As Irish America's editor for the past 20 years I have witnessed a major sea change in the economic relationship between Ireland and the U.S. For centuries Ireland depended on help from the U.S. but today Irish firms employ as many people in the U.S. as American companies do in Ireland. The number of Irish-born executives in corporate America is at an all-time high. Ireland … [Read more...] about First Word: A Different Tune
First Word
The First Word: The Irish Way
"Eoin was never afraid to aim high. He played a seminal role in creating the transatlantic scholarly conversation that is Irish studies today, and he believed in his vision at a time when almost no one shared his dreams." – James Rogers, Director, Center for Irish Studies, University of Saint Thomas. ℘℘℘ With the passing of Eoin McKiernan, 89, (see October / November 2004's … [Read more...] about The First Word: The Irish Way
First Word: Mother Courage
As we look at the stories in this issue, we see that the strength of our nation comes from different places. In Lynn Tierney's "Mothers United," a tale of quiet courage and hope, we come to understand that the heroes are not just those who were lost, but those who survived. Reading how four women -- three of whom lost their firefighter husbands in the Father's Day Fire of June … [Read more...] about First Word: Mother Courage
First Word: Everyday Heroes
Congratulations to our Top 100 and to our Irish-American of the Year John J. Sweeney. In honoring Sweeney we honor a great labor leader who has three million workers under the umbrella of the AFL-CIO. We also take pride in the history of the Irish in the labor movement -- by 1900 it's estimated that 50 of the 110 labor unions were headed by Irish or Irish-Americans. We reflect … [Read more...] about First Word: Everyday Heroes
First Word: Happy and Peaceful New Year
As the year winds down I cannot but reflect not just on the past year but on the past 19 years. It's hard to believe, but the coming year marks Irish America's 19th year in existence. It's been a fascinating journey into the landscape of Irish America, which often proved to be unexplored territory. Looking back at our first issue, I see the foundations of what the future was … [Read more...] about First Word: Happy and Peaceful New Year