Catie Keogh - Irish American News

August 2011 Irish American News “We’ve Always Been Green!” 3every Saturday after SNL. Weare consistently rated #1 in ourtime frame. Even if you are notin Chicago, you can catch theshow at www.247citysecrets.com.IAN: All of your work istop notch. You also host andexecutive produce Test Drive,featuring the Chicago AutoShow (FOX), and you have beenEmmy nominated for OutstandingAchievement in SpecialEvent Programs all three yearsyou have been doing it!Catie: Well, Thank you! Iwork with an amazing and talentedgroup of people. My teamis top notch and we all LOVEChicago!IAN: Where did you go toschool?Catie: I grew up in ParkRidge, IL and attended MarySeat of Wisdom for grammarschool and Maine South forHigh School. My dad’s job atthe Hertz Corporation transferredour family to Houston. Istarted my Sophomore year thereand graduated from KingwoodHigh School. After that, I wenton to the University of Texas atAustin where I graduated with adegree in Communications.IAN: How many times haveyou been to Ireland?Catie: I’ve been to Irelandeight times, most recently toAshford Castle which is amazing.Ashford Castle was sorelaxing and beautiful and isperfect for families. My littlefive-year-old swears she saw aleprechaun! It was a real treatto bring her this trip becausethe last time I went to IrelandI was pregnant with her. Wewould joke that she had been toIreland before, but she wouldreply back with, ‘No Mommy, itdoesn’t count unless you touchthe ground.’ I just love goinghome to Ireland and visiting myfriends and family in Newportand Westport.In June of 2011, my motherand her sister decided that it wastime for all of our family to getin touch with their Irish roots.My Aunt Eileen Peters, herchildren, all her grandchildren,my mom and dad, my sister, ourhusbands, and our children travelledto Newport, Co. Mayo. Inall, there were 27 of us. With thehelp of our cousins, the Morans,we were able to find the ruins offive different ancestral homes. Itwas magical!IAN: Is anyone musical inyour family?Catie: My mom plays theviolin. My husband is tryingto play the bagpipes. Does thatcount? We enjoy Irish dancing,too. I want to get my daughtermore involved with Irish dancingand music. For me, though,its all about celebrating ourculture. My mom instilled thatin us. We took Irish dance lessonsand violin lessons. It wasa requirement in my house....that, and making Irish sodabread!IAN: Is your husband Irish?Catie: My husband is Scotch/Irish and Swedish but embraceshis Irish side the most. I am trulyblessed and couldn’t have askedfor a better husband! He’s myrock in life.You know, it’s funny. I was justtalking to someone about Irishheritage. Growing up, I thought Iwas Irish before I was American.It wasn’t until I was seven yearsoldand had to fill out a passportfor our Ireland trip. My mom saidI was old enough to do it myself,so, I filled it out. When theyasked for your nationality, I wrote‘Irish.’ My mom hesitated andsaid, ‘Oh honey, you’re American.’I thought, ‘Oh really? I thought Iwas Irish first.’ It’s a big deal inour house to be Irish!For more information onCatie Keogh and 24/7 Chicago,contact www.247secrets.comLook for Colleen Keogh infuture editions of Irish AmericanNews writing about travel.www.travelfilmsproductions.com.(Cover photo taken atO’Brien’s Riverwalk Cafe byCathy Curry of 4girlsphotography.com.)