it's a great life!
100 Irish Expressions to Live By
Some families pass down heirlooms. Others pass down one-liners. Welcome to the official website of Thomas Roth, author of It’s a Great Life! This is a book (and website) built on phrases that helped one Irish-American mother keep going, now shared with you.
About the Author
Thomas Roth
Thomas Roth is the fourth of five children born to John and Helen Roth. He was born in 1958, part of a large Irish Catholic family from Nanuet, a suburb north of New York City.
Helen Roth gave her children a happy and stable upbringing. Like many Irish mothers, she once hoped one of her sons would become a priest. Thomas chose a different path and often joked, “Sorry, Mom, I found something: girls.”
After high school, he attended Ithaca College in upstate New York, where he met Eileen Costello. They married in 1985 and raised three daughters. He also began his 38-year career as a State Farm agent during that time. The couple now enjoys life with their three granddaughters and a grandson.
About two decades ago, Thomas noticed how often he used Irish expressions. Many came from his mother, who used them throughout her life. He began writing them down and eventually compiled hundreds of them. Over time, the idea for a book took shape. He postponed it for years, but finally brought it to life. It’s a Great Life! is the result of that effort.
It’s a Great Life! is not a book on Irish history and culture. It is about truths that stay with you. Each expression tells a full story in one line. About work. About family. About the small decisions that carry you through a hard week. There are no quick fixes in this book. No sentimental clichés. Just the grounded insight of people who knew what mattered.
This book helps you remember who taught you to keep going. It brings back the voice you didn’t know you were missing. The one that told you to sit down, drink your tea, and try again tomorrow. Order your copy today and carry this wisdom forward, one expression at a time.
Available on:
Available in:
Trailer
Latest Blogs
What sounded like a joke turned out to be a mantra. This post explores how one mother’s favorite line captured decades of love, loss, and quiet strength…
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
Kindness doesn’t always come with a “thanks.” Learn how this saying helped Thomas’s mother stay generous in a world that didn’t always notice…
Would You Jump Into My Grave That Quick?
A line delivered with perfect timing and a straight face, then followed by a smile. This blog unpacks the humor and hidden meaning behind it…