Irish America

Irish America

Genealogy

Roots: Phelan, Whelan, and Fallon

By James G. Ryan

April / May 1999

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The origin of the names Phelan and Whelan is an excellent example of the vagaries of Anglicization of Irish names. Both of these names are derived from the same Gaelic name O'Fáolain. Although Whelan is more common, Phelan is common in areas of Kilkenny and Waterford. The O'Faoláins were Princes of the Decies, a kingdom in the area of the current County Waterford. The Fallons … [Read more...] about Roots: Phelan, Whelan, and Fallon

“No Man Left Behind”

By Megan Smolenyak
IA Newsletter, June 1, 2024

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"No Man Left Behind" is so much more than a slogan to me. In a sense, I contemplate Memorial Day year-round due to my work with the Army. For the past 25 years, I’ve been assisting the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) with the identification of our soldiers who gave their lives in WWI, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam but have not yet been accounted for. My role as a … [Read more...] about “No Man Left Behind”

News Roundup July 30, 2022

Emily Moriarty
IA Newsletter July 30, 2022

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Former UUP Member David Trimble Dies Age 77 David Trimble, an esteemed member of the Ulster Unionist Party, Nobel Peace Prize winner, and a key negotiator in the brokerage of the Good Friday Agreement, died on Monday, July 25. Trimble was 77.  The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) announced Trimble's death on behalf of his family on Monday evening. “It is with great sadness … [Read more...] about News Roundup July 30, 2022

Barry Manilow is a Limerick Man

By Megan Smolenyak
IA Newsletter October 16, 2021

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How Name Changing Hid a Heritage Barry Manilow. Yes, I know, most think of him as a Jewish fellow from Brooklyn – and he is. But he’s also a quarter Irish, and due to certain circumstances in his family, that Irish share has had a disproportionate influence on his family tree. Name Changing Though he wouldn’t have known it, when Barry changed surnames, he was the … [Read more...] about Barry Manilow is a Limerick Man

New York’s Catholic Heritage Archive Launched Online

By Mary Gallagher, Editorial Assistant
June / July 2018

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Genealogy database Findmypast joined with the Archdiocese of New York to collate a comprehensive digital record of Roman Catholics in New York, the first portion of which was uploaded in early March. The Archdiocese retains a massive collection of sacramental documents dating back as early as 1785, establishing a crucial link to the history of Catholics in the United States. … [Read more...] about New York’s Catholic Heritage Archive Launched Online