The real-life boxer behind the Oscar-nominated movie Eight years ago, Irish America magazine honored boxer Micky Ward as one of “The Irish 100.” Ward received his tribute at the annual Irish America awards banquet at the Plaza Hotel in New York. “I don’t know why I’m being honored,” Micky said that night. Then he turned toward fellow honoree, Robert Morris, leader of the New … [Read more...] about Irish Micky Ward: The Fighter Speaks Out
Sports Archives
Kelly Green at Notre Dame: Coach Brian Kelly
It is a mid-October Sunday morning at Notre Dame, right after the home victory against Pittsburgh. It was a close-run thing and the sense of relief around the Notre Dame campus is palpable. Nowhere is it more obvious than in Coach Brian Kelly’s headquarters at the Guglielmino complex. It is easy to see what pressure a Notre Dame rookie coach is under just when you wander into … [Read more...] about Kelly Green at Notre Dame: Coach Brian Kelly
Boxing Buddies: George Bernard Shaw and Gene Tunney
The unlikely friendship between prizefighter Gene Tunney and dramatist George Bernard Shaw is explored in a book by the boxer’s son, Jay Tunney. There are many books about famous literary friendships. John Keats, Lord Byron, and Percy Bysshe Shelley have more than a few dedicated to them, as do Edith Wharton and Henry James; Ernest Hemingway, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. While … [Read more...] about Boxing Buddies: George Bernard Shaw and Gene Tunney
A Course Called Ireland
By Tom Coyne, Contributor
Bestselling golf author Tom Coyne wrote about trekking across Ireland for 16 weeks in search of the greatest round of golf ever played. He shares his experience and excerpts from his book A Course Called Ireland exclusively for Irish America. Every adventure sets out to answer a question. It might be, “Can I?” or “Should we?” or “What if?” In my case, my endeavor to walk and … [Read more...] about A Course Called Ireland
Waverider: The Irish Roots of Surfing
Waveriders, the acclaimed documentary directed by Dublin native Joel Conroy and coming out on DVD March 16, is based around an unusual premise: modern-day surfing’s Irish-American roots. The award-winning film traces the history of the “father of modern surfing,” Irish-Hawaiian George Freeth, as well as showcasing the work of Ireland’s top surfers in incredible footage atop … [Read more...] about Waverider: The Irish Roots of Surfing