I was named after my paternal grandfather John P. Duffy. J.P., ‘Jack’ to his wife, Nora (Walsh), who hailed from Clare Island, County Mayo, where his father was the keeper of the light. J.P. was the 14th child and left Clare Island after finishing eighth grade. The world would teach him lessons as there would be no further formal schooling for him. J.P., as a young teenager, … [Read more...] about Photo Album: Keeper of the Light
Photo Album
The Connemara Prints
Fashion and celebrity photographer Kit DeFever (who has shot many Irish America covers) turns his eye on Ireland. The photographs below were taken in Connemara and are beautifully reproduced as prints on watercolor paper. Editor's Note: This article was originally published in the February / March 2000 issue of Irish America. … [Read more...] about The Connemara Prints
“I Thought You’d be Taller”
By Anne Long
Our house had several windows, and most were wide open, inviting in the first smells of spring. It was the kind of day where I would normally be outside, soaking up the sun. But this nap had been planned over all the previous nights that I had been up late studying for my exams. As I pulled up the covers and nestled in, there was a tap at the door, my mom stood at the bottom of … [Read more...] about “I Thought You’d be Taller”
Roger Goes to Medical School
I was born at home in Emmetsburg, Iowa in 1928. The doctor said, “You have a son!” My mother didn’t know what to name me and the doctor said, “How about Roger? That’s my father’s name. It’s a fine name.” Both my parents were Irish. Mother was born Mary Margaret Mahoney. My first memories involve living in the small town in the shadow of the Assumption Parish. We lived across … [Read more...] about Roger Goes to Medical School
Great-aunt Mary O’Toole’s Amazing, Trailblazing Life
Submitted by Jimmy O’Toole and Paula Mulhall, Mary’s grandniece, and grandnephew.
Her first seal of office needed to have the word “his” crossed out and replaced by “hers” in pen as she was the first female to hold a municipal court appointment in the US. From Irish immigrant working as a child minder to becoming the first woman judge of a municipal court in the United States, was the unique and outstanding achievement of Mary O’Toole. Born in … [Read more...] about Great-aunt Mary O’Toole’s Amazing, Trailblazing Life