Burke (or Bourke) is one of the most popular Irish names of Norman origin. The name was introduced to Ireland through the person (and presumably extended family) of William Fitzadelm de Burgo, who came to Ireland in 1169 with the Norman invasion forces. William was granted large estates of O'Connor land in Connacht but the family did not effectively gain possession of this … [Read more...] about Roots: The Burkes
July August 1997
The Great Famine Event
Ireland commemorates the Famine. Colin Lacey reports. Addressing a near-capacity crowd of almost 5,000 at the opening of The Great Famine Event in Millstreet, Co. Cork, Irish President Mary Robinson said that commemoration of the Famine was a moral act that should remember the victims but also use the lessons of 150 years ago to connect with issues that are relevant today. "I … [Read more...] about The Great Famine Event
The First Word: The Madness Of It All
"IRA, Killing 2 Policemen Cripples the Irish Peace Talks," says the front page headline in the New York Times story by Sarah Lyall, writing from London. Indeed, the recent shootings of the two RUC officers was front page news around the world, and brought outrage from all corners. But, heinous as the IRA killings are, the IRA alone is not responsible for crippling the peace … [Read more...] about The First Word: The Madness Of It All
The Year of Living Famously
Frank McCourt has gone from retired New York City high school teacher to 66-year-old international celebrity in a matter of months. Almost a year after the publication of Angela's Ashes, McCourt tells Brian Rohan "it's been lovely, thank you, but I wouldn't mind a bit of peace and quiet, either...." Frank McCourt sits in the back room of the Old Town tavern, acting not at all … [Read more...] about The Year of Living Famously
Queen of the Klondike
After the discovery of gold in the Klondike, 100 years ago, some 100,000 people headed north in search of a quick fortune. Only a handful of them found it, and of that handful, only one was a woman. When Belinda Mulrooney died nearly penniless in a nursing home near Seattle in 1970, few of her neighbors suspected that, seventy years earlier, she was known as the Queen of Grand … [Read more...] about Queen of the Klondike