Irish America
Irish America
What is Irish culture, anyway? My name is Owen O'Toole. I'm 18, and while I proudly identify as Irish-American, I need to know more about my ancestral homeland. As my high school, Regis, prepares a trip next year to Ireland ("a pilgrimage," as we members of Regis' Gaelic society affectionately call it), I want to understand what Irish culture is all about. Here's what I do … [Read more...] about In Pursuit of Irish Culture
A Journal of our Trip Through Ireland September 5, 2023: Aer Lingus JFK to Dublin, arriving the morning of the 6th. After an interesting taxi ride, during which the driver clued us in on what to expect: no guns, very safe city, no Union Jack flown anywhere in Ireland, EU (which “takes too much and gives too little”) was creating problems “forcing” Ireland to accept Ukrainians … [Read more...] about September in Ireland
"Laughter is wine for the soul – laughter soft, or loud and deep, tinged through with seriousness – the hilarious declaration made by man that life is worth living.” ~ Sean O’Casey Along with a record heat wave in July 2022, many Irish Americans came “home” to visit Ireland for some much-needed craic. Among them, was Kevin White (Irish America Hall of Fame Inductee … [Read more...] about A Celebratory Family Trip Home
I went to Ireland with my two children in March/April of 2018. This was the first time that I had ever been. I always had the impression that Ireland was similar to the U.K. The trip completely dispelled that myth. I thought Ireland and the Irish people were beautiful and I came away with the belief that Ireland and the U.K. were as different as France and the U.K. Needless … [Read more...] about Something I Did Not Know I Was Missing
Reek Sunday, the last Sunday in July, when pilgrims climb Ireland's holiest mountain, Croagh Patrick went ahead with far few climbers this year. Fr. Charlie McDonnell, parish priest of Westport, speaking to Patsy McGarry for the Irish Times, explained that the numbers at the mountain were "the smallest attendance of any Sunday this year, estimating that “between 400 to 500 … [Read more...] about The Pain and the Pleasure
