At 6-foot-2, Gerry McNamara, who calls himself just "a skinny little white kid who takes pride in working hard," is a hero in the working-class town of Scranton, Pennsylvania. McNamara, or "G-Mac" as he is fondly known in his hometown, has been collecting fans since he played for a Pennsylvania State basketball championship back in eighth grade. In high school he played for … [Read more...] about The Fearless G-Mac
The Irish Loop
A few years ago, Newfoundland tourism officials decided to give names to roads around some peninsulas to help travelers plan trips by calling attention to a region's most significant feature. Along the Southern Shore (as it was always, and still is, known to residents) of Newfoundland's Avalon Peninsula, there was no question what it would be called: Irish Loop Drive. The … [Read more...] about The Irish Loop
Roots: The Kelly Gang
Kelly comes second to Murphy as the most common surname in Ireland. The name is popular because it originates from at least seven different and unrelated ancient clans or septs. These include O'Kelly septs from Meath, Derry, Antrim, Laois, Sligo, Wicklow, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Galway and Roscommon, and the McKelly sept from East Connaught. One of the major septs is the O'Kellys … [Read more...] about Roots: The Kelly Gang
Sláinte! Hooray for St. Stephen and Up Sraid Eoin!
I look forward to the Christmas holidays more than anyone I've ever known. In addition to the main events, my birthday falls smack dab in the middle between Christmas and the New Year. All my life I've heard people say, "Oh you poor dear." Even when I was a child, I thought those naysayers were clueless, because while most children get only one 24-hour period to enjoy their … [Read more...] about Sláinte! Hooray for St. Stephen and Up Sraid Eoin!
Last Word: Press Freedoms
As Legal Affairs Reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times, I enjoy covering the courts, not being hauled into them as a defendant in an international case about press freedoms. As I wrestled with the decision of whether to write a book about American David Rupert's adventure infiltrating the Real IRA to convict its leader Michael McKevitt, my concerns were cultural. Despite the … [Read more...] about Last Word: Press Freedoms