I want to thank my entire family for the love and support that made this possible.
My beloved father didn’t get to see this book but he would be so proud.
To my mother, there are no words to express my love and gratitude.
Deep thanks to all my siblings:
James and Sinead, and their children Owen, Anne, and Jimmy;
Conor and Celine, and their children Don, Conor Jr., and Gemma;
Owen and John; and my sister Ita, whom we all miss every day of our lives.
The team at Running Press has been brilliant. To my visionary editor Kristen Green Wiewora, who had a plan from the first and has firmly and gently brought it to fruition. Thanks as well as my excellent photographer Steve Legato, to creative director and designer Frances Soo Ping Chow, to project editor Annie Lenth, to publicist Suzanne Wallace, and the entire marketing and sales group who have been so supportive.
Warmest thanks to my patient, unflagging, and fabulous writer, Lynn Marie Hulsman. Lynn, you are MAGIC, and this book simply would not have been possible without you.
Thanks to my agent, Sharon Bowers, who loves me like family and always sounds happy to hear my voice on the phone, no matter what I’m ringing about.
And finally, all my gratitude to Dessie Clements for always being there.