Today is a special day. St Patrick’s Day also marks the anniversary of my remarkable grandfather, Michael Grady, passing away in 1994. He would be extra proud to be an honorary Geordie given the success of the Magpies yesterday!
Aged 18, and hungry for work, he travelled to Newcastle from County Kerry in 1928 and worked for Wimpey Builders as a labourer. He met my Nana Susan Howard at St Robert’s Church and they married at Newcastle Roman Catholic Cathedral, living with her family until he constructed his own house in Denton Burn in 1951.
On the back of his success, he set up M Grady Building Company which by the mid-1960s employed over 100 people and built over 100 houses per year. These houses put a roof over the heads of many of his employees and countless Newcastle residents too, leaving a lasting mark on the city’s landscape.
Like so many Irish immigrants who came to the UK during that time, my grandfather’s story is one of immense courage and determination to create opportunities not only for himself but also for his family and community. He continued to look out for his family in Ireland too.
I am so proud to be his granddaughter, and I know he would be proud that I am the MP for the place he made his home. This St Patrick’s Day, we rightly take the time to reflect on individuals like Michael Grady whose journeys have shaped our communities – both within and beyond Ireland.
His story is a reminder of the countless contributions the Irish diaspora have made to the North East and a testament to the rich tapestry of our community. Newcastle put a roof over Michael Grady’s head and in return he spent his life putting roofs over theirs.
Read my full article for the North East Bylines last year here.
