June 16 has been immortalized by lovers of James Joyce's Ulysses everywhere as "Bloomsday" and has become an annual day of pilgrimage and celebration. Ulysses is the epic hour-by-hour account of one day in Dublin -- June 16, 1904. In the novel, the hero, Leopold Bloom -- an ordinary Dubliner -- is a modern-day Odysseus wandering through the urban landscape which is alternately … [Read more...] about Leopold Bloom Lives On
Hibernia
Shaw Goes to Boston College
The John J. Burns Library of Rare Boston College has acquired three significant archives of material for its Irish Collection, which is already considered to be the most comprehensive collection of Irish research materials in the United States. The three new acquisitions are an important George Bernard Shaw collection, the Bobby Hanvey Photographic Negative Archive and the … [Read more...] about Shaw Goes to Boston College
The Missing Irish
In the 10 years between 1990 and 2000, the population of the U.S. grew from 248.7 million to 281.4 million according to the latest census report. From an Irish-American perspective, it is interesting to note that in the same period, the number of people claiming Irish ancestry decreased by 6 million. In 1990, nearly 44 million people (18%) described themselves as being of Irish … [Read more...] about The Missing Irish
Paddy Clancy Scholarships
A number of scholarships in honor of musician and folk singer Paddy Clancy are available to students with an interest in pursuing studies in folk song, sean nós and the traditional ballad. American students may apply the scholarship toward study at the Irish World Music Centre at the University of Limerick. Paddy Clancy and his brothers had a huge influence on folk music on … [Read more...] about Paddy Clancy Scholarships
President Bush Honors
Robert Kennedy
On November 20th, President Bush, Ethel Kennedy, the widow of Robert Kennedy, and other members of the Kennedy clan attended a ceremony to rename the Justice Department headquarters after Robert Kennedy. Although somewhat surprising that the Republican Bush administration has chosen to honor a Democrat in this way, the impetus behind the honor came from the President himself, … [Read more...] about President Bush Honors
Robert Kennedy