September 12, 2001: After a 26-hour shift Brendan McCormack emerges exhausted out of the darkness and into another day. A Donegal man, who has lived in the U.S. for 17 years, McCormack is an ironworker. Minutes after the collapse of the Twin Towers, he and other ironworkers from all over the city dropped their tools and leapt into action, crusading down to the effort at Ground … [Read more...] about The Ironworkers
Fire in the Morning
In a strange twist of fate, Ron Clifford escaped the WTC unaware that his sister and niece were on the plane that crashed into the North Tower. ℘℘℘ United Flight 175, a Boeing 767 non-stop from Boston's Logan Airport to Los Angeles with seven flight attendants and 56 passengers on board, rolled back from Gate 19 shortly after 7:45 a.m. on September 11th. The captain was … [Read more...] about Fire in the Morning
The First Word: Friendship, Love & Loyalty
"We never know how high we are until we are called to rise; and then, if we are true to plan, our statures touch the skies," – Emily Dickinson Putting this issue of Irish America together has been an extraordinarily moving experience. There are stories that made us cry. Stories of incredible courage. And stories that brought us hope. And through it all we got to connect with … [Read more...] about The First Word: Friendship, Love & Loyalty
Flag-Raising Firefighters
The image of firefighters Dan McWilliams, George Johnson and Billy Eisengrein raising the tattered Stars and Stripes on September 11 became a symbol of hope for Americans on their darkest day. The three firefighters had spent the day at Ground Zero searching for survivors among the mammoth piles of rubble and in late afternoon were told to evacuate due to imminent collapse of … [Read more...] about Flag-Raising Firefighters
The Legacy of Chief Geraghty
Battalion Chief Edward Geraghty, of Battalion 9, Engine 54, Ladder 4 (48th Street and 8th Avenue in New York City), was an 18-year veteran of the department and the recipient of many meritorious awards throughout his long and distinguished career. "Anyone who got to spend time around Chief Geraghty knew he was a special person. The kinda guy we were all supposed to grow up … [Read more...] about The Legacy of Chief Geraghty