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Arizona

From Space to Washington –
Captain Mark Kelly Takes on a New Endeavour

November 13, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Mark Kelly is the new Senator-elect for Arizona, filling the late Senator John McCain's seat. Mark Kelly – just elected to the U.S. Senate – had already lived quite a life. He’d served as a fighter pilot, flying over three dozen combat missions during Operation Desert Storm. Then he applied to become an astronaut with NASA. As did his twin brother Scott. They were both … [Read more...] about From Space to Washington –
Captain Mark Kelly Takes on a New Endeavour

Arizona’s Grand
Marshal Cowboy

By Irish America Staff
April / May 2003

April 1, 2003 by Leave a Comment

Howard "Bill" O'Brien, a living legend among Irish cowboys, will lead the Phoenix St. Patrick's Day parade in Arizona as the Grand Marshal. The 80-year-old replica of John Wayne has been so busy raising funds for the Irish Cultural and Learning Foundation in Phoenix that he has almost neglected the Irish Cowboys Association, an organization that he founded in 1997. Said … [Read more...] about Arizona’s Grand
Marshal Cowboy

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May 10, 1869

The Transcontinental Railroad was completed. The first spikes were driven in 1863 during the Civil War, and over the following 6 year period, over 2,000 miles of track was laid entirely by hand over rugged terrain including the Sierra Nevada mountains. The Central Pacific Company built East from Sacramento, while the Union Pacific built West from Omaha, Nebraska. Both teams tried to beat the other’s record for track laying. The Central Pacific concocted a plan to lay 10 miles in a day. Eight Irish tracklayers put down 3,520 rails, while other workers laid 25,800 ties and drove 28,160 spikes in a single day. On May 10, 1869, at Promontory Summit, Utah, a golden spike was hammered into the final tie.

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