Says Renee: "The expressions I heard growing up were said to my mother by my grandmother. My grandmother, who immigrated to the United States in 1907 from County Mayo Ireland, had many wise words and witty expressions to help my mother navigate life’s ups and downs. I am sure that my great-grandmother shared those same expressions with my grandmother, thereby connecting generation after generation with their wise words and witty expressions."
Rene lives in New Jersey and her book is proving very popular among the Irish-American community in the city and beyond.
'Wise Words and Witty Expressions' has sections devoted to motherhood, love, life’s challenges, and sarcasm, and many of the witty sayings will be familiar to Mayo people, well known, of course, for their quick wit.
One of her favorite expressions which she quotes in the book is "A good reputation is an easy thing to lose and a very hard thing to get back."
Bridget Ena Madden's journey from Hollymount to America was similar to that of hundreds of thousands of Irish people who left for a new life in the New World throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.
New Life
Says Renee: "My grandmother came from Hollymount. She left for America on June 1, 1907. I recently learned that my grandmother left for America on my birthday. I thought that a special connection between us.
"My grandmother was not the daughter who was supposed to come to the States. Her sister Mary Ellen got scared at the last minute and refused to go. The family was very poor and since the ticket had already been paid for my grandmother came in her place. She did this at the age of 18, by herself, with only 24 hours notice to leave for a new life.
"They gave her a bottle of Jameson to give to her sponsor. On the journey over, many members of the ship took ill and my grandmother offered her bottle of Jameson to help them.
"Needless to say, the bottle was empty by the time she arrived.
"Her parents were Thomas Madden and Mary Turbett Madden. My grandmother's maiden name was Bridget Ena Madden, born in 1888. She arrived in the US via Ellis Island and worked as an in resident maid and cook before marrying my grandfather.
Her Brothers
"While in the United States, she worked to bring three brothers over. One did not take to life in the US and returned to Ireland.
"Another took ill and was to return but became too sick to travel and ultimately died in the US. My grandmother took a room and stayed with him until his death.
"She was alone with no money and so she made arrangements for a payment plan with the funeral director to pay for a casket and plot to bury him. The third brother remained in the US and was a close family member.
"She went on to marry my grandfather and become a McCaffrey and had 7 children. Three of her sons served in WWII in Europe, the Pacific and the US. She was very proud of that. She prayed for them the entire time they were gone and knew they would return safely and thankfully they did.
Mother
"The youngest of my grandmother's children was my mother, Patricia Eileen. Growing up, my mother had an expression for every life experience. I learned as I grew that these were the same expressions my grandmother had said to my mother growing up.
"I was motivated to write this book to share the common sense wisdom from my mother and grandmother while also honoring my Irish roots.
"These are strong, proud roots and I credit them with seeing me through the best and worst of times," says Renee.
Click here to preview 'Wise Words and Witty Expressesions'.
You will find all Renee's contact information in the Mayo Mobile Phone Directory.
Follow us on Twitter
Join our Facebook page