The famous war dog who served in World War II, and Bill Wynne, the U.S. Army Air Force G.I. who adopted her. The first time Cpl. William Wynne saw Smoky, he found it hard to believe she was a dog. “She was as big as my G.I. shoe,” Wynne says. “She weighed all of about four pounds.” In addition, the animal was almost bald; someone had hacked off most of her fur in an attempt … [Read more...] about Smoky The Lucky War Dog
“Kathy White House”
Were she alive today, the odds are that Kathy Buckley would be as well-known as celebrity chefs Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson. Sharon Ní Chonchúir profiles the Irish woman who was head cook for three U.S. presidents. Kathy Buckley was born in Upper William Street in Listowel, Co. Kerry. She was the eldest of seven. Her father worked as a cooper in a workshop at the rear of … [Read more...] about “Kathy White House”
Michael Flatley: The Last Dance
Michael Flatley, 57, who has turned traditional Irish dancing into an international phenomenon, is retiring. It’s been his dream since he was a little boy to be on Broadway and that’s where he will be through the end of this year with his new dance show, Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games, which opened at the Lyric Theatre on November 10th to wide acclaim. The son of Irish … [Read more...] about Michael Flatley: The Last Dance
From Ellen to Eileen
An excerpt from In Search of Our Ancestors: 101 Stories of Serendipity and Connection by Megan Smolenyak. Many of us have a particular ancestor who calls to us louder than others, one with whom we feel a special kinship. For me, this is one of my great-great-grandmothers, Ellen Nelligan. Perhaps it’s because my own grandmother – her granddaughter – told me tales of her life. … [Read more...] about From Ellen to Eileen
Buried Anguish: An Interview with Colin Barrett
Dublin breakout writer Colin Barrett talks to Julia Brodsky about his angst- and anguish-ridden debut short story collection, Young Skins. Colin Barrett’s debut collection of short stories, Young Skins (Black Cat), hit the Dublin scene in 2013 and earned the 32-year-old Mayo native a score of major accolades, including the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award, the … [Read more...] about Buried Anguish: An Interview with Colin Barrett