoney:
I recently sent Jean some questions about her inspirations for writing this immigrant family saga. She kindly replied and I'm delighted to share her answers with you today.
Q: Brave Hearts is a wonderful account of the Irish immigrant experience. Why did you think it is important to share this story?
A: I think it is important to share my ancestor's immigrant stories for two main reasons. First of all I see that many Americans do not know the stories of their families who first came here.
I did find and come to know facts, ship's records, census records and such, but wanted to write about their times and why they would leave their homeland. I wanted to get the feeling of my ancestors' realities so I wrote in their voices at times in various chapters.
The second reason is that there is so much negative talk about immigrants in the news of our papers in this country. I wanted to reinforce the fact that all of us who call ourselves American (except the Native Peoples who have been here for over 9,000 years) are newly immigrated here.
Q: Did your own family history and ancestral heritage inspire you to write Brave Hearts?
A: Yes, my own family history influenced these tales and my mom encouraged me to write these stories. I learned of their stories beginning when I was about 8 or 9 and I lived with my grandparent's tales in my heart over my whole life.
My mom was the main source of her family's stories. My grandmother saved a scrapbook dating from the late 1890's with clippings and stories of her own life and times. In those days local papers in small towns (even in San Francisco!) wrote about their residents and so it was easy for my Grandma, Charlotte Lynch, to cut out articles and paste them into the pages as a record of her life.
Then my mother, Barbara Mahoney, told me the stories of her parent's lives throughout her long life of 97 years. My grandparents lived through some intense times and had many adventures. My mom told me most of theses stories and we would review them together after I had written them. She then gave them her stamp of approval.
Q: The byline to your novel is - "The Grit and Dreams of an Irish Immigrant Family." This resonated with me especially the word 'grit,' since I always look on my Irish ancestors as gritty, determined people. Was your novel created to honor the courage, determination and grit of the Irish people who came to America to escape the poverty and hardships of Ireland?
A: Yes, my novel was truly written to give people who live now the reality of why my great great great grandparents had to leave Ireland. As you will see in the book, the first chapters are about the Irish famine told from their points of view. It lays out the reasons they had to leave their homeland where their ancestors had been living for thousands of years.
The poverty, illness and starvation they faced in those black years of the late 1840's was just too much to go on living in Ireland. So they moved to America- a new country with plenty of land and food to be able to settle and thrive.
My father's Irish cousins in County Kerry told us when we visited them that the Irish back in those famine days had a saying, "There's hope from the sea, but there's no hope from the grave."
Q: This novel is based on stories of your own Irish American family. What kick started your interest in learning more about your family and what inspired you to share their stories with the world?
A: I think I have always been interested in family history from when I was a small girl and found my grandma's scrapbook in our hall closet.
I myself saved news clippings of important events over my lifetime too. My mom was a story teller, and as she told me stories of her family she said, "You really ought to write these down."
So I did. It took almost ten years to compile the stories into a book that begins in the 1850's and ends in the 1950's. There are 5 generations included.
Q: In the Irish American Mom Community we believe in recording our forefathers’ immigrant tales as heirloom gifts for future generations. Upon completion of your manuscript did you feel a sense of accomplishment and family pride?
A: When the book was completed and published in January of 2019 I felt so proud that my ancestor's have a place in the world now and their stories are shared.
As you will see from reading "Brave Hearts" my ancestor's had some real trials to live through which they did successfully at every turn.
This does not mean that life was easy for them at all, but the book shows that even though every life has challenges there are good times as well.
Q: Do you have any advice for others who wish to record their family stories? Or perhaps you have words of encouragement to help people start their own genealogical journeys.
A: My words of advice for people wanting to record their family stories, is to begin by using several methods. If you have relatives of an older generation- talk with them, record them and get the timbre of their voices.
The internet is invaluable for online resources of towns records, church records and census records in so many countries now.
Each county in Ireland does an excellent job of helping with websites and putting documents on line now. We are lucky to live in this era when documents such as ship's records, etc are so much more available than just 20 years ago.
Also, visit the countries where your ancestors came from and walk their streets. There is nothing like walking those streets, in their towns, and breathing in the air they breathed. If you know of any living relatives in other countries, visit them. I have found that my Irish cousins are so happy to see me, and know my life and times.
Praise For Brave Hearts:
Here is what some other writers have to say about this wonderful historical book.
“Brave Hearts is such a vivid account of the Irish immigrant experience that as a college librarian I would enthusiastically recommend it to students of California and US history. As a reader, I recommend it for the sheer pleasure of a page-turning family epic, brimming with love and heartache, adventures and reversals of fortune. The resilience of these brave hearts is inspiring!”
~ MARY CAMILLE THOMAS, author and Librarian, Foothill College
"Jean Mahoney has brought the immigrant experience vividly to life in this warm, authentic, humorous, historical fiction saga of her Irish ancestors and the early days of San Francisco. The tales, trials and triumphs of Charlotte, Philip, their children and everyone they encounter will live on forever and deeply touch the hearts and minds of readers."
~ KATE AVER AVRAHAM, author of Joey's Way and What Will You Be, Sara Mee?
“Brave Hearts is not only a San Francisco story, it’s an American story. Author Jean Mahoney writes about her people who, with dreams aplenty, made San Francisco and the California Delta their home. But as you read, you may find this is also your story. So many of our parents, grandparents,and great grandparents did exactly what Mahoney’s ancestors did—they took a chance and came to new shores for freedom from oppression to create a new home through hard work and wit and tons of determination. Sadly, there could be no better time for this book than now when our government is making life for new immigrants and potential immigrants unbearable. Sit down with a cup of tea, open the book, and settle in for Mahoney's engaging, imaginative family tale.”
~ PATRICE VECCHIONE, co-editor of Ink Knows No Borders:
Poems of the Immigrant and Refugee Experience
“Jean Mahoney has a gift for bringing the voices of her Irish ancestors to life. We witness their struggles, loves, joys and pain. What a pleasure to meet these wonderful courageous characters through her lively historical fiction. Mahoney's exquisite attention to detail brings the early history of the San Francisco Bay Area vividly to life.”
~LAURA DAVIS, author of The Courage to Heal
Where To Purchase Brave Hearts:
Publication Date: January 10 , 2019
ISBN: 978- 0 -9845074- 1 - 2
Price: $19 .95 - Original Trade Paperback (168 pages / 98 color illustrations)
Publisher: Sisters Singing Publishers
Contact: Carolyn Brigit Flynn (Email - info@sisterssinging.com )
Learn about the book and order here.
The Giveaway:
One lucky reader will win a copy of Brave Hearts by Jean Mahoney.
To enter just leave a comment on this blog post by noon on Sunday, April 7th, 2019.
Any comment will do. What you write does not affect your chance of winning, but if you need inspiration why not tell us about your family's journey to America, a little snippet of your own immigrant tale.
A winning comment will be chosen randomly. Remember to leave your e-mail so that I can contact you should you win. Your e-mail won’t be published, just used to contact our lucky contestant for mailing of the prize.
The winner will be announced on Sunday, April 7th, 2019, at the bottom of this blog post.
You may check out Irish American Mom’s complete terms and conditions for sweepstakes’ entries by clicking here.
Many thanks to everyone who supports this book giveaway.
Jean and I would really appreciate it if you could share this post with family and friends who might be interested in this story of the Irish in America.
And many, many thanks to Jean for sharing her work and inspirations with us today.
Winner Chosen On April 7th, 2019:
Good news! Our winner has been chosen randomly using the Pick Giveaway Winner Plug-in for Wordpress.
Congratulations to .....
Maureen Null
I'll email Maureen to let her know she is our winner and arrange for Jean to mail her prize.
Many thanks to all who entered this little Irish American Mom giveaway.
I have so enjoyed reading all of your comments and learning about where your ancestors came from in Ireland and where they settled in America. I find these immigrant tales fascinating.
And thanks again to Jean for sponsoring the prize for this contest.
Slán agus beannacht,
(Goodbye and blessings)
Irish American Mom
If you enjoyed this guest post, here are some other installments you might enjoy ....
Why Are Irish Americans So Captivated By Ireland
Top Ten Reasons Why Toursists Love Ireland
Angi
I would love to win a copy of this book. I am currently working on my family history and am especially fascinated with my own Irish ancestors.
Irish American Mom
Hi Angi - Wishing you every success as you delve into your family history. It is wonderful to record your family's story for future generations.
All the best,
Mairéad
Mary McCourt
I will be reading this book, regardless of wheteher I win it or not............ but it would be lovely to win it !
Mary McCourt
i HATE when I make an "un-correctable" typo..................ugh................
Irish American Mom
Hi Mary - I'm afraid I couldn't spot your typo in your previous comment, to correct it for you. I understand your frustration when a comment vanishes into cyberspace and there's no going back to make corrections. That's happened to me many times in the past. Thanks for following my recipes and ramblings.
Take care,
Mairéad
Irish American Mom
Hi Mary - Thanks for supporting this giveaway and for checking out this wonderful book.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Jean Mahoney
Would love to send you a copy of my book.
Irish American Mom
Thanks for checking in again, Jean, and for all your support.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Sinita
My husband and I both know so little about our Irish heritage, but this story sounds very similar to the little we do know. His family settled in the SF Bay area also. Mine in CA too, LA area.
I’m intrigued to read Brave Hearts as I’m sure our ancestors lived through much the same experiences as immigrants at the same time.
Thanks!
Irish American Mom
Hi Sinita - I think many people in our Irish American Mom Community voice similar frustrations about their lack of knowledge of their Irish heritage. Many lament not asking more questions while their aging relatives were still able to share stories. And to compound the problem, many Irish in America did not like to speak of the hardships they endured in their homeland. They became the 'silent people,' but that's a blog post for another day. 🙂 I hope this novel about Irish immigrants in California will reveal insights into your family's past.
All the best,
Mairéad
Jean Mahoney
Would love to send you a copy of my book
Irish American Mom
Hi Jean - Thank you for this kind offer.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Shannon McGough Hawkins
I love that I am Irish and that our family has always celebrated our heritage!
Irish American Mom
Hi Shannon - How wonderful to learn that your family has passed on a deep pride in your Irish heritage. It is a wonderful gift to pass down through the generations. Many thanks for checking out this new book here on my blog.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Jessica Proctor
This book sounds amazing! I'd love to read it.
Irish American Mom
Hi Jessica - Thanks for letting us know that this type of book would be your cup of tea. Mine also. I love historical fiction and biographies, and when they have an Irish or Irish American theme, I enjoy them all the more.
All the best,
Mairéad
Kimberley Klibansky
I'm excited about this book. Many of us have Irish ancestors here and weren't able to get the stories from our families. This book will be a welcome addition to anyone interested intheir Irish-American roots.
Irish American Mom
Hi Kimberley - Exploring and celebrating our Irish heritage together are key elements of this blog, so this book is definitely a good fit for this little corner of the word wide web. Many thanks for supporting this giveaway.
All the best,
Mairéad
Peggy D
I would love this book. I am very interested in Irish history and am currently researching my own ancestry.
Irish American Mom
Hi Peggy - Lovely to hear you are researching your ancestry and that you too share a keen interest in all things Irish, especially Irish history. Best of luck with your family research.
Mairéad
Susan Rasmussen
our California story began in San Francisco with my mom, love to read the story
Irish American Mom
Hi Susan - Many Irish settled in San Francisco and California. I can only imagine what the fledgling city must have been like in the days of the Gold Rush, filled with Irish immigrants who had just left their homeland to flee the direst of situations.
I too have relatives who went to California at this time. Cornelius O’Sullivan, was a brother of my great great grandmother and emigrated to the United States in 1845, on the eve of the Famine. His son, Denis O’Sullivan, better known around Skibbereen County Cork as Singing Sullivan, was born in San Francisco in 1868. He was a famous baritone and sang all over the world in the early 20th century. I'm afraid no musical talent passed on to me. 🙂
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Mairéad
Cathy
My ancestors came in 1848 as newlyweds. They married in Dublin and that is my brick wall I can't get past. They moved back and forth across the Canada-U.S. border. The family grew, the business grew, the business burned down, the family moved, the business was re-established, wife died, husband drank too much and ended up a vagrant dying in the local jail. As you say, heartache and sorrow, times to rejoice and survival through grit and determination. I hope to someday unlock where they came from and find out their history as I am told his middle name "Homan" is from aristocracy.
Irish American Mom
Hi Cathy - Thank you for sharing your family story of trials, tribulations and determination. Life was full of hardships in the mid-19th century and our ancestors had to be tough to survive. Life took its toll on many and I'm sorry to hear your ancestor died alone in the local jail. I hope that you will someday make progress on your search for your Irish roots and places of origin. "Homan" is a very unusual name, but that rarity could ultimately help you on your quest. Best of luck with your genealogical journey.
Mairéad
Candee
I love reading this type of book & I would share it with my Daughter-in-law who is part Irish & is working on her Ancestry right now! I have learned more about historic events & times reading these types of books than I ever did in HIstory class in school!
Irish American Mom
Hi Candee - I agree that books like this bring history to life and help us delve into the past to further our understanding of how we evolved as people and as nations. I love historical sagas that inspire me to learn more, and to go way beyond the limited history I learned as a schoolgirl.
Many thanks for adding to our conversation about family roots and history.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Anna
I would love to read this book! I have done quite a bit of research in Irish American history, and it's always thrilling to hear of the publication of new stories about the Irish. Their fortitude is simply amazing! Thanks for reviewing this book, and for offering the giveaway!
Irish American Mom
Hi Anna - I too get excited by stories of Irish and Irish American history. In years gone by we only ever seemed to be background characters in other people's stories in books and movies. Very few novels told about our struggles and achievements over the years. We were often only represented as troubled characters with drinking problems. I hope that more and more stories about how the Irish contributed to American society and helped build the infrastructure of this country will be told as time goes by. We may not have been rich industrialists but that does not mean our stories are not worth telling, because as you say, Irish fortitude is simply amazing.
All the best,
Mairéad
Gary Plunkettt
2 branches of my family came to America from Ireland -1 in the 1847 and the other in 1859. I would love to read this story especially of the crossing-how brave these people were to leave home and family and begin a new life far away.
Irish American Mom
Hi Gary - Your ancestors truly were courageous people. I cannot imagine the enormity of their journey and the knowledge, when leaving their homeland, that they would probably never see it nor their loved ones again. The will to survive is very strong and this determination to succeed is what immigrants brought, and still bring to America, to help build this nation.
All the best,
Mairéad
Mary L
I can't wait to read this book. My mother's immigrant grandmother was still alive when she was born. I wish I had more actual family stories. We have only a few.
Irish American Mom
Hi Mary - Please, please, please, be sure to write down those few family stories you do have, and treasure them. Younger generations of your family may not be interested now, but in years to come they will be ever so thankful if they discover a written connection with your family's past. I always regret that I did not write down my grandmother's stories when I was young. I only realized what a treasure trove of folklore and family history she was, when it was too late.
All the best,
Mairéad
Mary
Would love to win the book, but if I don’t I will most likely purchase it. The story of people’s courage always intrigued me. Blessings, Mary
Irish American Mom
Many blessings to you too, Mary. It's lovely to learn family history books are exactly what readers of my blog find fascinating.
Take care and have a wonderful week,
Mairéad
Barbara Karr
I will read this book whether I win or purchase it. Recent scandalous treatment of immigrants and their treatment at our borders has left me angered and frustrated. I never thought I would live to see the likes of this kind of treatment in a country I hold so dear! My ancestors came here fleeing famine, war, and political unrest with the dream of a better life. The Irish weren't welcomed with open arms but at least they were allowed into this country. They took that small glimmer of hope and worked to become a great part of Americas' history. We should ALL count our blessings and speak out against the anti-immigrant mindset. "Give me your tired, your poor. Your huddled masses yearning to be free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore." God bless us all!
Irish American Mom
Hi Barbara - Your words are so true. The Irish were vilified when they first came to America, but they banded together to become a powerful group, determined to succeed in the cities and states where they settled. There are many lessons to be learned from the past and from our immigrant tales. Only the Native American peoples originally belonged here, and everyone else is only recently descended from an immigrant or is an immigrant, like me. I am astounded by the attitudes of today, and my greatest wish for this country is, that once again we can celebrate our immigrant tales and acknowledge all that has been accomplished by those who bravely sought out, and continue to seek, new lives in America.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Elizabeth Lois linsley
I would so like to win this book of Brave Hearts. My parents came here in 1920 with her Mother,sister and brother. they were 22 and 23. what courage that took. They struggled but had a family and a good life. the courage it took not many would have it. I am so proud of my heritage. I have had the blessing of being able to go to Ireland to see the area they were born in,the area her parent's came from. It has so enriched my life.
Irish American Mom
Hi Elizabeth - It's lovely to hear your visit to Ireland, the land of your ancestors, enriched your life. That is truly wonderful and heart warming. Thank you for sharing your Irish connections with us and for celebrating your heritage with our Irish American Mom Community.
All the best,
Mairéad
Maureen Koebel
I would truly love to win a copy of this book. Even if I don't, I am happy to learn that it exists and will search for it in my library. My ancestors on both sides came from Ireland. Some decided to go back there to live after only few years in America. Thank you for your newsletter. I always look forward to reading it.
Irish American Mom
Hi Maureen - It's interesting that you mention how some of your ancestors returned to Ireland after spending only a few years in America. My great grandfather also returned to Skibbereen, County Cork from Salem, Massachussetts back in the 1890's. I once wrote a blog post about it and posed the question - did many Irish immigrants return to their homeland?
I think it happened more frequently than we think.
All the best,
Mairéad
Laura Forberg
What a great book! I’m so excited to read it. I love everything about Irish immigration. I just recently found out my great grandparents came to Montana from Ireland in the late 1800s. I would love to win this book. Thank you!
Irish American Mom
Hi Laura - I have read that Butte, Montana was home to many Irish immigrants back in the late 19th century. Many miners from the West Cork town of Allihies, where there were copper mines, went there to work in the silver mines. An Irish man, Marcus Daly, recruited many of the Irish to move to Butte. There are many immigrant tales to be told and I love hearing from readers about where there families came from in Ireland and where they settled in America.
All the best,
Mairéad
Erin Friedman
My great grandfather George Convy came from Tullamore - he brought a piece of Irish sod when he sailed to America. Now and then he would pour himself some Irish whiskey and have a good cry over the land he would never see again. I love that story - I wrote a song about it. And I'm loving learning all about Irish history and culture and my own family's journey.
Irish American Mom
Hi Erin - The area around Tullamore, County Offally is primarily made up of peat bogs, so it is no wonder that your great grandfather brought a piece of Irish sod with him. I can just picture him with his whiskey in hand, thinking about his homeland. If you would ever like to share your family story and your song with readers here on my blog, just let me know ( email mom@irishamericanmom.com ). Thank you so much for sharing your family story.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Erin Friedman
Thanks - I will email you!
Irish American Mom
Thanks Erin - your song is wonderful.
All the best
Mairéad
Deirdre Obrien
My family emigrated in the 1960’s but we have kept in contact with all our Irish relatives. Even our children are keeping in contact Much easier in these days. Sounds like a wonderful book.
Irish American Mom
Hi Deirdre - Communication and travel have made staying in touch across the ocean so much easier today than it was when your family first went over in the 1960's. I remember when I first went to the United States in 1988 my phone bills were astronomical. I easily spent $200 per month calling home, which was a small fortune out of my wages back then. Now the internet makes international calling so easy. What a blessing it is!
All the best,
Mairéad
Kristina McGovern
This is a story that needed to be told. The hardships for our ancestors and their subsequent endurance inform our resilience today. One look at the old family pictures, though few and far between, makes us grateful for documentation in the written form.
Irish American Mom
Hi Kristina - Beautifully said. Recording our immigrant stories is an important way for us to strengthen our family resilience. It can help future generations, whose lives are so much easier because of their ancestors sacrifices, to fully understand the journeys that made our current lives a reality.
All the best, and thanks for stopping by.
Mairéad
Laura C Kiser
I just returned from Ireland last month and I felt so ignorant as to my family’s story of how they came to America and when. I am trying to learn all I can now about our lives in the homeland. I am a Crowley.
Irish American Mom
Hi Laura - I'm delighted to hear your trip to Ireland has given you inspiration to investigate your family heritage. The name Crowley is very common in County Cork. I wonder if that is from where your family hails. Wishing you every success on your search for your genealogical answers and your quest to record your family history.
All the best,
Mairéad
Chris Kennedy
My Father came from Ireland after serving in the Royal Air Force in WWII. Landed in New York and started as paper boy then working his way across America. He wound up in Southern Calif and got a job later with an aviation parts mfg and rose to position of Vice President in the aviation hey day here. Along the way he married a Scottish American woman who worked at the same company and started a family. I worked at that company also. It was a good lesson because Dad & his comrades gave me no quarter for being related. Since, my younger brother has spent quite a bit of time with Ancestry, mapping the family history and I recently sent in my DNA as well showing both a strong Irish & Scottish history.
Irish American Mom
Hi Chris - Thanks for sharing your father's story of success in America, especially after serving in WWII. It sounds like aviation is in your blood and nice to see that you too are in the family business. My husband is a pilot and now my eldest son is beginning to think about how to get his pilot's license. I think a love aviation is also a DNA marker and I'm not the one who passed it on to our sons. DNA testing is a powerful tool and can teach us so much about our heritage - good to hear you are researching your family connections.
All the best,
Mairéad
Jane
Happy Monday! The stories of Irish immigrants are not often shared. I appreciate the opportunity here!! Looking forward to reading this new story! Thank you!!
Irish American Mom
Hi Jane - I hope you're having a good Monday. I agree with you, Irish immigrant tales are seldom shared. Even though most of the laborers who built the railroads were Irish, especially the tracks that were laid down from the east to the west, Irish characters seldom feature in leading roles in movies or books. The odd shady saloon keeper is often Irish, but I think it is high time we heard more about the gritty, determined Irish people who succeeded in America. This book helps fill that gap.
Many thanks for checking out this blog post and supporting our giveaway.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Joan
Thank You for a chance to win this book. I have been doing genealogy for many,many years but have not much on the Irish. Don't even know what county they came from.
Joan
Irish American Mom
Hi Joan - I hope you have had more success when researching the other parts of your family tree. Thanks so much for stopping by.
All the best,
Mairéad
Marilyn
I would love to win this book. Irish history is fascinating and I have read many books on it. Wish we knew about our history. We only know the great grandparents were married in America.
Marilyn
Irish American Mom
Hi Marilyn - Irish history is fascinating, beyond a doubt. I too love to read about Irish history and have loved the topic since I was a schoolgirl in Dublin. Books like this bring the stories of the past to life and make them more meaningful.
Take care,
Mairéad
Marion
This would be a great book to win and read. I love reading Irish history. There are no records in the family since my father was orphaned at a young age. Thank you for the chance to win.
Marion
Irish American Mom
Hi Marion - Sorry to hear you have no family records to help you research your Irish roots. But rest assured, feeling a spiritual connection with Ireland requires no birth certificates or official records to be deep and meaningful. I'm so glad you like reading Irish history and exploring your Irish heritage.
All the best,
Mairéad
Mary Ann
I would love to read this book and will be inquiring at my library. My paternal and maternal grandparents immigrated to Butte, Montana during the famine. They were all from County Cork. My siblings and I visited Ireland in 2013 and visited all four homes of my grandparents. I grew up in Butte, Montana. The Irish history runs deep there. So enjoy your blog, thank you!
Irish American Mom
Hi Mary Ann - Few people are aware of the deep connections between Butte, Montana and Ireland and especially County Cork. My family also hail from Cork and my mother is from West Cork, near where many of the miners who went to Butte originated. As my granny used to say when she met someone from the same locality, 'we might be 31st cousins.' Thanks so much for following my recipes and ramblings.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Lury Budde
Love your shares always enjoy reading your post.
Irish American Mom
Thanks so much for your kind words about my blog posts. I really appreciate it.
Take care,
Mairéad
Kathleen Lyle
I’m quite interested in my Irish history. My mother was very close with her memories and shared very little. We have cousins who visit and I am going to Ireland next year. With each loss of family members, memories are lost. Love this blog, it usually makes me smile!!
Irish American Mom
Hi Kathleen - I think many Irish people from generations before us were notoriously silent and slow to share their stories of Ireland - painful memories of leaving and loss were part of the Irish immigrant experience. I'm delighted to learn you are reconnecting with your Irish cousins and sharing memories. Happy planning for your trip to Ireland next year and I hope you will enjoy every minute of your time there.
All the best,
Mairéad
Jean Mac Coy
I always love a good book!
Irish American Mom
And my 'to read' list gets longer by the day, Jean.
All the best,
Mairéad
Anita Gambrell
This sounds like it’s going to be a great read!
Irish American Mom
🙂 🙂 🙂
All the best,
Mairéad
Jeff
Ms. Mahoney's ancestors came over to the United States about the same time as my own great-great-grandparents came over. It would be very interesting to read her interpretation of her ancestors' travels.
Thanks for sharing this book with us!
Irish American Mom
Hi Jeff - Like you, I think recounting stories of the immigrant journey to America is very important. This experience was harrowing at the time of the Famine, when ships were often overcrowded and ill equipped to cater for the needs of their passengers. I believe many lumber ships were quickly adapted, adding berths to help cope with the demand for passage across the Atlantic. They brought lumber from Canada to England and Ireland and then returned to Canada with people escaping the devastation in Ireland.
All the best,
Mairéad
m broderick
Yes the sounds like it could be very informative
Irish American Mom
Thanks so much for checking out this blog post and Jean's book.
All the best,
Mairéad
Susan
Hi Mairead
I am what you would refer to in New York as a BIC , otherwise known as a Bronx Irish Catholic. My grandparents sailed across the pond and settled in a large Irish enclave in the Bronx ,many of whom were police officers and firemen. I would love to draw the parallels of those Irish who settled on the exact other side of the country.
I’m sure they shared many similar experiences. I loved Jeans quote about visiting your relatives in foreign countries. She is so right. The years fly by and we need to do it when we have the chance!
Irish American Mom
Hi Susan - I too have relatives who settled in the Bronx. So many Irish settled in New York, it's no wonder New York truly knows how to celebrate on St. Patrick's Day. Like you, I am interested in learning about the Irish who settled all over the United States. I believe we have many stories to tell and it's lovely to see these stories being recorded by authors like Jean.
Thanks for stopping by.
Mairéad
Sharon
Would love to read this book.
Irish American Mom
Thanks for checking out this giveaway, Sharon.
All the best,
Mairéad
Mary Sullivan
This book sounds like it could also be about my in-laws. They also came to San Francisco. My husband was raised in Palo Alto also. We have met his mother's relatives in Oughterard, Co Galway, but the records of his grandfather's side of the family were lost in the San Francisco earthquake fire of 1906. We believe he was from the Cork area as there are so many Sullivans there. It would be most interesting to read what life was like for the family in this book since they were in the same area as my husband's family.
I love reading your posts. They are so interesting and quite informative. 🙂
Irish American Mom
Hi Mary - I'm thrilled to hear you got to meet your husband's Galway relatives in Ireland. You have followed Jean's advice and visited your cousins across the water. Sullivan is definitely a Cork or Kerry name. Most are from Cork but there are quite a few in Kerry too. Unfortunately fire destroyed many Irish records too when the Four Courts building in Dublin was bombed in 1922 during the Irish Civil War.
Thanks so much for following my recipes and ramblings.
Mairéad
Debbie Shippee
According to AncestryDNA, I am about 3% Irish...I was hoping it would be more but the heart connection I have to the Emerald Isle goes far beyond bloodline. Ever since I can remember I’ve had this longing to eat, breathe & sleep Ireland!! I finally got the chance to travel there in 2017 & returned in 208. I’m hoping to make it a yearly trip. My oldest daughter is Erin..the second was to be Shannon, but hubby disapproved. My 3rd daughter is Molly. I would LOVE to win this book. But even if I don’t, you can be sure I WILL read it!!!!
Irish American Mom
Hi Debbie - Be proud of your 3% Irish bloodline. It does not matter if you have 1% or 100% Irish heritage, your strong sense of connection to the Emerald Isle is what is important. It's wonderful to hear you returned to Ireland just one year after your first trip. Many thanks for sharing your family story and Irish connections.
All the best,
Mairéad
Maureen Null
Really enjoyed this blog post and looking forward to winning this interesting history book. I lived in the Bay Area for 40 years, San Francisco was my playground, wow what a fabulous city! If I don't win the book I will certainly buy it.
Maureen N.
Irish American Mom
Hi Maureen - San Francisco truly is a fantastic and fascinating city. When I visited many years ago I took a photo standing by a "Geary Street" sign. I wondered if the street was named after some far distant cousin of mine.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Patricia Delaney
I'm currently working on family geneaology. This book sounds great.
Irish American Mom
Hi Patricia - Thanks so much for checking out this post and for entering our little giveaway. I really appreciate your support.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Suzanne
My sister and our husbands are on our way over to Ireland the end of May! While the men are golfing ,she and I will be looking under every Irish nook and cranny to get a feel for the Irish people and their land! ( Our maiden name is Ryan). Before we go , Brave Hearts is a must read for us!
Irish American Mom
Hi Suzanne - Happy travels in Ireland. Have a wonderful time exploring the highways and byways of Ireland while your husbands are enjoying the wonderful golf courses. County Tipperary is home to many Ryans so I hope you discover this lush, green part of Ireland too.
Happy trails,
Mairéad
Kerry Smith
Sounds like a heartwarming story. I would love to read it!!
Irish American Mom
Hi Kerry - Thanks for supporting our little giveaway.
Take care,
Mairéad
Pam Logan
I would love to read this book. My niece is doing extensive research on our family tree. And, yes, there is quite a bit of Irish there...
Irish American Mom
Hi Pam -Lovely to hear your niece is discovering all of your family's Irish roots.
All the best,
Mairéad
Jane C Petz
I hope it isn't noon in San Francisco- yet!! 🙂
Irish American Mom
Hi Jane - Worry not, you haven't missed the giveaway. I haven't done the draw yet, so your name will be in the hat. Thanks so much for checking out this giveaway.
Best wishes,
Mairéad