On January 26 the sports and television world lost one of its true champions. Known as "the James Joyce of the airwaves," sportscaster Al McGuire passed away in his Milwaukee home surrounded by his loved ones. McGuire's renown as former coach of the Marquette Warriors basketball team, and later NBC then CBS commentator for the NCAA basketball tournament, was matched only by … [Read more...] about Those We Lost: Al McGuire
2001
The Brigid Awards
On St. Brigid's Feast Day, February 1, over 400 people gathered in Chicago's Drake Hotel to honor women who have shown Brigid-like qualities of justice, compassion and generosity. The Brigid Awards, now in their third year, are the brainchild of Mary Pat O'Connor, who was featured in Irish America Nov./Dec. article on professionals working overseas with the Irish aid agency, … [Read more...] about The Brigid Awards
Threat to Peace from Loyalist Bombers
Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF) have carried out more than 50 sectarian attacks on Catholics. since the New Year. In early February an old girl lifted a pipe from her garden and carried it into her home. Little Cleona Magee's brush with death at her west Belfast home sparked off a chorus of condemnation aimed at the UFF, British Army explosives experts who were called to … [Read more...] about Threat to Peace from Loyalist Bombers
An Irish Laugh-In
Irish comedy has successfully crossed the pond, judging by the feedback from the New York Irish Comedy Festival. No less a celebrity than Moby turned up for the BBC America screening of Father Ted at Manhattan's Tribeca Bar & Grill to open the festival, and he then quizzed co-writer Graham Linehan during the Q&A which followed. Father Ted, a big hit in Britain and … [Read more...] about An Irish Laugh-In
Jordan to Film Ned Kelly
Irish director Neil Jordan, currently filming The Gambler with Nick Nolte, in France, recently beat off stiff competition for the film rights to Peter Carey's best-seller The True Story of the Kelly Gang. In the novel, Carey, an Australian who won the Booker Prize for Oscar and Lucinda, gives a first person account of his country'y most powerful legend, Ned Kelly, the son of … [Read more...] about Jordan to Film Ned Kelly