Irish America

Irish America

Feature

The Stones of Gallarus or Two Pounds For a Pint

By James T. Dette

September October 1993

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Survival, we are told, is the first law of nature. If so, the Irish are the most law-abiding citizens in the world. That they survived centuries of English occupation and oppression is legend, but it was a recent trip that illustrated this in a very different way. It was my first trip to Ireland. To my knowledge I was the first descendant of James Burke, my mother's father, to … [Read more...] about The Stones of Gallarus or Two Pounds For a Pint

Black ’47

By Patricia Harty, Editor-in-Chief
September October 1993

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Rabble-Rousers with a Social Conscience "Free Joe Now," the song by Black 47, the Irish American group spearheaded by Larry Kirwan and Chris Byrne in 1990, became the anthem for those seeking political asylum for Joe Doherty, the Belfastman fighting extradition to the UK. These were early days for Black 47, the gigs were mainly fundraisers for one Irish cause or another — … [Read more...] about Black ’47

The Other Emerald Isle

By Norman Mongan

September October 1993

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Normal Monagan visits Monsterrat, a tiny island in the Caribbean with an Irish past. Coming down the steps of the LIAT aircraft at Blackburne Airport on Montserrat, the first thing that catches the eye is the big green shamrock that adorns the airport building. "Welcome to the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean" — the sign reflected in the puddles in the tarmac. The rain was on … [Read more...] about The Other Emerald Isle

A Mission Remembered

By Maureen Murphy

September October 1993

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A sentimental nineteenth century novel of virtue rewarded tells the story of an Irish immigrant girl who came to New York in the 1870's. Subtitled "A Tale Founded on Fact," Annie Reilly or the Fortunes of an Irish Girl in New York describes Annie's arrival at Castle Garden: immigrants confused and exhausted, luggage broken or lost, possessions scattered, indifferent officials, … [Read more...] about A Mission Remembered

The Gift of Life

By Emer Mullins

September October 1993

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Jeanne Marie Flanagan was pottering around her beautiful home in Walden, New York, just before Thanksgiving in 1989 when she started to cry. "I thought at the time it was my hormones because I was pregnant, but in my spirit I guess I knew something terrible had happened," she remembered. She was right. Her seven-year-old son, Mark, was in the East Coldenham Elementary School … [Read more...] about The Gift of Life