Irish America

Irish America

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Great-aunt Mary O’Toole’s Amazing, Trailblazing Life

Submitted by Jimmy O’Toole and Paula Mulhall, Mary’s grandniece, and grandnephew.

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Her first seal of office needed to have the word “his” crossed out and replaced by “hers” in pen as she was the first female to hold a municipal court appointment in the US.  From Irish immigrant working as a child minder to becoming the first woman judge of a municipal court in the United States, was the unique and outstanding achievement of Mary O’Toole. Born in … [Read more...] about Great-aunt Mary O’Toole’s Amazing, Trailblazing Life

Son of a Rebel: A Conversation with Cormac O’Malley

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Cormac O'Malley was born in Ireland but came to live in the U.S. with his American artist mother, Helen Hooker, when his father, Ernie O'Malley, died in 1957. His career in international corporate law aside, Cormac has focused on the literary and artistic heritage of both his parents, including the publications of books not published during their lifetimes.  Cormac has … [Read more...] about Son of a Rebel: A Conversation with Cormac O’Malley

“Gift of Wisdom” from Waterford Crystal for Ball Drop

Róisín Chapman
IA Newsletter January 1, 2022

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 The “Gift of Wisdom” was the message last night, as the ball dropped in Times Square, and we said goodbye to 2021. Waterford Crystal, who have designed the famous ball since the turn of the millennium, has been carrying out a “Greatest Gifts” series since 2014. Each ball has represented a different gift, with last year’s celebrating the “Gift of Happiness”. Every year, … [Read more...] about “Gift of Wisdom” from Waterford Crystal for Ball Drop

Why Famine Came To Ireland


By Thomas Cahill

January 2000

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Thomas Cahill writes on the great catastrophe that became known as the Famine. The mass exodus of people during and following this period would forever change the course of Irish and American history. The potato blight that arrived in Europe in the summer of 1845 was, like the potato itself, an American export. The fungus that caused the blight was a microscopic organism … [Read more...] about Why Famine Came To Ireland

The Agitator: Leonora O’Reilly

By Rosemary Rogers

Summer 2021

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“You men say to us: ‘Your place is in the home,’ yet as children we must come out of the home at 11, at 13, and at 15 years of age to earn a living. We have got to make good or starve.” The charismatic and powerful public speaker who pushed for equal pay for equal work, better labor standards, and overall empowerment for women is profiled by Rosemary Rogers. Leonora … [Read more...] about The Agitator: Leonora O’Reilly