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Mother Courage:
How Ruth Sullivan Changed the World for Autistic Children

August / September 2016By Tom Deignan, Contributor
href="https://www.irishamerica.com/in-this-issue-2016-aug-sept/">Tom Deignan, Contributor

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There’s no way for John Donvan to put it gently when it comes to Ruth Sullivan, an Irish Catholic mother of seven and pioneering woman in the world of autism. “She just thought it was all bullshit,” says Donvan with a laugh, though he adds Sullivan herself would never use such language. It was the 1950s when Sullivan, and her husband, began raising their family. Sullivan … [Read more...] about Mother Courage:
How Ruth Sullivan Changed the World for Autistic Children

High Endurance

By Adam Farley, Deputy Editor
August / September 2016

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Mountaineer Colin O’Brady talks breaking two world records, keeping children active, and shows just how far the human body can be tested. ℘℘℘ On May 27th, Colin O’Brady was one of two people to summit Denali, Alaska’s highest peak and the highest point in North America. No one else on the mountain moved that day but his partner and him. The weather conditions were so bad that … [Read more...] about High Endurance

From “Giving It Up” to “Getting Rid of It”

By Ruth Riddick, Contributor
August / September 2016

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One family’s journey from addiction to recovery. Casey Duffy will not be mistaken for anything but Irish – the lightly graying hair is clearly that characteristic red, and he has the prized hail-fellow-well-met manner. Long established in Pennsylvania, his family hails from both the south and west of the old country. Nor will you mistake Casey for a drunk. He got rid of that … [Read more...] about From “Giving It Up” to “Getting Rid of It”

Roots: Melissa McCarthy

By Megan Smolenyak, Contributor
August / September 2016

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Five Things You Didn’t Know About Melissa McCarthy’s Family Tree. Easily one of the most popular and reliable box office performers today, actress, comedian, producer, and now fashion designer Melissa McCarthy has a lot to be proud of. With a string of hits (Bridesmaids, Identity Thief, The Heat, Spy!, The Boss, etc.) that consistently deliver an enviable ROI, it’s a … [Read more...] about Roots: Melissa McCarthy

Witch or Healer? Biddy Early (1798 – 1872)

By Rosemary Rogers, Contributor
August / September 2016

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Healer, Herbalist, Clairvoyant… or Witch? Biddy Early was a true “alpha female” writes Rosemary Rogers in her latest exploration of “Wild Irish Women.” ℘℘℘ For as long as anyone can remember, herbal medicine offered a cure for the sick and a wellness regime for the healthy. Herbalists seek remedies in nature to create medicines from herbs, plants, seeds, berries, bark, … [Read more...] about Witch or Healer? Biddy Early (1798 – 1872)