This week, much of our thoughts and time have been given to remembering and trying to pay adequate tribute to the many facets and love of Vera Casey, the founder and decades long proprietor of Casey’s Irish Imports. Vera’s love for family, for her Irish roots in Cong, C. Mayo and now in Cleveland, and for her family, are evident all around us.
If I had to pick one word, among the very many compliments that apply to Vera, it is selflessness. She gave and gave to others, with a hand squeeze and a murmur of a prayer to accompany you on your way. Faith is an integral part of Vera’s life; it carried her through tougher times and kept her in the present to squeeze moments out of each day and each meeting in current ones.
She always made time to ask how are you really doing? Always made time for a hug.
Vera treated us here at iIrish with unwavering business and personal support, from our very first days through the near two decades since, always with a big smile, eyes shining in good humor, love and effortless class.
Casey’s has always been an integral part of the Irish community, but Vera, Maureen, Kathleen, Tricia and the next generation too gets involved as well, from being members of the Irish clubs, the Hibernians, the Rose of Tralee, the Pioneers – I can’t capture the whole list, or adequately acknowledge the Casey impact. I just know it to be significant. I know we have been blessed with a great gift. I am forever grateful.
See the What’s the Craic?, and so much more, within.
iIrish is made in America. We have always been green and are proudly Irish, all year long.
Nuair a stadann an ceol, an damhsa déanann an amhlaidh
(When the music stops, so does the dance)
John
Speech by Mary Lou McDonald at “Preserving Our Past, Rising to Our Future” Moore St conference
John O'Brien, Jr.
*John is a Founder and the Publisher and Editor of iIrish, an archivist, spokesman, emcee, Spoken Word presenter and author of five books, (see below) so far.
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