Recent passings in Ireland and Irish America. ℘℘℘ Desmond Connell 1926 – 2017 Former archbishop of Dublin Cardinal Desmond Connell, who stepped down from the position during the 2004 furor over the Catholic Church’s handling of sexual abuse cases perpetrated by members of the clergy, died in February at the age of 90. Ordained at Clonliffe College, Dublin in 1951, Connell … [Read more...] about Those We Lost
Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day Parades in the U.S.
Some of the biggest and best celebrations of Ireland’s patron saint actually take place in America. New York may have the largest parade in the country, but it’s followed closely by Savannah, Georgia. And while the Boston parade has a long history, the Holyoke, Massachusetts parade rivals it for sheer color and gaiety. Here’s a sampling of parades across the … [Read more...] about Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day Parades in the U.S.
The Irishman Who Built New York Harbor
John Wolfe Ambrose emigrated from County Limerick as a boy and went on to leave an indelible mark on New York City. He cleaned the streets and turned New York Harbor into a world port. Like a true Renaissance man, John Ambrose had many interests and talents. His son-in-law, George F. Shrady, Jr., said his “giant intellect, coupled with his remarkable executive ability and … [Read more...] about The Irishman Who Built New York Harbor
Wild Irish Women: Mother Jones
Irish-born American labor leader Mother Jones was once known as the "most dangerous woman in America." The editors of the socially-conscious magazine Mother Jones, explaining the woman Mother Jones to their readers, write: “She was a badass who fought for the underdog, battled child labor, and was sometimes referred to as ‘the most dangerous woman in America.’” She was also a … [Read more...] about Wild Irish Women: Mother Jones
Window on the Past: Victoria
& the Battering Ram (Photos)
Sean Sexton’s photographic archive, considered the finest privately-held collection of Irish photographs in the world, provide a poignant photo-history of evictions in the final decades of the 19th century. These images created a wave of sympathy for Irish tenants and embarrassed the British government into making legislative changes.
In 1900, Queen Victoria visited Ireland … [Read more...] about Window on the Past: Victoria
& the Battering Ram (Photos)