Irish America
Irish America
John Brendan Kelly, father of Princess Grace of Monaco, won two Olympic Gold medals in 1920 and one in 1924, competing in a sport which was the reserve of gentlemen, the single and double sculls. He remains the only American ever to win the Gold in single sculls. Kelly came from a family of achievers, whose story is embedded in Irish America. His daughter, Grace Kelly, became … [Read more...] about An American Champion
As the 1996 Olympic Games begin in Atlanta, Georgia, we look at some of the Irish Olympians since the first modern Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, one hundred years ago. 1896, Athens, Greece James Brendan Connolly - John Pius Boland - Thomas Burke James Brendan Connolly became the first Olympic champion of the modern era when he won the Gold for the U.S. in the … [Read more...] about One Hundred Years of Irish Olympians: Days of Glory
"I don't think I had one conversation with any Irish person during my first year as the Defense Attaché in the American Embassy in Dublin where the name of John Fitzgerald Kennedy did not come up," says Colonel Bill Torpey. "Everyone, it seemed, had their own story about President Kennedy, and I began to think how wonderful it would be to bring his namesake, the aircraft … [Read more...] about Independence Day on the JFK
The movie Leaving Las Vegas, based on John O'Brien's novel, stunned audiences and had critics raving. But the coming success did not mean much to O'Brien, who took his own life soon after selling the movie rights. His new work, finished by his sister, also reflects his dark side. Writer John O'Brien did not live to see the phenomenal success of the movie based on his novel, … [Read more...] about The Life and Times of John O’Brien
The name Walsh or Welsh is one of the most numerous of Norman associated names found in Ireland. It seems to have been the name used independently by the many different groups of Welsh people who arrived in Ireland with the Normans during the 12th century. The name simply means Welshman and its early Norman form was "Le Waleys" but this became gradually anglicized to Walsh. The … [Read more...] about Roots: Walsh, Welsh (or Brannagh)
