HISTORIC NI AGREEMENT GIVES HOPE FOR FUTURE: Deaglán de Bréadún, Northern Editor of The Irish Times, describes an epic week in the history of the North of Ireland culminating in the historic peace deal. ℘℘℘ I have been privileged to cover two truly epic stories in my career as a journalist. One was the mass migration of the Kurds from northern Iraq into Iran and Turkey … [Read more...] about The Dawn of a New Peace
History Archives
The Irish in Texas
By Harry Dunleavy
January / February 1998
Irish settlers and their contribution in the formation and development of the Lone Star State. Irish immigration to Texas is so old that it has its roots in the Iberian Peninsula and the marriage of Isabella I of Castile to Ferdinand II of Aragon. The union of the two Spanish Provinces, and the subsequent expulsion of the Moors after the Battle of Granada, paved the way for … [Read more...] about The Irish in Texas
Bottled Wild Geese
By Norman Mongan
September October 1996
Norman Mongan explores the contribution the Irish have made to the French wine-growing industry. Some may find it surprising that Irishmen were involved with wine-making well before Arthur Guinness invented his famous brew. Early 18th century Dublin imbibed vast quantities of fine claret, greater than the combined total of England and Scotland. The Irish "Wild Geese" who left … [Read more...] about Bottled Wild Geese
Roots: The Stout-Hearted Murphys
One of the most common names in Ireland, the Murphy Clan has distinguished itself in every field. Among them were an Army chaplain, poet, war hero, police commissioner, and mistress. ℘℘℘ The name Murphy, the most common and widespread name in Ireland, is a derivation of the Gaelic personal name of Murchadh or Murragh, which gave rise to the different versions MacMurchadh … [Read more...] about Roots: The Stout-Hearted Murphys
Mozart’s Irish Tenor
By Isabelle Emerson
July/August 1995
Isabelle Emerson writes on the fascinating life of Irish tenor Michael Kelly. Michael Kelly's career started early: at the age of three he was served up on the table with the wine to sing for the entertainment of his father's guests. His powerful soprano was, perhaps surprisingly, not damaged by this unusual stage or by the succession of rather peculiar voice teachers, … [Read more...] about Mozart’s Irish Tenor