My first home in America was in the Bronx, a basement apartment on Briggs Avenue off Fordham Road. It was a happy time. We were a revelry of young Irish immigrants caught up in the glorious freedom of having shed parents and small towns and farms for apartments and subway trains that we took down into the city to work as waitresses and bartenders. At the end of the day we’d … [Read more...] about First Word: A True Friend of Ireland
First Word
First Word: Trailblazers Past & Present
It was the first time that I knew the full weight of Irish America. Coming from a small country with few people, it’s difficult for an immigrant to grasp that in a place as big as America, the Irish could wield such power. I’m talking about the first Irish-American Presidential Forum in 1992. It was arranged by then-assemblyman John C. Dearie. I don’t remember the venue, but I … [Read more...] about First Word: Trailblazers Past & Present
First Word: The Gift of Heritage
Happy Christmas to all our readers. I love this time of year. New York is abuzz with lights and window displays, and good cheer. ’Tis the season… To make time for a little reflection to go along with a lot of celebration. To look back on the year, remember the highs and let go of the lows, and look forward to what’s to come. The holidays are a time when stories get handed … [Read more...] about First Word: The Gift of Heritage
First Word: Into the Future
"As long as you have your health, you have everything,” my mother, Norrie, used to say. She said a lot of things that annoyed me when I was younger, but as the years go by I realize that she was right about everything, especially about health being your most important asset. Many of us are guilty of taking our bodies for granted. We concentrate on our careers and accumulating … [Read more...] about First Word: Into the Future
First Word: Celebrate! You’ve Come a Long Way
"No pessimist ever set foot on Ellis Island. No pessimist ever crossed the prairies, no pessimist ever built cities from one end of the continent to another. These things were done by people with vision and hope." – William J. Flynn ℘℘℘ This Wall Street 50 celebrates the 21st running of the list. Our honorees, from fourth-generation to Irish-born, represent a range of financial … [Read more...] about First Word: Celebrate! You’ve Come a Long Way