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The Greatest Irish Americans of the Century: Educators

By Irish America Staff

November 1999

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Eoin McKiernan Champion of Education "We can give no greater evidence of our love for Ireland than to join in the race to further the achievement of Irish children." Eoin McKiernan is widely acknowledged as one of the foremost authorities in the U.S. on Irish affairs, and includes on his resumé such job descriptions as author, lecturer, script writer, TV presenter, … [Read more...] about The Greatest Irish Americans of the Century: Educators

The Greatest Irish Americans of the Century: Labor Leaders

By Irish America Staff

November 1999

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Mary Harris "Mother" Jones Miners' Angel "Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living." Mother Jones was one of America's most effective union organizers. At a time when few women were activists, she was a fearless crusader for the rights of American workers and became the champion of child laborers. But most of all, she was the "miner's angel" often risking … [Read more...] about The Greatest Irish Americans of the Century: Labor Leaders

The Greatest Irish Americans of the Century: Nationalists

By Irish America Staff

November 1999

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Eamon de Valera The Long Fellow "I am in America as the official head of the [Irish] Republic, established by the will of the people in accordance with the principles of self-determination." Given that nobody born outside the United States can ever hope to become President of this nation, it is ironic that a humbly-born New Yorker was elected President of Ireland in … [Read more...] about The Greatest Irish Americans of the Century: Nationalists

John Ford: The Quiet Man

By Joseph McBride

November 1999

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"If there is any single thing that explains either of us," John Ford once said to Eugene O'Neill, "it's that we're Irish." Their worlds intersected in 1940, when Ford directed his film version of O'Neill's sea trilogy, The Long Voyage Home. That dark and moody film about men on a tramp steamer perfectly captured O'Neill's Irish fatalism, and it was the playwright's favorite … [Read more...] about John Ford: The Quiet Man

The First Word: In the Beginning . . .

By Patricia Harty, Editor-in-Chief
November 1999

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From the time of St. Brendan, the Irish were drawn to America. Maybe it came from gazing out on the vast Atlantic Ocean and wondering what was on the other side. Brendan made his legendary trip in an ox-hide currach. Later the Irish reached "Inishfail" -- that "island of destiny" envisioned by the poets -- as migratory fishermen making their way to Newfoundland in the holds of … [Read more...] about The First Word: In the Beginning . . .