“And so we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past." – F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby. Dear readers: We hope that you are enjoying a summer respite from the pandemic and reuniting with friends and family. We are living through strange and stressful times, to be sure, but I do not doubt that things will get better. History makes … [Read more...] about The First Word: There’s No Hope in History
First Word
First Word: Dreamers
“Our focus is to create ladders of opportunity to help people get to the middle class through the construction trades. That's really why you do it.” – Sean McGarvey This year’s Hall of Fame honorees reflect the length and breadth of the Irish-American experience. They show us the extraordinary impact that the Irish have had in every aspect of American life – the arts, … [Read more...] about First Word: Dreamers
First Word: The Dream That Never Dies
“As the first of the racial minorities, our forefathers were subject to every discrimination found wherever discrimination is known.” – Robert Kennedy speaking at a Friendly Sons of St. Patrick Day dinner in Scranton, PA It is fitting that we have Joe Kennedy III on the cover of this issue that marks the beginning of our 33rd year in publishing. Joe’s father, Joe II, the … [Read more...] about First Word: The Dream That Never Dies
Last Word: The Way Forward
Following the success of the 1916 commemorations, the Irish government has launched a five-year program to celebrate the wealth of Ireland’s creativity. ℘℘℘ 2016 was a momentous year for Ireland as the country marked a century since the Easter Rising. However, it was only the beginning of what will be five years of commemorations as Ireland reflects on its march towards … [Read more...] about Last Word: The Way Forward
First Word: What I Learned from Hillary
Our cover story on Hillary Clinton reminds us of her role in the Irish peace process – particularly her involvement in bringing women into the discussion and throwing a light on the role they played in their communities – work that was often under-recognized. Closer to home she taught me a lesson that opened my eyes to the fact that when it comes to giving women their due, we … [Read more...] about First Word: What I Learned from Hillary