The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
HOW A KERRY WOMAN CARED FOR TRUMP’S CHILDREN
THE LATE BRIDGET CARROLL WAS A CHERISHED NANNY OF DONALD TRUMP’S SONS IN THEIR CHILDHOOD
DONALD Trump is among the most controversial figures in international politics, and his campaign for the US Presidency has never been less than manic.
Amidst all the craziness, even a few Trump detractors have praised his sons and daughters on their manner throughout the campaign – in comparison to Dad, they’ve been exceptionally well-behaved.
But perhaps a couple of Irish nannies, including a Kerry woman called Bridget Carroll should get some of the credit for that, and not ‘The Donald’.
Bridget lived and worked for many years at 721 Fifth Avenue, New York - better known as Trump Tower - and she’s been described by observers as a grounding influence in the lives of Trump’s children.
Political author Joshua Kendall said that a good deal of their solidness comes from the fact ‘he wasn’t around when they were very young, and their early bonding was with nannies, who, by all accounts, were very nice.’
He’s not alone in that opinion. Speaking to The Kerryman from New York this week, columnist Michael Daly - a scathing critic of Trump - said ‘two remarkable Irish nannies’ played a pivotal role in the Trump family’s formative years. “One of the nannies is from Cavan and still lives in New York, but Kerry’s Bridget Carroll passed away some years ago,” Daly said.
“The older Trump kids were brought up by their nannies, their mother Ivana, and their maternal grandparents; if the kids turned out alright, thank the people who raised them!”
The kids themselves have acknowledged the role Bridget played in their lives.
On a visit to Ireland in 2014, Trump’s sons Donald Jr and Eric stated that the two Irish nannies raised them, and said ‘we heard more about Ireland than any other country.’ Trump’s eldest daughter, Ivanka, dedicated her 2009 autobiography to the Kerry woman’s memory, and lavished praise on Bridget throughout the book.
At one point she labelled her the person ‘who influenced me most outside of my parents,’ and described Bridget’s death as one of the toughest moments of her life.
“I think if Trump Senior had been brought up by an Irish nanny, I don’t think he’d be the Donald Trump we all know today,” Daly joked.
“I have ties to County Cork, but even I’m happy to admit Bridget Carroll did well!”