The Central Bank of Ireland issued a 10-euro coin, their first new collection coin for 2014, to celebrate the life of Irish tenor John McCormack (1884-1945), who reached worldwide fame for his repertoire of both operatic and popular songs. Eight thousand coins retailing at 44 euro were minted. Born in Athlone as the fourth child in the McCormack household, John won the coveted … [Read more...] about Coin for McCormack
Ballymurphy Inquiry Moves Forward
Relatives of 11 people killed in Belfast by the British Army in 1971 met with Taoiseach Enda Kenny in January to ask him to lobby the British Government to set up an independent panel inquiry into the deaths of their family members. It was an emotional moment for the families when the Taoiseach gave them his support. A family member interviewed on RTÉ said, “It was the first … [Read more...] about Ballymurphy Inquiry Moves Forward
Ireland’s Social, Cultural Environment Is Harmful to Mental Health
Cuts to services, fear of crime, and loneliness brought on by emigration of loved ones have led to a huge surge in calls to a helpline for the elderly, The Irish Examiner reported at the end of January. Senior Helpline is the country’s only listening service for older people. In 2013, the center received more than 28,500 calls. The 345 volunteers who run the organization saw … [Read more...] about Ireland’s Social, Cultural Environment Is Harmful to Mental Health
Members of U.S. Congress to Visit Derry/Londonderry
“When we stood together on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama during our 2013 Civil Rights pilgrimage, we vowed ‘Next Year in Ireland.’ In April we will fulfill that promise,” says Liz McCloskey, President of The Faith & Politics Institute (FPI), an organization founded in 1991 to advance leadership among political leaders in order to help bridge the divides of … [Read more...] about Members of U.S. Congress to Visit Derry/Londonderry
Irish Eye on Hollywood
The St. Patrick’s Day season brings with it two movies featuring Irish actors – one an established veteran and the other a versatile up and comer. First, there’s the always-busy Ciaran Hinds in McCanick. The crime flick features David Morse as the title character, a detective driven to the brink of insanity during his pursuit of an ex-con just released from prison. Belfast-born … [Read more...] about Irish Eye on Hollywood