Recent passings in Ireland and Irish America. ℘℘℘ Kevin Curran 1957 – 2016 Television comedy writer Kevin Curran, best known for his work on Late Night with David Letterman, Married… With Children, and The Simpsons, died at his Los Angeles home in October following a battle with cancer. He was 59 years old. Curran was the winner of three Emmy awards for material produced for … [Read more...] about Those We Lost
Issues
Ireland’s Ancient South East
A stroll through Ireland’s mystical past, from ancient castles and rugged stone monuments to lively taverns and modern day crafts in Kilkenny and Wexford. I recently paid a visit to Ireland’s Ancient East. What’s that, you say? You haven’t heard of such a place? Well, I was once the same as you. In fact, I was skeptical about the very idea of it. But now I’m a convert and I’m … [Read more...] about Ireland’s Ancient South East
The Fabulous Murphys
Gerald Murphy and his wife, Sara, were the golden couple at the center of glamorous expatriate life in Paris and the Riviera in the 1920s, with a social circle that included many of the great artists and writers of the day. Michael Burke goes behind the scenes to look at the dynamic Murphy family’s early beginnings. Patrick: The Salesman Patrick Francis Murphy, one of 13 … [Read more...] about The Fabulous Murphys
“Sure Shot Mary”
New York City police officer and detective Mary Agnes Shanley (1896-1989) was the first policewoman to use a gun in an arrest. She made over 1,000 collars in her career and, at just 160 pounds, had the strength to subdue an adult male. Born in 1896, Mary Shanley and family left the poverty of Ireland for the mean streets of Manhattan. Growing up it seemed to her that it was … [Read more...] about “Sure Shot Mary”
The “Loving” Star Power of Ruth Negga
Ruth Negga isn’t just an actress; she’s a movie star. About ten minutes into Loving, director Jeff Nichols’s remarkably powerful new film about a couple whose court challenged ended the interracial marriage ban in America, something quickly becomes clear: Irish and Ethiopian actress Ruth Negga, 34, isn’t just a talented screen presence, she’s a bona fide movie star. Cast as … [Read more...] about The “Loving” Star Power of Ruth Negga