The creative community suffered a grievous loss when actor, drama teacher, artistic director and founder of the Focus Theatre in Dublin, Deirdre O'Connell, died at her home in Dublin on June 9. Born to Irish immigrants – her mother was from Cork, her father from Sligo – in the Bronx, New York in 1939, Deirdre was encouraged by her parents in her desire to act from an early … [Read more...] about Irish Theater Loses a Voice
2001
Ellis Island in Cyber Space
In April of 2001 Ellis Island opened its doors to more people than ever before with the launching of their web site, www.ellisislandrecords.com. The site contains essentially all the immigration records the famous gateway to America has stored. Compiling such an enormous amount of information seemed as vast and daunting as the ocean the immigrants crossed, but with sortie … [Read more...] about Ellis Island in Cyber Space
Amnesty Celebrates 40 Years
W.B. Yeats had his second coming on June 11 with actors, writers, and other members of New York's creative community slouching towards the microphone to read from the hilarious new novel Yeats is Dead. It was all in a good cause, however, with the proceeds from American sales going to Amnesty International and a pound per book from all Irish and U.L. sales. Written in … [Read more...] about Amnesty Celebrates 40 Years
Sister Act
How a committed sister freed her brother from prison. In 1980 the body of Katharina Brow was found in her trailer home in Ayer, Massachusetts. She had been stabbed to death and robbed of money and jewelry. Suspects were questioned but the case languished for two years until an anonymous phone call tipped the police that Kenny Waters had admitted to the crime. Kenny … [Read more...] about Sister Act
The Irish Brigade In the Civil War
"When anything absurd, forlorn, or desperate was to be attempted, the Irish Brigade was called upon." – George Alfred Townsend "Oh, God, what a pity! Here come Meagher's fellows" was the cry in the Confederate ranks. Nevertheless, the Rebels kept up the relentless fire. Captain John Donovan, in the 69th New York, called the combined cannon and rifle fire "murderous" as … [Read more...] about The Irish Brigade In the Civil War