A long-lost poetical pamphlet by Percy Bysshe Shelley was unveiled at the Bodleian Library in Oxford on November 10th. Shelley wrote the pamphlet, Poetical Essay on the Existing State of Things, in 1811 to protest Britain’s involvement in the Napoleonic war and, in particular, the jailing of Irish journalist Peter Finnerty, who had been accused of libel after critiquing British … [Read more...] about Shelley’s Irish Poem
Issues
Literarian Award for James Patterson
Novelist James Patterson, who grew up in a large, working-class Irish family in the Bronx, won the National Book Foundation’s Literarian Award, which honors individuals for a lifetime of achievement in expanding the audience for books and reading. The prolific and best-selling author was recognized for donating books – more than 250,000 books for children to children in the … [Read more...] about Literarian Award for James Patterson
Joanie Madden: The Christmas Letter
A forgotten Irish song of emigration tells of a mother’s longing for her children who have gone so far away, is a big hit for Cherish the Ladies. Irish music was the soundtrack to life for Joanie Madden growing up in the Bronx, N.Y. back in the 1970s. Her father, Joe Madden, from Portumna in East Galway, was an All-Ireland accordion champion, who headed a popular … [Read more...] about Joanie Madden: The Christmas Letter
A Child's Christmas In Brooklyn
In the Brooklyn world of my childhood, Ireland seemed especially close at Christmas. While we kids looked forward to Santa, Mom and Dad were looking back to Ireland. Cards would arrive and Mom would cherish each and everyone, especially those from her sisters, my Aunts Una and Joan, who would include letters for her to linger over, her eyes growing all teary. My parents left … [Read more...] about A Child's Christmas In Brooklyn
Sláinte! Everything's Coming Up Ginger
Ireland is known for its redheads and also, Edythe Preet discovers, for its ginger lovers. So this Christmas, make some ginger cookies, grab a glass of milk, and settle down with J.P. Donleavy’s The Ginger Man, now celebrating its 60th year. With the holiday season in full swing, it’s a fair bet that after gifts and decorations the next big project on the to-do list is “make … [Read more...] about Sláinte! Everything's Coming Up Ginger