Those Irish Eyes are Smiling! Irish Cincinnati by Kevin Grace
Last year I wrote this post, Irish History on My Table, about meeting with author and archivist, Kevin Grace. At that time, I gave him some treasured family pictures and told him some of our much-loved stories. Kevin wanted his new book, Irish Cincinnati, to be about the common man as well as the wealthy and well known. I didn’t know if my photos and stories would make the final cut, but they DID! It really touched my heart to be in this book. Thank you Kevin Grace! Lots of Irish eyes are looking down from heaven and smiling big time, knowing that their story was as important as that of the Gamble, Sinton and Keating families.
I thought that since St. Paddy’s Day is just around the corner, this would be the perfect time to introduce this book to you. It’s an easy read, filled with the history of many Irish immigrants and their tales of challenge, perserverance and success. Cincinnati is known for it’s German heritage, but at one time 21 percent of the folks living there were of Irish descent.
John and Madeleine McCudden
My mother (left) in O’Bryonville
My mother loved to tell stories from her younger days and I’m so glad that she did! She always managed to make these years sound a bit romantic…roaming the valley by the stream in her backyard to find the first watercress, scampering onto the Island Queen for a boat ride up the Ohio River to Coney Island in summer for Irish Day where she won the Irish jig contest and trudging up Cinnamon Street in the snow to Holy Angels School in winter holding a baked potato fresh from the oven to keep her hands warm and have her breakfast at the same time. She didn’t have an easy life, but the part that she wanted to share with me always had a ray of sunshine and that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
Some of my fondest memories are sitting with her at the kitchen table, watching as she peeled her beloved potatoes. I would sit close beside her listening to her stories and watching her cook…which is exactly how I learned. I enjoyed cooking so much that I would sometimes take it upon myself to start cooking without her! As I got older she loved that, but when I was younger…not so much.
Mary Louise Carter – My Mother
Since it’s March and the big day (St. Paddy’s Day, of course) is right around the corner, I’ll be taking a walk down memory lane in my next few posts and telling you about some of our Irish family favorites to share with your family and friends for Sunday Supper.
In our hectic world, most of us can't commit to having dinner with our family/friends every night, but maybe we can start to put aside Sunday to be together and share our lives and good food. Let's join together to inspire others to celebrate our old traditions and create new ones. 
Paula c — Sunday, March 3, 2013 @ 12:00 pm
Wonderful post! I am going to find the book ASAP. Looking forward to upcoming Irish recipes.
Susie replied: — March 3rd, 2013 @ 9:09 pm
Thank you so much for your comment. This post has meant so much to me because I got to honor my family. I’m glad that you appreciated it.
Nancy Cahn — Monday, March 18, 2013 @ 5:42 pm
I’ve enjoyed your Blog for e.v.e.r. But have never had the courage to leave a comment. But this post just touched my heart! Thank you for sharing your story, and might I add your mother is GORGEOUS! I spent a few years, a lifetime ago, living in Cincinnatti, and a part of me will always be there.
Thank you for all the love, devotion and work you’ve put into this Blog! I enjoy it so much!
Susie replied: — March 18th, 2013 @ 6:17 pm
I’m sitting here teary-eyed over your comment. I don’t know who reads my blog…I just put it out there in cyberspace hoping that folks enjoy it and that it’s meaningful in some way. Thank you so much for saying what you did…it really made me feel that the last 2 years have been all worth while.
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