The extraordinary story of Annie Sullivan and Helen Keller, including little-known facts about a trip they made to Ireland In 1930, a visitor to Ireland wrote to a friend: “You must see Killarney…Can you imagine mountains of rhododendrons rising and massive into the bluest sky you’ve ever been under – white, crimson, scarlet, pink, buff, yellow and every shade God has painted … [Read more...] about Miracle Worker: Helen Keller & Annie Sullivan
Gettysburg: America’s Preeminent Battlefield Shrine
When you go to Gettysburg, you trod hallowed ground where incredible courage under fire by Union and Confederate troops enshrined them in honor, glory and history. You do much more than make a trip. You make a pilgrimage. Gettysburg is a sleepy crossroads town. Situated in hilly Cumberland Valley fields in Pennsyl-vania, it is a musket volley or two short of 215 miles … [Read more...] about Gettysburg: America’s Preeminent Battlefield Shrine
Sláinte!: Irish Cowgirls and Award-winning Cheesemakers
My friend Vickie’s face blossoms with one of those secret smiles when I tell her she’s a cheesy broad. Truth of the matter is, she’s a cheese guru who, given the slightest opportunity, will launch into a lengthy monologue on the subtle differences between cow, goat and sheep cheeses, the chemistry involved in making cheese, and the why and wherefore of which cheese is best at … [Read more...] about Sláinte!: Irish Cowgirls and Award-winning Cheesemakers
Roots: The Extraordinary Crowleys
Derived from the Gaelic O’Cruadhlaoich, Crowley has been a common surname in Ireland since the 11th century. Formed from the words cruadh meaning hardy and loach meaning hero, Crowley exists in many variations of the original Gaelic spelling, among them Crowley, Crowly, O’Crowley, Croaley and Croawley. The first to bear this name was Diarmuid an Cruadhlaoch, a MacDermot of … [Read more...] about Roots: The Extraordinary Crowleys
Review of Books
Recommended T he Brightest Star in the Sky is another good romp by Dublin-based writer Marian Keyes. Keyes first burst on the scene with Watermelon in 1995 and went on to write several bestsellers including This Charming Man (2008). In her latest book, Keyes uses the interesting literary device of a wandering ghost to give us an inside look at the residents of a block of … [Read more...] about Review of Books