Old Ireland in Colour, created by John Breslin and Sarah-Anne Buckley is a magnificent compilation of vintage images from around Ireland, vividly portraying Irish life in years gone by.
Today, I'm delighted to share this wonderful book with you. It was one of the top selling books in Ireland over the 2020 holiday period, and when you see its spectacular images, you'll fully understand why.
This lovely publication is now available in the United States, and to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day, the publisher Merrion Press has graciously shared a copy with Irish American Mom, for one lucky reader to win.
But before I share details of this giveaway, let's first take a closer look at this Irish treasure.
Table of Contents
Life In Ireland Long Ago
Have you ever wondered what life was like for your ancestors in Ireland?
Have you ever held an old black and white family portrait or landscape photograph, and imagined it in color in your own mind's eye?
Have you ever truly imagined how the people of Ireland lived in years gone by?
If so, then you might truly enjoy this book. It boasts beautifully restored images of Old Ireland, that bring the lives of our forebears to life before our very eyes.
Old Ireland In Colour
Old Ireland in Colour celebrates the rich history of Ireland and the Irish through the colour restoration of stunning images of all walks of Irish life, and the Irish abroad, throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
From the chaos of the Civil War to the simple beauty of the islands, each image has been exquisitely transformed and every page is bursting with life.
Old Family Pictures As Inspiration
Old Ireland in Colour started in 2019 when John Breslin developed an interest in historic photo colourisation, enhancement and restoration through personal genealogical research.
He began to colorize old family photos – photos of his grandparents from Fanore in Co. Clare and Glenties in Co. Donegal. Using a combination of cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology and his own historical research,
John moved from family photographs to photographs of Galway and Connemara, and then on to others taken across the island of Ireland in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. After a few months, the Old Ireland in Color project was born.
For this beautiful book, John has meticulously colorized a varied and fascinating selection of images, with breath-taking attention to detail and authenticity.
With photographs from all four provinces, and accompanied by fascinating captions by historian Sarah-Anne Buckley, Old Ireland in Color revitalizes scenes we thought we knew, and brings our past back to life before our eyes.
Vintage Images of Ireland
Let's take a look at some of these Irish cultural treasures.
The Dillons were a Norman family who initially received grants of land in Westmeath and who later acquired properties in neighbouring counties, including Roscommon and Galway.
A photograph by Mary Alice Young, inspired by Flemish art. Young was the eldest daughter of the Rt Hon. Sir F.E.W. Macnaghten, and in 1893 she married W.R. Young, the eldest son of the Rt Hon. John Young and the owner of Galgorm Castle near Ballymena.
Between 1890 and 1915, she took over a thousand photographs and is therefore one of the period’s most prolific female photographers.
Pictured here are Nonnie, or Nannie, O’Donnell, Mary Rodgers, Kitty Conneely and Mrs Gill, all from the Claddagh, Galway City.
The women are wearing the Galway shawl, which was a heavy-weight shawl that became popular at the end of the nineteenth century.
Lady Hazel Lavery (née Martyn) (1880 –1935) dressed as Flora in Botticelli’s painting The Spring.
Born in Chicago to a family of Irish descent, Lavery was an actress, painter and socialite. In 1909, she married Belfast-born John Lavery, who was twenty-four years her senior.
Her portrait by John featured on all Irish Series A banknotes from 1928 until 1976. From then until the adoption of the euro, her likeness was used as the watermark on all Irish banknotes.
Members of the Sheridan and O’Brien families from the Irish Travelling community at mealtime.
Linda O’Reilly (née Ward) was an American model who married Brendan O’Reilly, a presenter on Sports Stadium on RTÉ Television.
Pictured here on a photoshoot in Dublin, she swapped New York for Dublin’s modelling scene, and this picture shows two local boys admiring her fashionable outfit.
This photograph depicts Mrs Bridget Flynn and five of her children – Francis (boy standing), Bridget (mother), Margaret (toddler), Philomena (girl standing), Norbert and Mary (seated).
The Riley family, from Bradford, England, were survivors of the Lusitania sinking.
Photographed here are parents Annie and Edward Riley and their 4-year-old twins, Sutcliffe and Ethel. Of the almost 2,000 persons aboard the Lusitania, 764 were saved.
Two young girls from the Blasket Islands, which were inhabited until 1953 by an Irish-speaking population.
At their height, the islands had 175 residents; there were twenty-two by 1953.
This photograph depicts members of the Sheridan and O’Brien families from the Irish Travelling community.
Sublichs is the Cant (a language spoken by the Travelling community) term for boys.
About The Authors
John Breslin is a Professor at NUI Galway, where he has taught engineering, computer science and entrepreneurship over a twenty-year period. He has written over 200 publications and co-authored two books.
Dr Sarah-Anne Buckley is a lecturer in History at NUI Galway and President of the Women’s History Association of Ireland. She has published two monographs, four edited volumes and numerous articles. She is co-founder of the Irish Centre for the Histories of Labour and Class.
Bringing Yesteryear To Life
This book brings yesteryear to life.
It's a perfect gift for anyone who loves Ireland, but for older generations it may evoke childhood memories. These images are a great way to take a little trip down memory lane. You'll find many great topics for "do you remember" chats.
I received a copy of this book as a gift for Christmas. I found the pictures to be poignant and evocative. Each image is matched with just enough text to enlighten the reader, perfectly elaborating each topic.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who has Irish roots, grew up in Ireland, or those who simply have a deep interest in Irish culture and life.
The photos have been digitized and colorized with great skill, making them look like they were taken yesterday. They take you on a journey into the past, traveling through all four provinces of Ireland.
A decade or so ago I recall seeing vintage images with added color. The results were not good, with unrealistic results. This is definitely not the case with this book. The color palate achieved is very realistic, and each shot portrays the humanity and simplicity of Irish life in years gone by.
Where To Purchase Old Ireland In Colour
Old Ireland in Colour is published by Merrion Press and is now for sale in the United States.
It is available through Amazon.
There are many reviews included on the Amazon page, with delighted customers sharing how impressed they are with this work. This book makes a perfect Irish gift.
You can follow Old Ireland in Colour on Instagram, where they share many of these amazing photographs.
They also have a Facebook page which you may like to follow.
The Giveaway
One lucky reader will win a hard cover copy of Old Ireland in Colour.
To enter simply leave a comment on this blog post by noon Eastern Time on Saturday, March 20th, 2021.
Any comment will do. What you write does not affect your chance of winning, but if you need inspiration why not tell us if you have any treasured family photos, or vintage images from Ireland or beyond.
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 Saturday, March 20th, 2021, at the bottom of this blog post.
You may check out Irish American Mom’s complete terms and conditions for sweepstakes’ entries here.
Thank you to all who support this giveaway and share it with family and friends.
And thank you to Merrion Press for sponsoring this prize.
Update: Winner Chosen
Our winner has been randomly chosen using the Pick Giveaway Winner Plug-in for WordPress.
And the lucky reader is ….
Kira Law
I’ll send an email to arrange mailing of her prize. A big thank you to everyone for supporting this giveaway by leaving comments. I thoroughly enjoyed reading each and every comment.
Thank you all for supporting our Irish American community.
Stay tuned for more stories and giveaways over the coming weeks and months.
Thanks for following my recipes and ramblings.
Slán agus beannacht,
(Goodbye and blessings)
Mairéad -Irish American Mom
Pronunciation - slawn ah-gus ban-ock-th
Mairéad - rhymes with parade
Disclosure: I do not have any financial connection with Merrion Press. The link for purchasing this book is an Amazon affiliate link, which means that if you should purchase this book through this link, I will earn a small commission. The price you pay is not affected. This post reflects my honest and unbiased thoughts about this work.
Copyright 2020 by John Breslin and Dr. Sarah-Anne Buckley. Images republished with permission from Merrion Press.
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Gail
I was adopted at birth but through a DNA test learned was Irish and Scottish. I learned my Irish ancestor came to America shortly before the American Revolution from County Antrim in Northern Ireland. His name was Joseph Cathcart and he was a spy for the Americans during the Revolutionary War. He was captured by the British and was going to be hanged as a spy, but his accusers didn't show up for the trial so they had to release him! (My son said, "Lucky for us!" lol) As as adoptee, I was raised by people of Dutch heritage, so now I'm trying to learn all I can about my Irish heritage and I was so pleased to stumble across your web site!!
Irish American Mom
Hi Gail - Thank you for sharing your family story, and your journey of discovery through DNA testing. You have made amazing strides and uncovered an incredible story from your past. I'm so glad you found my website.I'm delighted you decided to follow my recipes and ramblings, and I look forward to bringing a little bit of Ireland to you each week.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Daniel W. Hogan
Gail, you may have been raised by Dutch but your grand message sounds Irish, for sure. Funny how genetics take over our manners.
Irish American Mom
So true, Daniel. Gail's turn of phrase sounds very Irish. Have a lovely Saint Patrick's Day.
All the best,
Mairéad
Sandra Russell
What an amazing looking book that changes the way we see our past. ( I think most of us either have Irish ancestry or have Irish friends so I can see why this book is so popular! )
Irish American Mom
Hi Sandra - Readers of this blog all have deep connections with Ireland, or else they feel very Irish at heart. I love reading how some readers feel a strong connection to Ireland, and then afterwards discover they have Irish ancestry through DNA testing. It's lovely to see this post generate so much interest and lovely comments. Thanks for stopping by to support this giveaway.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Jan Hart
Would LOVE to have this! My family is from Ireland and I have always been fascinated with with Ireland and its history!
Michele
I have been following Old Ireland on Instagram and think the pictures are just beautiful! Would love to win the book to have the entire collection.
Irish American Mom
Hi Michele - I've added the links for Old Ireland in Colour on Instagram and Facebook. It's a lovely way to connect with people of Irish heritage.
All the best,
Mairéad
Irish American Mom
Hi Jan - I'm so glad you enjoy the snippets of Irish history I love to share, and I hope they help you feel connected to Ireland, the land of your ancestors. I'm so happy you like this prize. It's a beautiful, artistic volume, perfect for anyone with Irish heritage.
All the best,
Mairéad
Linda
What a treasure this book is!! I often look at places and things old and wonder what it was like back in the day. Someone will have the luck of the Irish and receive this beautiful book, for sure. Fingers crossed.
Irish American Mom
Hi Linda - So glad you like this prize. Thanks for stopping by to support our little giveaway. Best of Irish luck in the contest.
All the best,
Mairéad
Maggie
This is so cool! Thank you for sharing!
Irish American Mom
Hi Maggie - Thanks for stopping by to support this giveaway.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Brian Groves
As I have stated on an earlier post I am now in the process of discovering my Irish heritage born as a McKenna this book would be a great resource to learn more about the past. I did celebrate a wee bit early St. Pattys day with a wee bit of Shepherd's pie! (not sure if it was authentic or not as I have not eaten any from Ireland) but it was delicious!!
Irish American Mom
Hi Brian - Lovely to hear you enjoyed your shepherd's pie. Once it's delicious, that's all that matters, traditional or not. This book would be perfect for you, to see what life was like in Ireland long ago.
Thanks for stopping by to support this giveaway.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Barbara Karr
The sample photos that you shared are truly beautiful! Seeing the older photos are like going back in time. Thanks for sharing.
Irish American Mom
Hi Barbara - So glad you like this prize. Best of luck in our giveaway.
Take care,
Mairéad
Cathleen A Toomey
I love looking at these pictures. I can feel an almost bond with my ancestors that lived there. Wonderful!!
Irish American Mom
Hi Cathleen - These photos are very real and human. They're something poignant about the faces and places featured throughout these pages that makes us fee connected to our past. Thanks so much for following my recipes and ramblings.
All the best,
Mairéad
Kitty
This book would be a wonderful way to share my family history with my nephews and nieces. Thank you
Irish American Mom
Hi Kitty - It's lovely to know you're proud of your Irish heritage and share it with your nephews and nieces. That is wonderful and this book would be a lovely resource for your family. Thanks for checking out my ramblings and for exploring our ancestral heritage here in our Irish American community.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Audrey Stewart
I am Irish-American. I had a trip planned to Ireland before the Pandemic. At least I had a chance to save more money. I loved the photos.
Irish American Mom
Hi Audrey - I hope it won't be long before you are on your way to Ireland. I have a feeling the skies will be very busy in 2022. Thanks so much for following my recipes and ramblings.
All the best,
Mairéad
Zelva Johnston
What a wonderful look at history! I love learning about my Irish ancestry and this is a wonderful look back in time!
Irish American Mom
Hi Zelva - This truly is an amazing look back in time. It highlights how poor the Irish were in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The photos clearly illustrate the reasons so many Irish headed to America in search of a better life.
All the best,
Mairéad
Mary Dineen Stegemiller
I am amazed how these pictures come to life with color.
As I looked at each photo their stories came to life as well.
So happy this book was published, it certainly is a beautiful
way to study old Ireland. Many thanks to John Breslin and
Sarah-Anne Buckley.
Irish American Mom
Hi Mary - I loved this book and was so delighted when I received it as a Christmas gift. The little snippets of history that accompany each picture add so much to the story each photograph tells.
Thanks so much for following my recipes and ramblings.
All the best,
Mairéad
Jill mcdonald
Would love to win this. Back in the 80s , my grandma had our lineage traced back the 1500s in Ireland. This photo book would grace my living room beautifully.
Irish American Mom
Hi Jill - Your grandma did an amazing job to be able to trace your family all the way back to the 1500's. I hope you have recorded her findings for future generations to cherish. I'm so glad you like this prize. Best of luck in our giveaway.
Take care,
Mairéad
Sandi
What a sweet collection of photos! The children are just priceless! Thanks for sharing.
Irish American Mom
Hi Sandi - It's amazing how happy all of the children look despite the poverty of their surroundings. Their eyes show great spirit and joy. Best of luck in our giveaway.
Take care,
Mairéad
Renee Weinstein
I love seeing old photos showing what life was like from the time when my mother was born and growing up in Ireland. Would love to have this beautiful book!
Irish American Mom
Hi Renee - This book would be perfect for you, and one to treasure and browse through from time to time. Thanks for stopping by to support this giveaway.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Cecelia
Thank you for this post! I'm going to jump over to Insta and follow Old Ireland!! We were blessed to visit Ireland in 2019 and had already started making plans to go back but alas... well, we all know the story. But I'm saving anyway in hopes to return!! Your recipes are helping to keep it fresh. Thank you!
Irish American Mom
Hi Cecelia - Lovely to learn that you enjoyed your first trip to Ireland so much, you're planning a return visit. There's something about Ireland that just keeps calling us home.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Bernadette
Beautiful photos. Would absolutely love to have this book.
Geraldine McGovern
I love old black and white photos, but when colour is added they just seem to come to life. Would love to have this book. Thank you and Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Irish American Mom
Best of luck in our giveaway, Geraldine. Happy Saint Patrick's Day to you and yours.
Take care,
Mairéad
Irish American Mom
Hi Bernadette - Thanks for stopping by to support this giveaway.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
,eg
What an awesome keepsake book to have. Can't wait to see all the inside pictures. I finally met cousins in Ireland 2 yrs ago. We connected thru Ancestory. It was an amazing trip.
Irish American Mom
How wonderful to connect with your family in Ireland. Ancestry is doing an amazing job reconnecting long lost cousins all over the world. So happy to hear you had a fantastic trip to Ireland.
Thanks for stopping by to support this giveaway.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Emily Trites
How amazing to see these photos of people who look like my relatives! Interesting comparison to the Midwestern photos of the same era.
Irish American Mom
Hi Emily - There definitely is a similarity between these Irish photos and some Midwestern photos from America. In the early 20th century many Irish had settled in the Midwest. Depression era photos from America hold the same poignancy as many of these shots.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Ann
My favorite photos are Woman Baking, Posing on the Doorstep, and Curious...
Irish American Mom
Hi Ann - The Woman Baking is a spectacular shot, and so reminiscent of Flemish and Dutch paintings. The lighting is perfect. Posing on the doorstep is typical of many Irish photos of the time. Mrs. Flynn looks like she is pregnant once again as she holds her baby. My father was one of thirteen children. Irish families were very large back then. The curious girls from the Blaskets is a captivating shot. I love their smiles. Their clothes may be shabby, but they look so happy and carefree.
Take care,
Mairéad
Angela Dougherty-Way
What a treasure! The pictures are so wide in range and we are lucky so lucky that someone took the time to do this and compile them all in a book. Love it.
Irish American Mom
Hi Angela - It is wonderful that the authors took the time to complete this project. Much work went in to creating such a treasure trove of social history.
Best of luck in our giveaway.
Take care,
Mairéad
JUDITH L JAMISON
Woweee. What a BEAUTIFUL book. I love the short descriptions of what each picture depicts. If I win I might donate it to the local Irish ceilidhe club that I now belong to. Maybe they can include it in a raffle to raise $$. They have been around since 1955 but had to remain closed the past year. They are hurting financially. They had to close their St. Pat's day celebration just before St. Pat's day last year which is usually their BIGGEST fundraiser. And now this year too! They are doing some online lectures etc, but they money coming in is small.
Irish American Mom
Hi Judith - This book would be a perfect prize for a fund raising raffle. Many clubs like yours are hurting financially. I hope that when life returns to something closer to normal, people will realize how important it is to support clubs, and groups that have been devastated over the past year. Thanks for stopping by to support this giveaway.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
tracy
Wow. This looks like someone took this photo's just yesterday. The images are amazing. Thank you for sharing.
Irish American Mom
Hi Tracy - The colorization process used for these photos is lovely - nothing too bright or gaudy. They all still have a charming, nostalgic look, but all hold so much history.
Thanks so much for following my recipes and ramblings.
All the best,
Mairéad
Ann Kathleen Bradley
Beautiful, touching photos. And as the author of A History of the Irish in America (Chartwell Press, 1985), especially moving to see faces who may have been among the many emigrants to the States over the centuries!
Irish American Mom
Hi Ann Kathleen - Thank you so much for stopping by. I own a copy of your book and have read it a few times. It's a wonderful history of the Irish in America. I think you might be correct about the faces featured on the pages of this book. Many may have ended up in America. Thanks for stopping by to support this giveaway.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Kelly P.
Oh my! What a fantastic book. Thanks for the chance to win!
Irish American Mom
Hi Kelly - Best of luck in our giveaway.
Take care,
Mairéad
Lorraine Bunker
Irish mom living in America too I love this giveaway and loved it even more when i saw the sisterly love picture from my hometown Ahascragh ❤️
Irish American Mom
Hi Lorraine - That's a wonderful old photo of the two Dillon girls from Ahascragh. Thanks for stopping by to check out this giveaway and this amazing book.
All the best, and have a lovely Saint Patrick's Day.
Mairéad
Heather Coyne
New to the blog and love it! Hoping to win a copy!
Irish American Mom
Hi Heather - I'm delighted you found our little corner of the internet. Welcome to our community. Thanks for following my recipes and ramblings.
All the best,
Mairéad
Christine Brennan
With an English Mother and an Irish Father and growing up in England some how I am more drawn to my Irish roots and my visits to Cork have always been amazing..What a wonderful book How I wold love to browse these pages in quite moments.. Thank you..
Irish American Mom
Hi Christine - My family are also from Cork, and I always love to be there. Thanks for stopping by to support this giveaway.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Kathleen
Looks like a lovely book. Brings back fond memories of my trip to Ireland in 2003. We stayed in my friend’s gran’s cottage in Malinmoore.
Irish American Mom
Hi Kathleen - I'm so glad you've had the opportunity to visit Ireland, and that this post brought back some fond memories for you. Irish cottages are so welcoming, and lovely places to stay. Thanks so much for following my recipes and ramblings.
All the best,
Mairéad
Alberta C
I'm part Irish. I would love to read this book.
Irish American Mom
Hi Alberta - Best of luck in our giveaway.
Take care,
Mairéad
Maureen Treacy
The pictures look as if they came out of my own photo albums both from photos I've taken and photos shared from aunts, uncles and a million cousins back in Ireland. I really want to go back very soon and things like this make the want stronger. What a lovely book. I'd love to have it and share with the family here. I enjoy all your posts, recipes and blogs. Many times they conjure up memories I hadn't thought about for years. Thank you!
Irish American Mom
Hi Maureen - I'm so glad my recipes and ramblings bring back warm memories of Ireland and family for you. Thanks for being such a loyal reader. I'm so glad you like this prize and that it reminds you of your own photo albums. Thanks for stopping by.
All the best,
Mairéad
Kelly
I hope you will ship my book to New York.
Irish American Mom
Hi Kelly - The prize will be mailed to the lucky reader anywhere in the US. The publisher's distributor is based in Chicago. Thanks for stopping by to support this giveaway.
All the best,
Mairéad
Ron Murphy
I was just scrolling through the pictures from Old Ireland in Color and they are priceless. As an Irish-American who has had the good fortune to visit the emerald Isle on more than one occasion, the photo's really capture the spirit of Ireland.....and remind me how lucky I am to share that wonderful heritage. Can't wait to make a return visit!
Irish American Mom
Hi Ron - I hope it won't be long before we can all travel again. I'm so glad you like this prize and the photos from this lovely book. Thanks for exploring your Irish heritage here in the Irish American Mom community. Thanks for stopping by to support this giveaway.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
margo
This book looks like such a keepsake to have. I would love to have this to look thru with my family. Love seeing all the pictures of Ireland's past and present.
Irish American Mom
Hi Margo - This book is definitely one to keep and treasure. Thanks so much for following my recipes and ramblings.
All the best,
Mairéad
Charlene
Mairead is the most wonderful blogger! I love her page and her blog. It's obvious she devotes countless hours to IrishAmericanMom, and she's the only blogger I've ever encountered who answers an email right away. I so appreciate that. I read everything on the page, and I've printed out so many recipes. Just waiting now for some of them to be converted to gluten free. Thank you, Mairead, for all you do for the Irish American community!
Charlene
Irish American Mom
Hi Charlene - Thank you for your kind and thoughtful words about my work and my blog. And thank you for choosing to celebrate your Irish heritage by following my recipes and ramblings. I really appreciate your support.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Emily OSullivan
This book looks incredible! My husband grew up in Ireland, Co. Limerick, and his mother is always teaching me about Irish history. We would live this book! (Also, I'm so thankful for your blog. It helps me cook and bake some of the food my husband misses from home, especially on holidays!)
Irish American Mom
Hi Emily - I'm so glad my recipes help you create a taste of Ireland for your husband to enjoy. Lovely to hear your mother-in-law shares stories of Ireland and her history. Thanks for being such a loyal reader.
All the best,
Mairéad
Jacqueline Parker
I'm just simply Irish through and through.
Irish American Mom
That's wonderful, Jacqueline. This little corner of the internet is perfect for you. Thanks for stopping by to support this giveaway.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Laura Barta
These photos make it possible for me to imagine what life was like. My kids tell me that I say that a lot - "Imagine what it was like to live...". I guess I'm interested in people and what their lives are/were like. I find it fascinating.
Irish American Mom
Hi Laura - I often say the same thing to my children, "imagine what it must have been like when...." My kids are teenagers now, so they've started rolling their eyes to heaven when I say this. In years to come they'll probably be saying it themselves. I'm so glad you like this prize. Best of luck in our giveaway.
Take care,
Mairéad
Maureen O Hanlon
This is a wonderful, I would love to own it.
Thank you.
Irish American Mom
Hi Maureen - Thanks for stopping by to support this giveaway. Happy Saint Patrick's Day.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Mary Sullivan
This book looks like such a pleasure to read with a cuppa. The pictures look fabulous. What a treasure!
Irish American Mom
Hi Mary - This definitely is a book to enjoy with a cuppa. So glad you like this prize. Best of luck in our giveaway.
Take care,
Mairéad
Jacalynn Hardesty
Thank you so much for this site! Reading it always makes me happy! We're Irish, Scottish, and English and have been to Ireland twice. When I was there I just felt like I was home, no other way to describe it....Jacalynn Hardesty
Irish American Mom
Hi Jacalynn - Lovely to hear you felt so at home in Ireland. Thanks for being such a loyal reader - lovely to know my ramblings make you feel happy. That makes my day.
All the best,
Mairéad
Colleen Bergin
I would love to win a copy of this amazing book and take a walk through Irish history. Thanks for this opportunity.
Irish American Mom
Hi Colleen - So glad you like this prize. Best of luck in our giveaway.
Take care,
Mairéad
Wanda
Hi. My Grandfather came from Ireland from a town called Birr. My father, daughter and I had the pleasure of visiting Ireland in 2006. I fell in love with it. This was my father’s fourth time visiting. We went to the house where my Grandfather lived. It was a fantastic vacation. I met cousins of mine. I will definitely go back.
I sure hope I win the book. Would love to read about the olden days of Ireland and I know I would so enjoy seeing pictures.
Irish American Mom
Hi Wanda - Lovely to hear you had the opportunity to visit Ireland with your father, and to retrace the footsteps of your ancestors. How fantastic was it that you were able to see the house where your grandfather lived. I hope you make it back someday. Best of luck in our giveaway.
Take care,
Mairéad
Kira Law
The recoloring is quite lovely, it really makes the past seem just that much closer and more alive.
Irish American Mom
Hi Kira - This book was created with an artistic eye, and a keen sense of history. Thanks for stopping by to support this giveaway.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
CLARK K POWER
Brings to life in a beautiful way.
Irish American Mom
Hi Clark - Thanks for reading my ramblings, and for checking out this giveaway and book.
All the best,
Mairéad
Joanne
Happy St. Paddy's Day Mairéad, I really like your site!
Irish American Mom
Hi Joanne - I'm so glad you like my site. Thanks for visiting today.
Happy Saint Patrick's Day to you and yours.
All the best,
Mairéad
Robin
Love Love Love the heritage and expression of bringing the past to the present. Heritage is a powerful word and one we all covet in one way or the other. Thank you for the opportunity regarding the giveaway!
Cheers, Robin
Irish American Mom
Hi Robin - Heritage truly is a powerful word, and an important inheritance. Thank you for choosing to celebrate your Irish heritage by reading my recipes and ramblings. I really appreciate it.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Maura
Hi there,
I would love this book. My mom
was from Dingle County Kerry and my Dad was from Mayo. We were ( brother, sister and I) born in New York but raised in Ireland. I now live in Canada but lived for 15 years in the states.
Irish American Mom
Hi Maura - I'm sure you would love this book especially since you were raised in Ireland after time in New York. I love all the photos, especially the ones of ordinary people. Many thanks for supporting our giveaway.
All the best,
Mairéad
Sally
This looks like a fabulous book and a great way to see how our Irish ancestors lived. I recently found a charming book entitled, “We Were Rich and We Didn’t Know It,” written by Tom Phelan. It’s a memoir of the author’s childhood on a farm in County Laois in the 1940s. I particularly enjoyed the book, because my great grandmother was born and raised a few minutes away from the Phelan farm. In 2019, I visited the area. I got to see my great grandmother’s house and other landmarks of ancestral interest to me.
Irish American Mom
Hi Sally - I've read that book by Tom Phelan and really enjoyed it. I'm sure you were able to relate to the stories and descriptions, especially since your great grandmother was born in the area where it is set. I'm delighted you had the opportunity to visit Ireland and even got to see where she was born. Thanks for stopping by to check out this wonderful book.
All the best,
Mairéad
Jennifer
This book looks amazing! My family has two strong Irish lines in our lineage (O’Connor and the Campbell clans). My husband and I were very fortunate to spend about two weeks traveling throughout Dublin, Cork and Antrim Co. in 2019 and we just cannot wait to go back. So glad to have stumbled across your blog.
Irish American Mom
Hi Jennifer - Lovely to hear you had a memorable trip to Ireland and that you're hoping to return someday. It's amazing how many readers of this blog say one trip is never enough. Ireland calls to us. I'm delighted you found this corner of the internet. Best of luck in our giveaway.
All the best,
Mairéad
John Breslin
Dear all,
Thank you for the lovely comments and thank you Mairéad for this great overview of our book!!
Le gach dea-ghuí,
John Breslin (co-author)
Irish American Mom
Hi John - Thank you for your wonderful book. It truly is an Irish cultural treasure. And many thanks to Merrion Press for supporting our giveaway.
Best wishes,
Mairéad