The family name Keegan developed from McEgan, the Anglicized form of MacAodhagain (pronounced mack-HYOO-gan), meaning “son of Aodhagain.” When familial prefixes fell into disuse during the submergence of the Irish language, the “c” of “Mac” was occasionally retained, later becoming the initial “K.” Aodhagain is a diminutive of Aodh, the name of an ancient pagan god of the … [Read more...] about Roots: That Keegan Fire
October November 2016 Issue
Sláinte! The Magic of Mushrooms
By Edythe Preet, Columnist
From fairy rings to the perfect Thanksgiving side dish, mushrooms have fascinated people since antiquity. ℘℘℘ Alert! Savvy insider grocery tip I’ve kept secret for several decades ahead! One crisp November afternoon while shopping for my Thanksgiving feast ingredients, I was selecting perfect mushrooms one by one from an overflowing display for my yummy wild rice side dish. I … [Read more...] about Sláinte! The Magic of Mushrooms
Review of Books
Books of Irish and Irish American interest. ℘℘℘ From Elsewhere By Ciaran Carson In a new collection of translations, Belfast poet Ciaran Carson tackles the late modern poetry of Jean Follain, a poet/lawyer of whom Carson refreshingly admits in the introduction he was unaware until the age of Internet, where he had to look him up. That two poets whose lives overlapped for a … [Read more...] about Review of Books
Review of Books:
Kathleen Donohoe’s “Ashes of Fiery Weather”
Kathleen Donohoe's debut novel is a stunning and intimate portrayal of four generations of New York City firefighters that puts women at the forefront.
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The Irish tradition in the New York City Fire Department is undeniably rich. But it also must be said that stories of the FDNY inevitably tilt towards the male perspective, since the department has only been hiring females … [Read more...] about Review of Books:
Kathleen Donohoe’s “Ashes of Fiery Weather”
Music Reviews
New music of Irish and Irish American interest. ℘℘℘ Legacy, Volume 2 Celtic Thunder This familiar, favored collection of incredible talent begins with an extraordinary rendition of the other-worldly “Now We Are Free” featuring Keith Harkin, who later in the album sings his original “Lauren & I,” a beautiful song made more interesting when learned it was written at the … [Read more...] about Music Reviews