Recently published Books of Irish and Irish-American interest... Recommended: City of Bohane Kevin Barry’s eagerly anticipated debut novel, City of Bohane, confirms his status as one of the most exciting and inventive writers working in Ireland today. His first book, an award-winning collection of short stories titled There Are Little Kingdoms, introduced his unique voice … [Read more...] about Review of Books
Archives for January 2012
Music Reviews
A look at recently released music of Irish and Irish-American interest... Traditional Irish Music on the Button Accordion Dan Gurney Among the most exciting releases to come from an Irish American in recent months is Boston-native Dan Gurney’s Traditional Irish Music on the Button Accordion. Gurney first entered public consciousness in 1998 at the age of 11 when The Wall … [Read more...] about Music Reviews
Roots: The Foley Family
The surname Foley is found in greatest concentration in counties Cork, Kerry, and Waterford. It is generally understood to be an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Ó Foghladha, which translates loosely to “pirate,” or “marauder,” possibly implying distant Viking roots. It may also be an Anglicized version of the Northern Irish name Mac Searraigh, chosen for its phonetic … [Read more...] about Roots: The Foley Family
Those We Lost: Passings in the Irish-American Community
Margaret Corbett Daley 1943-2011 Maggie Daley, the wife of former Mayor of Chicago Richard M. Daley, passed away at home in Chicago on November 24th. She had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002. A much-beloved figure, Daley, 68, was Chicago’s first lady for 22 years. Throughout her husband’s six-term reign as mayor, she struck a fine balance between maintaining her … [Read more...] about Those We Lost: Passings in the Irish-American Community
Poem: An Irishman in Coventry
An Irishman in Coventry A full year since, I took this eager city, the tolerance that laced its blatant roar, its famous steeples and its web of girders, as image of the state hope argued for, and scarcely flung a bitter thought behind me on all that flaws the glory and the grace which ribbons through the sick, guilt-clotted legend of my creed-haunted, godforsaken race. My … [Read more...] about Poem: An Irishman in Coventry