Sheridan

Sheridans are descendants of O Sioradáin, but no records exist of who this was. Little more is known about the Sheridans than their roots are in Co. Cavan. Literature has been the abiding talent of the Sheridans. Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751-1816), the dramatist, was born in Dublin but fashioned his theatrical career in London. In the 19th century, Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu (1814-1873) wrote novels based on the supernatural that inspired Bram Stoker to create Dracula. Margaret Burke Sheridan, born in Castlebar, Co. Mayo, became Ireland's first prima donna. In the great Italian opera houses, her singing was considered totally Italian in style, but she died in relative obscurity in 1958.

Of all the Sheridans, the one who contributed most to humanity's enjoyment of life was a Dublin chef called Joe Sheridan. During World War II he was working at the Foynes seaplane base on the Shannon estuary. One day in 1943, to warm up some passengers who had been delayed, he invented Irish Coffee, a mixture of coffee, Irish whiskey, and cream.

Click here Irish Family Names to buy the book from Amazon.com or here to buy the Appletree Press book from Amazon.co.uk. For more information of the Appletree Press title, click on: Irish Family Names.

Also from Appletree: Tracing Your Irish Roots. Click here to buy from Amazon.com, or here, for more information

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