Thank you so much for visiting my site! I’m truly honored that you’ve taken the time to explore and share in my interest.

Born and raised in Cincinnati, I lived there until I met a Derry man from Ireland. We fell in love, and I moved to New Bedford with little knowledge of Irish history or the story of the Catalpa. Over the past 11 years, I have gained a wealth of knowledge about Irish history and all things Irish.

Lately, I’ve become frustrated by the lack of awareness about the Catalpa in New Bedford and the broader scarcity of Irish history in the area. That frustration motivated me to take action, and this site is the result.

I’m not a historian—I'm a math teacher with over 25 years of experience teaching in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and now in New Bedford, Massachusetts. I’ve been researching using publicly available sources in my spare time, with the goal of creating a central place to honor the Catalpa and highlight New Bedford’s vital role in this remarkable story. 

I felt a calling to honor the Catalpa and to ensure that the important role of New Bedford in this story is remembered. I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished so far, but I know there is so much more to uncover. Thank you again for being part of this journey and I hope you keep checking back!

- Stacie