William Penn (1644-1718), the founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, promoted principles of freedom that helped lay the framework for First Amendment religious liberty. Before emigrating to America he was imprisoned in Ireland for his beliefs. Clara Pierre traces the history and roots of the Quakers in Ireland as she traveles around the country in the footsteps of Penn and … [Read more...] about In the Footsteps of William Penn
Archives for 2023
How the Irish Famine Changed American History
By IA Staff
IA Newsletter March 25, 2023
IA Newsletter March 25, 2023
Niall O'Dowd, Irish America's publisher, was the guest of honor at the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick's 239th-anniversary dinner in New York City on March 16, 2023. In his speech to the over 600 members and guests, he talked about the history of the Irish in America – from the early days when they were the first wave of poor refugees to arrive in the U.S. – to how they went on to … [Read more...] about How the Irish Famine Changed American History
Roots: The “Mul” Names
A large range of Irish names begin with the prefix "Mul." Examples include Mulcahy, Mulvihill, Mullally, and Mullan. These names have no familiar connections, but like the names beginning with "Gil," all have their origin in a common name form. They almost all derive from the Gaelic word "Maol" meaning follower, servant, or devotee. The name was invariably preceded by O as … [Read more...] about Roots: The “Mul” Names
The Last September: The Rules of Ascendancy
The spirit of Chekhov hovers over the Irish countryside in The Last September. Director Deborah Warner and screenwriter John Banville bring a powerfully elliptical sense of inevitable loss to this film about the waning days of the Anglo-Irish aristocracy. Based on the 1929 novel by Irish writer Elizabeth Bowen, The Last September is set on a country estate in Cork in 1920 … [Read more...] about The Last September: The Rules of Ascendancy
The Ice Dancer
Sarah Hughes watches herself without a trace of embarrassment. It's hard to reconcile the bubbly 14-year-old sitting in front of the television with the heart-stopping vision of grace and style who glides effortlessly across the ice in the video clip we're watching. The footage was captured at the recent Keri Lotion USA vs. The World Figure Skating Challenge, and the … [Read more...] about The Ice Dancer