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Roots: the history of the Ruane, Rowan and Ó Ruadain families

By Sheila Langan, Deputy Editor
October / November 2011

October 1, 2011 by 81 Comments

The surname Ruane comes from the old Gaelic Ó Ruadain, meaning the descendant of the red one, originally derived from the Gaelic ruadh. The pre-medieval clan stems from Ui Maine, an ancient territory that was made up of mid-Galway and South Roscommon, and Ui FIachrach, an ancient area of Mayo, Sligo, and Southern Galway. The name, variously recorded as Rowan, Ruan, O’Rowan, … [Read more...] about Roots: the history of the Ruane, Rowan and Ó Ruadain families

Those We Lost: Recent Passings in the Irish-American Community

By Irish America staff
October / November 2011

October 1, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Hugh Carey 1919-2011 Former New York Governor Hugh Carey, who famously saved the state from the brink of financial ruin, passed away at his home on Shelter Island on August 7. He was 92. Carey, New York’s 51st governor, served for two terms from 1975-1982. During his first year in office, he immediately inherited the debt incurred during Governor Rockefeller’s four terms and … [Read more...] about Those We Lost: Recent Passings in the Irish-American Community

Brendan Gleeson: The Good, the Bad and the Funny

By Sheila Langan, Deputy Editor
August / September 2011

August 1, 2011 by Leave a Comment

The dynamic Irish actor talks about his latest role in The Guard, working with the brothers McDonagh and his upcoming directorial debut with Flann O’Brien’s At Swim Two Birds. It’s a Thursday morning in late June, and I am sitting at a table in the empty ballroom of the opulent Beverly Wilshire hotel, waiting for Brendan Gleeson. The press conference scheduled prior to our … [Read more...] about Brendan Gleeson: The Good, the Bad and the Funny

The First Word: Imagining America

By Patricia Harty, Editor-in-Chief
August / September 2011

August 1, 2011 by Leave a Comment

A letter from our Editor: My image of the South and the Civil War was formed in part by the movie Gone With the Wind.  RTÉ, our one channel when I was growing up in Ireland, ran movie classics on Sunday afternoons. It was one of the features I enjoyed watching with my mother. My desire to come to America was fueled by those movies, by the glamour of  Fred Astaire … [Read more...] about The First Word: Imagining America

Irish Eye on Hollywood:
Upcoming Film Releases

By Tom Deignan, Contributor
August / September 2011

August 1, 2011 by Leave a Comment

The latest Irish and Irish American happenings in film and televisio 1.An all-star cast of Irish and international talent gathered in Dublin to shoot a gender-bending film written by one of Ireland’s most acclaimed authors. n Glenn Close stars alongside Irish thespians Brenda Fricker, Brendan Gleeson, Mary Doyle Kennedy and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers in the film Albert … [Read more...] about Irish Eye on Hollywood:
Upcoming Film Releases

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May 10, 1869

The Transcontinental Railroad was completed. The first spikes were driven in 1863 during the Civil War, and over the following 6 year period, over 2,000 miles of track was laid entirely by hand over rugged terrain including the Sierra Nevada mountains. The Central Pacific Company built East from Sacramento, while the Union Pacific built West from Omaha, Nebraska. Both teams tried to beat the other’s record for track laying. The Central Pacific concocted a plan to lay 10 miles in a day. Eight Irish tracklayers put down 3,520 rails, while other workers laid 25,800 ties and drove 28,160 spikes in a single day. On May 10, 1869, at Promontory Summit, Utah, a golden spike was hammered into the final tie.

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