Irish America

Irish America

By Rosemary Rogers

Pope Adrian IV, King Henry II and
The Siege of Ireland

By Rosemary Rogers

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On December 4, 1154, Nicholas Breakspear, the first and only Englishman to ascend to the papacy, was unanimously elected the Catholic Church’s 107th pope.  He chose Adrian IV, a posh name for a pope who proved deadly for the pesky isle across the sea, Ireland. Quite unfairly, in 12th-century Europe, Ireland, a country steeped in spirituality, learning, and illuminated … [Read more...] about

Pope Adrian IV, King Henry II and
The Siege of Ireland

Sláinte! Lent and Easter: The Fast and the Feast

By Edythe Preet


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In pre-Christian Ireland, the spring celebration on May 1 was called Bealtaine. Household fires were extinguished several days before the feast and people were forbidden to rekindle them until Druid priests lit a ceremonial bonfire on the Hill of Tara, stronghold of the High King. When Christianity supplanted pagan customs a new spring celebration was introduced: Easter, … [Read more...] about Sláinte! Lent and Easter: The Fast and the Feast

The Master of Suspense Had Irish Roots!

By Kevin Lewis

August/September 1999

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His mother was Irish born Emma Jane Whelan. His father’s mother was also Irish. Hitchcock was educated at a Jesuit school and remained a devout Catholic through out his life. Hitchcock also adapted Irish playwright Sean O’Casey’s “Juno and the Paycock” for the screen. The name Alfred Hitchcock summons up images of the impassive, corpulent, bald-headed man in a black suit who … [Read more...] about The Master of Suspense Had Irish Roots!

President Trump Proclaims Irish Heritage Month

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The President calls on Irish Americans to celebrate their "contributions to our Nation," adding,"Irish Americans are known as some of the toughest, most driven, and most devoted people on the face of the Earth." A PROCLAMATION BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Irish Americans have played a crucial role in our great American story — courageously overcoming … [Read more...] about President Trump Proclaims Irish Heritage Month

The Friar and The Saint:
How St. Valentine Came to Dublin

By David Murphy
IA Newsletter, February 8, 2025

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A Carmelite priest was gifted the relics of Saint Valentine, now enshrined in Our Lady of Mount St.Carmel, Whitefriar Street Church, Dublin. He will be forever linked with St. Valentine, but John Francis Spratt would be remembered as a beloved philanthropist, famous for his work among the poor and destitute in the Liberties of Dublin. He was one of the first to join Fr. … [Read more...] about

The Friar and The Saint:
How St. Valentine Came to Dublin