“All about Home Economics” was first published in 1983 - the first “inter-cert” Home Economics textbook specifically written for Irish schoolchildren. It was studied by thousands of students in Ireland over the years. Not only was “All about Home Economics” studied in classrooms, it became the foundation for many students’ cooking repertoire in college and later a much prized possession in the kitchens of those who were lucky enough to have kept their copy.

Over the years, many people have asked about “All about Home Economics” - where can they find it; is it being republished? A decade after its last print, second hand copies of “All about Home Economics” are much sought after. We have decided to reprint it now, in response to public demand.

“All about Home Economics” has been described by many as “The Homemakers Bible” and by others as “The Complete Idiots Guide
to Running a Home”. So here is “All about Home Economics”. The same recipes, the same basic sewing techniques and the same indispensable guide to running a home, exactly as it was when it was first produced in 1983.

Deirdre Madden was a home economics teacher in Loreto Abbey Dalkey. Her energy and enthusiasm for teaching her students was boundless. Her frustration at the lack of a modern Irish Home Economics inter cert book resulted in her writing her own. She often quoted a much loved fairy tale - “I’ll do it myself said the little red hen; and so she did.” “All about Home Economics” is the result of passion for a subject that Deirdre felt was truly important to students - life skills.

She wrote many textbooks for inter, junior and leaving certificate some of which have been updated by Lorna Freebourne and are still being used in classrooms throughout the country today. This publication of “All about Home Economics” is brought to you by Deirdre’s daughters, Kate and Aisli Madden who hope that their mum’s helpful guide to setting up and running a home will be enjoyed by those who remember Deirdre’s books, and by a new generation.

We have copied Mum’s “little Red Hen” philosophy and we hope that by publishing “All about Home Economics” ourselves, we will share Mum’s hints, tips and easy to follow recipes with everyone who would like a little guidance on organizing their homes in these difficult times.

Deirdre passed away at age 56 after a 9 year battle with cancer. But we are lucky that in “All about Home Economics” she left us a treasure trove of her best recipes, basic sewing tips and her guide on how to run a house. 10% of the profits of this book will be donated to the Irish Cancer Society, whose Daffodil Nurse, Carmel, helped support Deirdre and “her girls” in her final days.

“All about Home Economics” is for those who want to know how to cook
basic, healthy food and sew on a button or a hem. It is for nostalgic home
economics students from the 1980’s, current junior cert students looking
for additional study resources, parents with young families, people leaving
home, bachelors seeking homemaking skills and everyone with a home.

Follow “All about Home Economics” on facebook

https://www.facebook.com/pages/All-About-Home-Economics/255655484471315

Or log onto www.deirdremadden.ie for more information

For further information please contact:

Aisli Madden: 01 2840505 / 087 2769766 email: hello@deirdremadden.ie

Kate Madden: 086 2420455 web: www.deirdremadden.ie