Frank McCourt has gone from retired New York City high school teacher to 66-year-old international celebrity in a matter of months. Almost a year after the publication of Angela's Ashes, McCourt tells Brian Rohan "it's been lovely, thank you, but I wouldn't mind a bit of peace and quiet, either...." Frank McCourt sits in the back room of the Old Town tavern, acting not at … [Read more...] about The Year of Living Famously
Sláinte! Many a Shabby Foal Makes a Fine Horse
By Edythe Preet
May/June 1997
It is Spring. The foals are being born. In their gawky long-legged honor, I give you the saga of the Irish and their horses. It is a history that stretches across centuries. It is a tale of friendships and working partners. It is a romance born of the land, nurtured by necessity and fastened by ancient bonds. It is one of the oldest love stories on earth. Horses arrived in … [Read more...] about Sláinte! Many a Shabby Foal Makes a Fine Horse
Roots: The O’Reillys
By James G. Ryan
May/June 1997
The O'Reilly family name is derived from the Gaelic "O'Raghailligh," which means descendants of Raghaillach. The O'Reillys were the most powerful sept of the old Gaelic Kingdom of Breffny, and the family is still very numerous in the area which made up this kingdom, i.e., Cavan and the surrounding counties. The name is frequently shortened to Reilly or Riley. Members of the … [Read more...] about Roots: The O’Reillys
Young Ladies of the Dance
By Darina Molloy
May/June 1997
While her class-mates in St. Mary's Secondary School in Nenagh, County Tipperary, are busy preparing for end-of-year exams in their last year before Leaving Certificate, 17-year-old Bernadette Flynn is savoring the sweet success of a dream come true as leading lady in the acclaimed show, Lord of the Dance. And Bernadette has absolutely no regrets about leaving her school life … [Read more...] about Young Ladies of the Dance
Irish Rebel John Devoy and America’s Fight for Ireland’s Freedom
By Terry Golway
May/June 1997
The relationship between John Devoy, the legendary Fenian, and Eamon de Valera is explored by Terry Golway. In Neil Jordan's film Michael Collins, there's an 18-month gap in the pivotal conflict between Eamon de Valera and the movie's hero. We see Collins helping to hustle de Valera out of Ireland, bound for the United States. A few minutes later, de Valera returns to … [Read more...] about Irish Rebel John Devoy and America’s Fight for Ireland’s Freedom