Irish America

Irish America

In This Issue 1997

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

Beyond the Veil

By Therese Lanigan-Schmidt

May/June 1997

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A descendant of Famine immigrants recounts her trip home. It was our first trip to Ireland. And it was a trip my mother, Mary Lanigan Schmidt, always yearned to make, but never did. Now dead these 12 years, she left behind so much, including her First Communion veil from 1926, now yellow with age. I took two snippets of the delicate lace and brought them with me, a part of … [Read more...] about Beyond the Veil

Back Home with Pierce Brosnan

By Colin Lacey

May/June 1997

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Daylight hasn't quite settled over north Co. Wicklow yet, but even at 8.30 a.m., this Monday is already teetering on the brink of total disaster. For three days now, 70mph winds and vicious rainstorms have bullied the eastern coast of Ireland into a state of rain-saturated submission. Over the weekend, local news bulletins have become little more than official damage reports: … [Read more...] about Back Home with Pierce Brosnan

The First Word: Pulitzer and Lady Liberty

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As we were going to press it was announced that our own Frank McCourt won a Pulitzer Prize for his memoir Angela's Ashes. Over the years many Irish Americans have been so honored. Boston Globe columnist Eileen McNamara (all four grandparents were Irish) was also a Pulitzer recipient this year. Two years ago Jim Dwyer (the son of immigrants), currently a columnist with The New … [Read more...] about The First Word: Pulitzer and Lady Liberty

Charles Riley: Jesse Owens’ ‘Irish Father’

By Chuck Leddy

March/April 1997

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The fascinating relationship between Coach Charles Riley and his pupil, the legendary, Jesse Owens, is an engrossing human interest story about a gentle, selfless, Irish American school teacher who became a second father to a disadvantaged Black adolescent. From completely different backgrounds, Owens and Riley grew to love and respect each other at a time of overt racial … [Read more...] about Charles Riley: Jesse Owens’ ‘Irish Father’