Thomas Cahill writes on the great catastrophe that became known as the Famine. The mass exodus of people during and following this period would forever change the course of Irish and American history. The potato blight that arrived in Europe in the summer of 1845 was, like the potato itself, an American export. The fungus that caused the blight was a microscopic organism … [Read more...] about Why Famine Came To Ireland
Why Famine Came To Ireland
The Book SHELF: A sampling of the latest Irish books on offer
Fiction He may not have been nominated for this year's Booker Prize, much to the surprise of many observers, but with A Star Called Henry, Roddy Doyle has written a book that, for my money, far surpasses Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha, the work that won him the prestigious literary award in 1993. Henry Smart is the larger-than-life hero of Doyle's latest work, but it's his infamous … [Read more...] about The Book SHELF: A sampling of the latest Irish books on offer
Paddy Moloney Leaves a Legacy of Irish Music
Mary Gallagher
IA Newsletter October 16, 2021
IA Newsletter October 16, 2021
Founding member of The Chieftains Patrick “Paddy” Moloney died October 11, at the age of 83. As the leader of the groundbreaking Irish band, Moloney played several different musical instruments with legendary skill, though he was lauded most and longest for his abilities with the uilleann pipes and tin whistle. Under his stewardship, The Chieftains made traditional Irish music … [Read more...] about Paddy Moloney Leaves a Legacy of Irish Music
Jimmy Neary: A Fond Farewell to New York’s Favorite Restaurateur
By Róisín Chapman
IA Newsletter October 16, 2021
IA Newsletter October 16, 2021
Sligoman and famous restaurateur James ``Jimmy” Neary passed away on October 1st at the age of 91. Neary made a name for himself among Manhattan’s elite soon after immigrating in 1954. He opened his namesake “Neary’s” on 57th Street near First Avenue after having earned his stripes as a Manhattan bartender in PJ Moriarty’s – where he met his late wife, Eileen. Neary’s … [Read more...] about Jimmy Neary: A Fond Farewell to New York’s Favorite Restaurateur
A Late Encounter with the Enemy
Few things are sadder than a missed opportunity. The story of the San Patricios, the Irish emigrants and their comrades of other ethnic groups who fought for Mexico during the U.S.-Mexican War of 1846-48, is rich and underexplored dramatic material. Complex and stirring issues of loyalty and heroism resound throughout the saga of the Saint Patrick's Battalion, which consisted … [Read more...] about A Late Encounter with the Enemy