My grandfather, Denis A. Lyons, was my best friend and playmate. He used to spend many hours with me trying to support and mold my forming personality. As is the tradition among the Irish, he used stories to illustrate whichever point he was trying to make. He told me many, many stories but only one has remained with me in its entirety all these many years later. It must have … [Read more...] about Grampa’s Story
Irish Immigrants
Man of Erin 2001 Contest
The Philadelphia Immigration Resource Center will be hosting a bachelors' contest titled "Man of Erin 2001" on February 24. The winner will receive a trip to Ireland, including airfare, accommodations and spending money and will represent Philadelphia in the bachelor contest at the Guinness International Mullingar Festival over the summer. The Philadelphia Immigration … [Read more...] about Man of Erin 2001 Contest
The Last Word
The last time it happened...The Irish were to blame. ℘℘℘ The election results are in. The presidential candidate of the incumbent Democratic party has won the popular vote but lost the election because one big state has narrowly swung to the Republicans. Commentators blame the Democratic loss, in part, on defections among a key ethnic group many of whom had been led to … [Read more...] about The Last Word
Dreaming of Freedom
A new exhibit in Boston traces the city's history as a gateway to the United States and freedom. A state-of-the-art multimedia exhibition honoring Boston's diverse mix of immigrants has opened to the public at the city's new $3 million Dreams of Freedom Center. Located at One Milk Street, the birth site of Benjamin Franklin Dreams of Freedom invites visitors to take a … [Read more...] about Dreaming of Freedom
The King Ranch
How the orphaned son of Irish immigrants ended up owning one of the largest cattle ranches in Texas. Kingsville, Texas: You look across the flat, dry miles stretching to the horizon, land that was even more foreboding 150 years ago, and wonder how an Irish river pilot could see this developing as the epicenter of the American cattle industry. This was the Wild Horse … [Read more...] about The King Ranch