"I knew that we were Irish and I knew that Irish was the best thing to be."
– Novelist Alice McDermott
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When I immigrated to this country I had no idea of the history of the Irish in America – indeed, I had the idea that only someone born and raised in Ireland could call themselves Irish.
A Greyhound bus ticket at a cheap student rate that lasted three months and … [Read more...] about The First Word:
Now and in Time to Be
2000
The First Word:
News From Ireland:
Irish Children Among Europe’s Poorest
According to a survey conducted by the Combat Poverty Agency, Irish children are the third poorest in the European Union, with one in four living in poverty. They are worse off than children of the majority of E.U. countries, including the poorer countries Greece and Spain.
Over two-thirds of all poor children come from out-of-work families, and children are 1.25 times more … [Read more...] about News From Ireland:
Irish Children Among Europe’s Poorest
News from Ireland: Collins’ Letters Donated to Irish State
A collection of letters between Irish freedom fighter Michael Collins and his fiancée Kitty Kiernan was donated to the Irish government in July. The 305 letters provide insights into the softer, less well-known side of Collins. Peter Barry purchased the letters at a Dublin auction five years ago for £45,000. He stated that he did not think the collection would have remained … [Read more...] about News from Ireland: Collins’ Letters Donated to Irish State
News from Ireland: Ireland to Fingerprint Asylum Seekers
In an attempt to reduce the number of illegal immigrants entering the country, Ireland will introduce mandatory fingerprinting for all asylum seekers. This step has been roundly criticized by human rights organizations and the Irish Refugee Council. Under the new program, all asylum seekers over the age of 14 will be fingerprinted and the information will be added to a … [Read more...] about News from Ireland: Ireland to Fingerprint Asylum Seekers
News from Ireland: Ulster Unionists Lose Party Leader
Pro-Agreement and anti-Agreement Unionists were united recently at the funeral of Sir Josias Cunningham, a leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, the largest Unionist party in Northern Ireland. Cunningham was killed on August 9 in a two-car collision in Belfast. He was 66. Cunningham was elected president of the Ulster Unionist Council in 1991. The Council is the governing … [Read more...] about News from Ireland: Ulster Unionists Lose Party Leader