Congratulations to our Top 100 and to our Irish-American of the Year John J. Sweeney. In honoring Sweeney we honor a great labor leader who has three million workers under the umbrella of the AFL-CIO. We also take pride in the history of the Irish in the labor movement -- by 1900 it's estimated that 50 of the 110 labor unions were headed by Irish or Irish-Americans. We reflect … [Read more...] about First Word: Everyday Heroes
Issues
St. Patrick’s Day, A World Away
Honolulu hosts the very last St. Patrick's Day parade on earth every year. No other parade is held closer to the International Dateline. It has an eclectic look with Polynesian school bands, Chinese lion dancers, beauty queens of various Pacific Island nationalities and even representatives of the British-themed Fox and Hounds Pub &Grub marching along-side Irish … [Read more...] about St. Patrick’s Day, A World Away
Noth and Meaney, No Bad Apples
Bad Apple, a fast-paced drama with dark comedic overtones, based on the novel by Anthony Bruno, had its premiere in New York City and aired on February 16 on TNT. Chris Noth and Colm Meaney play two FBI agents trying to bring down a loan-sharking business run by the mob. Things become increasingly intense after a series of crosses and double-crosses leave both agents at the … [Read more...] about Noth and Meaney, No Bad Apples
You Raise Me Up’s Irish Connection
With U.S. sales in excess of 2 million units, popular music phenomenon Josh Groban (22) has stormed to the No. 1 position on the prestigious Billboard Top 100 album charts, and Irish composer and novelist Brendan Graham is partly responsible for getting him there. Closer, Groban's second album, produced by David Foster, features the hit single "You Raise Me Up," with lyrics by … [Read more...] about You Raise Me Up’s Irish Connection
Lord’s Castle Problem
Lord of the Dance King Michael Flatley has shut down all renovation work on Castlehyde, his multi-million dollar castle in Co. Cork because he's fed up with combating Cork County Council. Flatley bought the 19th century castle on the banks of the River Blackwater for four million euros five years ago, but his renovations have been dogged by controversy and extremely strict … [Read more...] about Lord’s Castle Problem