“As the first of the racial minorities, our forefathers were subject to every discrimination found wherever discrimination is known.” – Robert Kennedy speaking at a Friendly Sons of St. Patrick Day dinner in Scranton, PA It is fitting that we have Joe Kennedy III on the cover of this issue that marks the beginning of our 33rd year in publishing. Joe’s father, Joe II, the … [Read more...] about First Word: The Dream That Never Dies
Issues
Over 400 G.A.A. Stars Unite to Fight Ireland’s Homeless Crisis
A group of over 400 current and former G.A.A. players held a solidarity sleep-out in December to draw attention to Ireland’s homelessness crisis, raising more than $150,000 in the process. The sleep-out took place in 13 towns and cities throughout Ireland and abroad, including Dublin, Boston, New York, Quebec City, Wexford, Galway, and Cork. According to Focus Ireland, Ireland … [Read more...] about Over 400 G.A.A. Stars Unite to Fight Ireland’s Homeless Crisis
Band Aid Donates Archives to Ireland’s National Library
Bob Geldof and the Band Aid Trust donated their archives to the National Library of Ireland in December, opening them to public viewing for the first time. The charity effort raised £8 million for famine relief in Africa with the release of the 1984 single “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” The following year, the organization hosted the first ever Live Aid concert, featuring the … [Read more...] about Band Aid Donates Archives to Ireland’s National Library
Mapping Irish DNA
In a study published late December in the journal Scientific Reports, researchers have found 10 genetic groupings that mirror the ancient and medieval boundaries of Irish kingdoms: Ulster, Leinster, Munster, and Connacht. The study was explored by a team of Irish, American, and British scientists that analyzed data from 194 Irish people with four generations of ancestry tied to … [Read more...] about Mapping Irish DNA
Ireland to Recognize Preferred Gender Pronouns in Registry of Foreign Births
In December, Ireland took further steps to grant equality to transgender citizens by introducing policy designed to formally recognize naturalized citizens of the Republic’s preferred names and gender identity through the establishment of a register of gender recognition of foreign births. In a statement, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Coveney said, … [Read more...] about Ireland to Recognize Preferred Gender Pronouns in Registry of Foreign Births