After a six-year campaign to secure official recognition for the Irish workers who lost their lives building Canada’s Rideau Canal, author and activist Kevin Dooley was happy to share the news that Canadian Minister for the Environment Peter Kent, whose department oversees Parks Canada, has confirmed that the workers’ legacy will be honored. One hundred and thirty-two miles in … [Read more...] about Recognition for Irish Workers of the Rideau Canal
Hibernia
Ireland to Get Its Own Cheers
The classic American sitcom about the Boston bar where everybody knows your name is set to be rebooted in Irish. In mid-December, the Dublin-based Sideline Productions announced that CBS had granted them permission to develop an Irish version of Cheers for Irish language network TG4. The beloved series, which aired for eleven seasons from 1982 - 1993, centers on a Boston dive … [Read more...] about Ireland to Get Its Own Cheers
Michael Flatley Tries his Feet at Painting
Not one to limit himself to a single medium, Irish dancer and flute player Michael Flatley can now add “painter” to his artistic resume. He sold his very first painting at an auction this past December for €5,600. His method, however, is not of the traditional paintbrush-and-easel variety. Rather, he takes a canvas that has been painted a solid color, places it on the ground, … [Read more...] about Michael Flatley Tries his Feet at Painting
Irish Awards for Michelle Williams & Melissa McCarthy
Michelle Williams, who has already received SAG, Golden Globe and Academy Award best actress nominations for her role as Marilyn Monroe in My Week With Marilyn will be recognized as the US-Ireland Alliance’s first honorary Irishwoman at this year’s annual “Oscar Wilde: Honoring the Irish in Film” event. The event, to be held at J.J. Abrams' production studio Bad Robot three … [Read more...] about Irish Awards for Michelle Williams & Melissa McCarthy
Malcolm O’Hagan, Founder of the American Writers Museum
“It has to be spectacular or not at all,” said Malcolm O’Hagan, about the American Writers Museum he is founding to “help people understand the power of the word, how much it influences our culture and identity as a nation.” Born the day before St. Patrick’s Day in Co. Sligo, 71 years ago, O’Hagan, who holds a doctorate in engineering, admits that it wasn’t until he moved to … [Read more...] about Malcolm O’Hagan, Founder of the American Writers Museum