Irish America
By Geoffrey Cobb, Contributor
October / November 2019
Sawdust on the floor, two kinds of beer – light or dark – what’s not to love about this timeless New York landmark pub? ℘℘℘ It might not be New York’s oldest bar – the Ear Inn and Queen’s Neir’s claim to be older – but no bar in New York can match the historic ambiance of McSorley’s Old Ale House on Seventh Street in the East Village. A wall sign in the bar states … [Read more...] about McSorley’s Old Ale House
By Geoffrey Cobb, Contributor
August / September 2019
From rural Donegal to Russia’s Hermitage Museum: the bizarre journey of an Irish landscape by an American artist. ℘℘℘ You would hardly expect to find idyllic scenes of the Donegal Gaeltacht in a Russian state museum, but the celebrated painting “Dan Ward’s Stack” and other gorgeous canvases of rural Donegal grace the walls of two of Russia’s world-renowned art museums. The … [Read more...] about Dan Ward’s Stack
By Geoffrey Cobb, Contributor
May / June 2019
“Wild Bill“ Donovan had many fascinating friends, including Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond – the fictional, globe-trotting superspy. Donovan’s real-life feats, however, surpassed even Bond’s wildest exploits. Perhaps no other Irish American served his country more daringly, yet Donovan’s largely clandestine service to America is still greatly under-appreciated. Born in … [Read more...] about “Wild Bill” Donovan: Irish-American War Hero and Superspy
By Geoffrey Cobb
September / October 2018
In 1691, a poor, blind, twenty-one year old son of a blacksmith and his guide set out on a journey from a backwater estate, Alderford, near the town of Balyfarnon, County Roscommon, hoping to make a living as an itinerant harper. He seemed an unlikely figure to leave a lasting stamp on Ireland’s musical culture, yet Turlough O’Carolan would become a great composer, creating … [Read more...] about Turlough O’Carolan: The Irish Vivaldi
By Geoffrey Cobb, Contributor
June / July 2017
Geoffrey Cobb writes about Thomas Crawford, who sculpted the figure of Liberty and Freedom on top of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC. Senate Pediment, marble, 1863, east front U.S. Capitol: “The Progress of Civilization” features figures that represent the early days of America along with the diversity of human endeavor. Click to enlarge. (Photo courtesy of the Architect … [Read more...] about The Forgotten Irish American Artist of the Capitol Building
