Love of Ireland, books

Kathy Borchers has a love of Ireland and a passion for books.

She’s traveled to the country four times and helps others plan their trips to Ireland. She enjoys her annual talk about the country at the Whitefish Community Library along with the other volunteer work she does there.

“There’s something about Ireland that I’ve always been fascinated by,” she said. “I probably know more Irish history than I know U.S. history.”

Borchers even has dual citizenship with the U.S. and Ireland. Because her father was born in Ireland, that allowed her to gain citizenship in Ireland. Borchers’ son came home one time and asked her to sign some paperwork — he had applied on her behalf as a surprise to gain her citizenship for the country.

“I even have an expired Irish passport,” she said. “I’ve traveled all over Ireland and I speak some Irish words and phrases.”

Her father’s family immigrated to the U.S. when he was 2-years-old, so he didn’t remember much about the country. Borchers, however, regrets not asking her grandmother more about Ireland.

Borchers, along with her sister, made her first trip to Ireland during college.

“I couldn’t believe I was there,” she said.

Her favorite place in Ireland is the Rock of Cashel, a historic site located at Cashel, County Tipperary, Ireland. It’s a collection of medieval ecclesiastical buildings set on an outcrop of limestone.

“It’s the most beautiful place you’ve ever seen,” she said. “The view is so beautiful.” Every year in the month of March in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, Borchers gives multiple talks about Ireland and her travels. She’s given many talks at the library and when she does she always makes Irish soda bread and green juice to share.

Volunteering at the library has been a passion for Borchers. She’s also an avid reader, completing two to three books per week.

Borchers, who has a degree in education, spent years volunteering during storytime and scheduling programs for the library.

“I’ve always loved reading,” she said. “I’ve always loved children and gotten along well with them.”

Her favorite genre is mysteries. She doesn’t read much non-fiction, but she’ll make an exemption for a book about Ireland.

She recently finished “The Immortal Irishman: The Irish Revolutionary Who Became an American Hero” by Timothy Egan. The book tells the story of Thomas Francis Meagher, who led a failed uprising during the Great Famine of the 1840s against British rule and was banished to a Tasmanian prison colony. He eventually escapes and makes it to New York. He fights in the Civil War before becoming the territorial governor of Montana.

Meagher County in Montana is named for him. It’s the county where Borchers was born before growing up in Roundup where her father was a doctor.

She met her husband Karl when they both attended the University of Montana. They raised their five sons in Great Falls.

They have lived in Whitefish for 19 years and now have eight grandchildren. At different times they’ve traveled with their family to Ireland and Kathy has been to 32 different countries.

She says she enjoys to travel, but Ireland remains her love.

“I’m hoping I can go back for my 80th birthday next year,” she said.