Irish America

Irish America

History Archives

How Generations Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

By Jim McCann
IA Newsletter, March 15, 2025

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Growing up in an Irish family in a proudly Irish neighborhood, I never saw St. Patrick’s Day as just a holiday — it was an event. Like Christmas, the anticipation started weeks in advance, from picking out the perfect green outfit to mapping out the celebrations. On the big day, we’d hop on the subway, joining a sea of green-clad revelers — we were all making our way to … [Read more...] about How Generations Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

The Boycott Origination Story

By Rosemary Rogers
IA Newsletter, March 8, 2025

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Captain Charles Boycott, an ordinary man though in possession of a repellent personality, has gone on to immortality due to his behavior in 19th Century Mayo. Formerly an obscure officer in the British army, Captain Boycott was the land agent for an absentee landlord, Lord Erne, a position which afforded him a lush life on an estate outside the town of Ballinrobe. His lordship … [Read more...] about The Boycott Origination Story

Frederick Douglass and the White Negro

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Film Screening and Discussion: "Frederick Douglass and the White Negro" at the Commodore John Barry Arts & Cultural Center The Commodore John Barry Arts & Cultural Center is proud to present a special screening of the acclaimed documentary film "Frederick Douglass and the White Negro" on Sunday, February 23, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. This compelling film, directed by John J. … [Read more...] about Frederick Douglass and the White Negro

“The Enchanted Bay”

Winter 2024

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It is a little-known fact that Ernie O’Malley, renowned for his role in Ireland’s revolutionary struggle, was also a passionate collector of Irish folklore. “The Enchanted Bay: Tales and Legends from Ernie O’Malley’s Irish Folklore Collection,” by Cormac K. H. O’Malley and Patrick J. Mahoney, is a testament to O’Malley’s multifaceted legacy.  Ernie O'Malley (1897-1957) is … [Read more...] about “The Enchanted Bay”

Irish Rebel John Devoy and America’s Fight for Ireland’s Freedom

By Terry Golway

May/June 1997

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The relationship between John Devoy, the legendary Fenian, and Eamon de Valera is explored by Terry Golway. In Neil Jordan's film Michael Collins, there's an 18-month gap in the pivotal conflict between Eamon de Valera and the movie's hero. We see Collins helping to hustle de Valera out of Ireland, bound for the United States. A few minutes later, de Valera returns to … [Read more...] about Irish Rebel John Devoy and America’s Fight for Ireland’s Freedom