Born in South Boston October 28, 1868 James Brendan Connolly was the sixth son of childhood sweethearts John Connolly and Ann O'Donnell from the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland. But in 1895, Jim Connolly's parents were far from pleased. At the age of 27 their son gave them a great sense of pride when he entered Harvard to study engineering. Less than a year later, he … [Read more...] about The First Irish American Olympic Champion
History
The Quare Fellow
As we commemorate the anniversary of the birth of Irish writer Brendan Behan in 1923 on February 9, Elizabeth Toomey writes about his time in New York. On September 3, 1960, the New York Daily News carried a photo of a beaming Irish playwright arriving at Idlewild airport was a glass of milk in his hand. It was Brendan Behan, on his first trip to America. The milk was the … [Read more...] about The Quare Fellow
A Tale of Two Henrys & Their Tractors
Henry "Harry" Ferguson was an inventor who was constantly tinkering and trying new things. In the course of his life, he helped to revolutionize the tractor, helped revive the fortunes of an American automobile company's farm implements, and his name was known worldwide. Henry Ford was the son of emigrants from Cork who revolutionized automobile manufacturing. Together, these … [Read more...] about A Tale of Two Henrys & Their Tractors
A Tale of Two Henrys & Their Tractors
Henry "Harry" Ferguson was an inventor who was constantly tinkering and trying new things. In the course of his life, he helped to revolutionize the tractor, helped revive the fortunes of an American automobile company's farm implements, and his name was known worldwide. Henry Ford was the son of emigrants from Cork who revolutionized automobile manufacturing. Together, these … [Read more...] about A Tale of Two Henrys & Their Tractors
A Day in Capitan Sarmiento
The alarm clock rang. My consciousness slowly roused. 5:30, the illuminated digital figures hazily proclaimed. I steadily regained my faculties after what amounted to about four hours sleep. What in God's name was I doing getting up at this unearthly time? I was supposed to be on vacation. Forty-five minutes later, following a tepid shower and a breakfast consisting of coffee … [Read more...] about A Day in Capitan Sarmiento