IN olden times, Ireland's icons were comely maidens strumming harps or perhaps mythical heroic warriors such as Cuchulainn, bravely besting the enemy in his lair. In more recent times, a flame-haired temptress called Maureen O'Hara fit the bill. Not any more. Shortly, the symbol of Ireland to millions worldwide is just as likely to be a Black athlete, speaking with a British … [Read more...] about The First Word: The New Irish Heroes
Niall O'Dowd
First Word: The Belly of the Beast
Prison literature from John Mitchell's Jail Journal to the prison diary of Bobby Sands has a revered place in Irish literature and the latest addition, though written from a cell in far-off Lebanon, is easily a match for the best. I highly recommend An Evil Cradling, the story of Irish's hostage Brian Keenan and his five-year struggle for survival in various Beirut hellholes. … [Read more...] about First Word: The Belly of the Beast
First Word: Past and Future Presidents
A "carbuncled faced old drunkard," a "howling atheist," a "syphilitic lecher," a "pickpocket thief and murderer," a "crook and an anarchist." Hardly terms of denigration, but those are just some of the terms 19th century presidential candidates used against each other during their campaigns. It certainly puts terms from 1992 such as "draft dodger" and "wimp" in the kinder, … [Read more...] about First Word: Past and Future Presidents
Taking It To The Top: An Interview with An Taoiseach Albert Reynolds
In November 1991, shortly after making an abortive effort to replace Charles Haughey as head of Fianna Fail, the chances of Albert Reynolds ever becoming Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland looked bleak indeed. From being Minister for Finance, arguably the most important position in the cabinet, he had been dispatched by Haughey to the backbenches where he seemed likely to … [Read more...] about Taking It To The Top: An Interview with An Taoiseach Albert Reynolds
Senator Joe Biden
An 1987 interview with the then U.S. Senator from Delaware, now presidential hopeful Joe Biden gave his first ever interview to an Irish publication in April, 1987 when he talked to Niall O'Dowd and revealed, for the first time in print, his passion for his Irish heritage, the story of his extraordinary Irish Catholic family, and his ambition, even back in 1987, to run for … [Read more...] about Senator Joe Biden