In 1691, a poor, blind, twenty-one year old son of a blacksmith and his guide set out on a journey from a backwater estate, Alderford, near the town of Balyfarnon, County Roscommon, hoping to make a living as an itinerant harper. He seemed an unlikely figure to leave a lasting stamp on Ireland’s musical culture, yet Turlough O’Carolan would become a great composer, creating … [Read more...] about Turlough O’Carolan: The Irish Vivaldi
Issues
Jiggs and Maggie and More…
The impact Irish creators and their characters had on the funny, and not-so funny, papers is examined ℘℘℘ Later this year, Hollywood funnyman Seth Rogen (This is 40, Knocked Up) and his regular collaborator, Evan Goldberg, will begin overseeing production of a new Amazon series called The Boys, a kind of next-generation comic-book drama set in a world where superheroes have … [Read more...] about Jiggs and Maggie and More…
The Brooklyn Fire Chaser
Single-Mindedly Brilliant: The Life of Fire Detective Thomas P. Brophy and his lasting legacy on the FDNY. ℘℘℘ He never married, had no hobbies, and often needed reminding just to eat. Thomas Patrick Brophy seemed to live for one thing: catching arsonists. Tirelessly stalking New York streets for leads, he would proceed to secure more arson convictions than any other … [Read more...] about The Brooklyn Fire Chaser
Sláinte!: Ahoy Me Hearties
Celebrate “Talk Like a Pirate Day” on September 19 by upping your knowledge of these Irish buccaneers of yonder years. Read on and ye’ll discover the Irish men and women who sailed the high seas as pirates, buccaneers, and privateers. Some lived to a ripe old age. Some were cut down in their prime. All left their mark on the pages of history. Grace O’Malley (Grainne Ni … [Read more...] about Sláinte!: Ahoy Me Hearties
Review of Books
Recently-published books of Irish and Irish American interest. ℘℘℘ FICTION Every Breath You Take By Mary Higgins Clark & Alafair Burke The latest thriller and newest undertaking in the Under Suspicion series by Mary Higgins Clark, co-authored with Alafair Burke, shows that the authors’ talent for weaving an intense, fast-paced suspense story has not diminished in the … [Read more...] about Review of Books