Monica Sheridan facts for kids

Monica Sheridan (born January 29, 1912 – died April 22, 1993) was an Irish cooking expert. She was also a well-known broadcaster and journalist. Many people remember her as Ireland's first ever celebrity chef.

Growing Up and Family Life

Monica Elizabeth Treanor was born on January 29, 1912. Her birthplace was Augher Castle in County Tyrone, Ireland. Her parents were Hugh and Mary Ann Treanor. Her father was a successful farmer. Monica had six sisters and six brothers.

She spent a lot of time with her great-grandmother. Her great-grandmother was very old, over 100 years! Monica learned many cooking and home skills from her. Her great-grandmother lived in a traditional thatched cottage. She also taught Monica old folk traditions from south Ulster.

Monica's mother and aunts were also excellent cooks. They often baked and preserved fruits. Monica went to convent schools with her sisters. She later studied at University College Dublin. She earned a degree in French and English.

In May 1939, she married Niall Sheridan. He was also a university graduate. Niall worked for the Irish Tourist Board. He was also a poet. The couple had one daughter named Catherine, born in 1940. Monica passed away on April 22, 1993, after a long illness. She is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery.

Becoming a TV Chef

Monica Sheridan became famous in 1962. She hosted a live cooking show called Monica's Kitchen. This was when Telefís Éireann, Ireland's national TV service, began broadcasting. The TV studio was decorated in duck-egg blue and pink. On her show, Monica demonstrated new kitchen products.

She was known for her friendly and comfortable style. She connected with people of all ages. Monica didn't always follow strict cooking rules. She had a fun sense of humor. She famously licked her fingers while cooking on TV! This shocked some traditional viewers. But it made younger audiences love her even more. The meals she cooked were given to the TV crew.

Monica was always known as "Monica" on screen. She appeared on other TV shows too. She helped introduce new foods to Ireland in the 1960s. These included foods like quiche, pizza, and pasta. Some say she first mentioned pizza in The Irish Times newspaper in 1956.

Awards and Books

In 1963, Monica won the Jacob's Award. This award was for "putting personality into cooking." She continued on television until 1965. Then, her show was replaced by Home for Tea.

Monica was briefly taken off TV. This happened after she appeared in a TV advertisement. The ad promoted Irish bacon products. Telefís Éireann had not approved her appearance. Monica spoke out about this. She believed it was important to support Irish food. The disagreement led to her being put back on TV quickly. Many people thought she was dismissed for licking her fingers.

Monica also wrote for many magazines. These included Creation and Gourmet and The Irish Times. She published several popular cookery books. These books became classics. They included Monica's Kitchen (1963), The Art of Irish Cooking (1964), and My Irish Cookbook (1965). Her books had the same funny and informal style as her TV shows. She wrote about growing up in rural County Tyrone.