Irish America
Irish America
In the half-century that New York's Ellis Island served as a receiving station, more than 16 million immigrants passed through its doors. Ruth Ford talks to Irish immigrants about what they experienced. It is September, and cool inside the brick passageway connecting Ellis Island's registration hall with the moldering buildings that ring the island grasses. Outside, tourists … [Read more...] about From Ireland to Ellis Island
Daylight hasn't quite settled over north Co. Wicklow yet, but even at 8.30 a.m., this Monday is already teetering on the brink of total disaster. For three days now, 70mph winds and vicious rainstorms have bullied the eastern coast of Ireland into a state of rain-saturated submission. Over the weekend, local news bulletins have become little more than official damage reports: … [Read more...] about Back Home with Pierce Brosnan
As we were going to press it was announced that our own Frank McCourt won a Pulitzer Prize for his memoir Angela's Ashes. Over the years many Irish Americans have been so honored. Boston Globe columnist Eileen McNamara (all four grandparents were Irish) was also a Pulitzer recipient this year. Two years ago Jim Dwyer (the son of immigrants), currently a columnist with The New … [Read more...] about The First Word: Pulitzer and Lady Liberty
The fascinating relationship between Coach Charles Riley and his pupil, the legendary, Jesse Owens, is an engrossing human interest story about a gentle, selfless, Irish American school teacher who became a second father to a disadvantaged Black adolescent. From completely different backgrounds, Owens and Riley grew to love and respect each other at a time of overt racial … [Read more...] about Charles Riley: Jesse Owens’ ‘Irish Father’
Thomas Keneally is one of the world's great writers, an Australian who has revived the literary tradition in a country better known for shrimps on the barbie than the strength of its intellectual tradition. Schindler's List was the book which made Keneally's worldwide reputation, but long before that he had solidified his Australian roots when he explored the differences … [Read more...] about Kenneally’s List
