Megan Smolenyak writes about a decade-long search that finally turned up the Irish cousins of Annie Moore of Ellis Island fame. Thanks to improved access to a variety of resources, Irish genealogy is gradually becoming easier, but challenges remain, and one of the most daunting is finding living relatives. When Annie Moore, the Irish teenager who was the first immigrant to … [Read more...] about Annie Moore’s Long Lost Irish Cousins
Immigration
Changes to J-1 Visa Requirements
The two sponsoring bodies that administer the vast majority of Irish participants in the J-1 Summer visa program have announced a plan to introduce a new requirement for applicants to secure a job prior to arriving in the U.S. beginning in the 2016 application cycle. The change affects applicants from countries in the Visa Waiver Program, which includes Ireland, as well as … [Read more...] about Changes to J-1 Visa Requirements
One in Six Irish-Born
Living Abroad
Two recent reports from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development and the Central Statistics Office show that more than one in six Irish-born no longer live in Ireland. In the latest biennial assessment of the Irish economy published by the OECD, it is reported that in 2014, 17.5% of all people over age 15 that were born in Ireland were living abroad, while the … [Read more...] about One in Six Irish-Born
Living Abroad
Martin O’Malley Releases Immigration Plan
Democratic presidential candidate Martin O’Malley announced what has been the most comprehensive plan for immigration reform yet seen by a Democratic hopeful this election season at a round table discussion in New York City in July. Speaking with eight members of the community, including Siobhan Dennehy, Executive Director of the Emerald Isle Immigration Center, O’Malley said, … [Read more...] about Martin O’Malley Releases Immigration Plan
The First Word: We Are All Immigrants
And so it begins. A new year, and already a happy one with the election of an Irish mayor in Boston. And who better to embody the tough, tireless, tender trajectory of our Irish story, than Marty Walsh, son of immigrants and champion of the working class. Marty’s campaign, aimed at a range of ethnic and social groups, echoes the political leadership of … [Read more...] about The First Word: We Are All Immigrants