Irish America

Eamon de Valera

Irish Film Institute Unveils Century-Old Footage

By Maggie Holland, Assistant Editor
May / June 2019

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The Irish Film Institute (IFI) was at the Consulate General of Ireland in New York in April to launch its Irish Independence Film Collection, a culturally significant compilation of newsreel material from the early 20th century. With over 150 films in total, the footage, which features Michael Collins, Éamon de Valera, and Queen Victoria to name a few, gives fascinating … [Read more...] about Irish Film Institute Unveils Century-Old Footage

Wild Irish Women: Elizabeth O’Farrell – A Fearless Woman

By Rosemary Rogers, Contributor

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An Irish nurse and member of Cumann na mBan, Elizabeth O’Farrell performed nursing and courier duties, delivering dispatches and ammunition to rebels over the days of the Easter Rising. She further risked her life to deliver Pádraig Pearse’s terms of surrender to the British forces on Friday, April 28, and stood with him when he surrendered to General Lowe later that day. … [Read more...] about Wild Irish Women: Elizabeth O’Farrell – A Fearless Woman

Digging Up the Past

By Robert Schmuhl, Contributor
April / May 2016

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Robert Schmuhl takes us behind the scenes on a decade-long research project that culminated in his book Ireland’s Exiled Children: America and the Easter Rising. ℘℘℘ Facts are stubborn things,” John Adams famously remarked. Less known, though, is a clause he added to complete the thought – “and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they … [Read more...] about Digging Up the Past

Éamon de Valera: Man of Mystery

By Robert Schmuhl, Contributor
February / March 2016

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Éamon de Valera, the dominant political figure of Ireland’s 20th century, was an enigmatic figure to the end of his life.  Éamon de Valera was sentenced to death for his involvement in the 1916 Easter Rising, but, under circumstances that are still a mystery, he escaped the firing squad and was instead shipped off to prison in England. Later that year, in July, the … [Read more...] about Éamon de Valera: Man of Mystery

Police Seize de
Valera’s Love Letters

By Irish America Staff
February / March 2001

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The Gardai (Irish police) have seized 18 letters written by Eamonn de Valera to his wife, Sinead, between 1912 and 1920. Some of the letters were written while he was imprisoned for his part in the 1916 Rising and others were written while he was in the U.S. promoting the idea of an independent Ireland. In one letter he tells his wife, "You are my first thought in the morning … [Read more...] about Police Seize de
Valera’s Love Letters