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History Archives

The Irish Abolitionist: Daniel O’Connell

By Christine Kinealy, Contributor

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Daniel O'Connell is remembered as the Liberator of Irish Catholics, but he also played a significant role in the movement to end slavery. On 23 May 2011, President Obama made an historic visit to the Republic of Ireland. While in Dublin, he addressed the people in College Green. In his opening comments, Obama joked about having returned to his ancestral home “to find the [O’] … [Read more...] about The Irish Abolitionist: Daniel O’Connell

Outlaws: Billy the Kid and Whitey Bulger

By Tom Deignan, Contributor
August / September 2011

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The outlaws, Billy the Kid and Whitey Bulger, pictured above, share much in common in their lives on the lam.   Just as the infamous South Boston Irish mob boss James “Whitey” Bulger was arrested on June 22, 2011, a photo of another outlaw from another century, Billy the Kid, sold for millions of dollars. Whitey and Billy were different in many ways. One made his name in the … [Read more...] about Outlaws: Billy the Kid and Whitey Bulger

Scarlett is 75 and Still Going Strong

By David O'Connell, Contributor
August / September 2011

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On the 75th anniversary of the publication of Gone With the Wind, David O'Connell explores how Margaret Mitchell's Irish background influenced her writing. Writing in the second edition (1940) of his monumental and influential study The American Novel, Carl van Doren wrote: “Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind not only gave a revised version of the Civil War in the South, … [Read more...] about Scarlett is 75 and Still Going Strong

The Forgotten Hero of Golf: John McDermott

By Bill Kelly, Contributor
August / September 2011

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The first American golfer to win the U.S. Open -- and the youngest. When Rory McIlroy walked down the 18th fairway at Congressional on June 19, 2011, the TV flashed a list of six young golfers who won the U.S. Open in their 20’s since World War II. The AP golf beat writer went on to note that McIlroy is the youngest to have won the U.S. Open since Bobby Jones in 1923 when he … [Read more...] about The Forgotten Hero of Golf: John McDermott

The Irish Brigade: Heroes of The Civil War

By Matthew Brennan, Contributor
June / July 2011

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As we commemorate the 157th anniversary of the start of The Civil War, Matthew Brennan remembers the shining role of The Irish Brigade. Irish American actor Martin Sheen commented in an interview published in Irish America that he loves his Irish heritage in part because the Irish have never planted their flag on the soil of another nation. He loves the Irish because Ireland … [Read more...] about The Irish Brigade: Heroes of The Civil War