Every August since 1613 (or possibly earlier) the County Kerry town of Killorglin has given itself over to the idiosyncratic joys and celebration of the Puck Fair Festival, and this year was no exception. From August 10 – 12, Killorglin residents and visitors were granted the “Freedom of the Town” by the young Queen of Puck Fair and her goat companion, King Puck, and reveled in … [Read more...] about Puck Fair: Ireland’s Oldest Festival
A Diary for the Tweople, By the Tweople
The two Irishmen behind Diary of the Tweople There’s no denying the wonderfully wide (and sometimes weird) reach of Twitter – from messages from Tahrir Square during the Arab Spring, to live tweets of the Republican presidential debates, to to-the-minute updates concerning Kim Kardashian’s whereabouts. Since the social networking phenomenon was founded in 2006, it has … [Read more...] about A Diary for the Tweople, By the Tweople
Irish Artist of the Light Shines in New York
Roisin Fitzpatrick to give solo exhibition at the Consulate General of Ireland in New York For Irish artist Roisin Fitzpatrick, inspiration and light came from an experience most people would count among their darkest of days. In 2004, Fitzpatrick suffered from a brain hemorrhage – a sudden pain at the back of her head quickly became a near-death experience. As she lay very … [Read more...] about Irish Artist of the Light Shines in New York
A Voyage of Rediscovery at the Dunbrody Famine Ship
The Irish America Hall of Fame finds a home in New Ross, and brings the story of the Irish in America back to a place that served as a port of departure for many who braved the journey to North America during Famine times. On a blustery July day, I descend the narrow ladder into the depths of the 'Dunbrody,' an exact replica of a three-masted sailing ship that ferried … [Read more...] about A Voyage of Rediscovery at the Dunbrody Famine Ship
Ten Years after 9/11
An estimated 1,000 of the nearly 3,000 victims of 9/11 were of Irish descent or birth. On the 10th anniversary of the attacks, we look at the "living" memorials such as the scholarships and charities that have been established by the victims' families. Michael Lynch Laying the foundation for peace In the months following the 9/11 attacks, the Lynch family from the Bronx, New … [Read more...] about Ten Years after 9/11