Recently-published books of Irish and Irish American interest. ℘℘℘ MEMOIR Box of Butterflies: Discovering the Unexpected Blessings All Around Us By Roma Downey A 10-year-old Roma Downey, mourning the sudden, unexpected death of her vibrant mother, goes to Maureen O’Reilly Downey’s grave to plant her favorite flower – pansies. “She used to say she thought they looked like … [Read more...] about Review of Books
Issues
Roots: The O’Hara Clan
The name O’Hara has held a distinguished place in Ireland for centuries. The current spelling is an anglicized pronunciation of the original Irish Ó hEaghra, meaning “descended from Eaghra” (rhymes with “Tara”). Bearers of the name are believed to be the generational offspring of 10th century Irish chief Eaghra (d. 976), who governed the areas around today’s Leyny, County … [Read more...] about Roots: The O’Hara Clan
Sláinte! Calling All Fools, Fairies, and Leprechauns
The history of April Fools’ Day and tricksters of folk mythology. ℘℘℘ April is full of surprises. When spring sunshine starts warming the earth, night can fall on a brown leafless landscape and day break to green grass and golden flowers splashing the garden with color. A balmy day can suddenly turn cold, gray, and rainy. As the weather capriciously switches from sunshine to … [Read more...] about Sláinte! Calling All Fools, Fairies, and Leprechauns
Last Word: Leadership Lessons of Grandma Bridget
Retired General Martin Dempsey on the lessons he learned from his Irish grandmother. ℘℘℘ Bridget Jennings was my diminutive, Irish immigrant grandmother. In 1922, as a 16-year-old, she left her parents and siblings in County Mayo and came to the United States. At 21 she married John Devenney of County Donegal, and at 41 she was widowed. I was her first grandchild. Both my … [Read more...] about Last Word: Leadership Lessons of Grandma Bridget
Joe Kennedy III: Why the Dream Will Never Die
Congressman Joe Kennedy is carrying on his family’s legacy in politics and making a name for himself as a champion of the underdog. On Tuesday, January 30, he will deliver the Democratic rebuttal to President Trump’s State of the Union. Could he be a future President himself? Congressman Joseph Patrick Kennedy III wears his illustrious family tradition lightly. When you … [Read more...] about Joe Kennedy III: Why the Dream Will Never Die