"A drop of Irish blood will make up for all the rest." This expression-is it humorous or serious? We just know it shows the enthusiasm with which James B. McConville embraces his Irish heritage and "all things Irish." The author began researching the roots of his McConville and Bradley families when he was in grade school in the 1970s, long before genealogy became fashionable. Reading Irish history has been a passion all his life, and he shares that knowledge in this book. "A wee bit of all that is Irish" in Irish Touches: Recipes and Traditions includes the history of Ireland, Irish immigration, famous battles, and lists of famous Irish Americans. He teaches the reader how to write a limerick, shares his favorite recipes, and tells us about Irish whiskeys and beers, along with the pubs in which he has sampled them. He shares his favorite Irish toasts and blessings and discusses Irish folklore, the claddagh, and Irish High Crosses. Most interesting is the author's "Irish Travel Highlights." The Top Ten Greatest Poets and Writers, Dramatists, Sports, and traditional Irish music are discussed, as well as the University of Notre Dame, the author's alma mater, and Irish wolfhounds (yes, he raised one, and named him Barney). - Patricia McConville Martin (author's sister)
About the Author: James Bradley McConville holds a B.S. degree in preprofessional studies from the University of Notre Dame, and an M.D. degree from the University of Iowa. Dr. Brad has been a family physician in Centerville, Iowa, for thirty-eight years. During that time, he delivered more than one thousand babies and was an Appanoose County Medical Examiner for twenty-eight years. Now retired from active practice, he enjoys genealogy and researching Irish history, heritage, culture, literature, music, and travel, in addition to painting, writing, and traveling to visit his eleven grandchildren. Growing up in Centerville, Iowa, Brad was fascinated by a wide variety of ethnic groups, many of whom settled in the area as immigrants to mine coal. His McConville ancestors originally were ironstone miners in the Mountains of Mourne who emigrated from County Down, County Armagh, and County Mayo to Scotland and later to America to mine coal. The extended McConville family successfully owned and operated seven coal mines in Southern Iowa from the 1890s to the 1950s. His maternal Bradley ancestors emigrated from Belfast to Pennsylvania in 1810-1820. They then migrated to Appanoose County, Iowa, in the 1850s where they became successful bankers. Brad's wife, Dewey, shares his Irish origins. Her paternal grandmother was a Harvey, (originally thought to be O'Harbhasaigh) from Northern Ireland. Brad and Dewey visited Ireland twice while their college-age children were studying abroad. Brad later toured Ireland in 2001 with his sisters, Patricia Martin and Joyce Kramer, and his niece, Anne Kurth. Brad became more and more fascinated by the unique richness of Irish history, culture, language, and music. The beauty of the Irish countryside with its many picturesque historic castles and monastic ruins intrigued him. The charm of the Irish people themselves reminded him of the charm of his Irish relations. For those with Irish ancestry, a trip to Ireland evokes a kindred spirit that is like "returning home."