Irish America
Irish America
Burke (or Bourke) is one of the most popular Irish names of Norman origin. The name was introduced to Ireland through the person (and presumably extended family) of William Fitzadelm de Burgo, who came to Ireland in 1169 with the Norman invasion forces. William was granted large estates of O'Connor land in Connacht but the family did not effectively gain possession of this … [Read more...] about Roots: The Burkes
In Virginia's Shenandoah Valley there is a gravestone that reads:
Here lies the remains of John Lewis, who slew the Irish lord, settled in Augusta County, located the town of Staunton and furnished five sons to fight the battles of the American Revolution.
Those words are an apt summary of the Irish role in the Revolution. They responded en masse to the call for resistance to … [Read more...] about Yankee Doodle with a Brogue:
The Irish in the American Revolution
All in all, it was a great day for the Irish. That was the consensus of most of the news media gathered at Sardi's restaurant one cold May morning earlier this year to hear the list of this year's Tony nominees announced. In just about every category for a straight play, the name of the Irish entry, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, was read. Six nominations it had, the most of … [Read more...] about Broadway’s Queening Glory
Unlike most of the families covered in this column, the origin of the Kavanaghs or Cavanaghs can be traced back to one specific person. This was Donal, the son of Dermot McMorrough, a twelfth-century king of Leinster. This Dermot has an infamous place in Irish history since it was through his invitation that the Normans first came to Ireland, in 1169 AD. Dermot's son, Donal, … [Read more...] about Roots: The Kavanaghs
