Irish America

Irish America

Fall 2025 Issue

40th Anniversary of the Princess Grace Irish Library

By Megan Smolenyak

Fall 2025

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I was thousands of miles from home, but the moment I stepped through the door, I was instantly at home. Shelf after shelf brimming with books – and better still, they were all about Ireland. No aspect is left unexplored with literature, history, politics, economics, folklore, and more all at your fingertips. Accompanying the thousands of books are striking paintings, intriguing … [Read more...] about 40th Anniversary of the Princess Grace Irish Library

Roots: The McCooey Clan

By Mary Egan

Fall 2025

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The McCooey surname has Armagh roots, deriving from the Gaelic name Mac Cumhaigh, meaning “son of Cú Mhaighe,” which translates to “hound of the plain.” This surname is an Anglicized form of a patronymic, where the “Mac” signifies “son of,” and the personal name Cú Mhaighe was common in the region of Armagh. Famous individuals with the surname McCooey include the Gaelic poet … [Read more...] about Roots: The McCooey Clan

Wild Irish Women | Nell McCafferty

By Rosemary Rogers

Fall 2025

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"You never knew what she would say next." Though she stood just under 4’11”, Nell McCafferty was larger than life. She was a fierce Derry Girl, activist, journalist, author, broadcaster, feminist, socialist, storyteller, lesbian, and much more. Nell was a force in the secularization and transformation of Ireland, fighting to make her country take its place in the modern … [Read more...] about Wild Irish Women | Nell McCafferty

Armagh: The Orchard County

By Edna Cullen

Fall 2025

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From ancient kings to Bramley apples and modern-day resilience, this quiet corner of Northern Ireland offers rich rewards for travelers tracing roots and chasing meaning. County Armagh doesn’t scream for attention – and that’s precisely its charm. Tucked away in Northern Ireland’s lush heartland, it’s not the most obvious stop on a tourist trail. But for Irish Americans … [Read more...] about Armagh: The Orchard County

Leading With Purpose And Ambition

By Tom Deignan

Fall 2025

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Jane McCooey once had a profound epiphany about her career, which so far has ventured into the fields of law, tech, and high finance.   It came while she was playing Camogie. “You don’t really talk about work when you’re there – you just go to train and play,” the Armagh native and Morgan Stanley executive said during  our recent interview. “But half the … [Read more...] about Leading With Purpose And Ambition