With the election coming up in November, Irish Americans have to decide who to vote for. When it comes to Irish policy, President Clinton wins hands down for being the only president to risk Britain's wrath and put aside the "special relationship" to extend the U.S. role as facilitator between the parties in Northern Ireland. As readers of this magazine will know, Clinton, … [Read more...] about U.S. Elections and N.I.
Northern Ireland
The Politics of Peace
By Emer Mullins
Once again, Northern Ireland dominates headlines, both in Ireland and internationally. The Manchester IRA bomb was a huge blow for the peace process and set back support in the U.S. for Sinn Féin. Once again, Gerry Adams has to answer whether or not he can bring about a ceasefire. But the IRA is not the only problem. Day after day, it seems it is one step forward and two steps … [Read more...] about The Politics of Peace
The Man from Hope
Irish American of the Year, 1996 It was an evening that dreams were made of, a crystal clear Belfast night, the winter air crackling with anticipation. On the sound stage adjacent to City Hall, Van Morrison was blasting out his There'll Be Days Like This, the unofficial anthem of the peace. A huge and enthusiastic crowd, later numbered at 100,000 was rocking along to the … [Read more...] about The Man from Hope
The First Word: A Whisper of Hope in Northern Ireland
There is an absence of joy so far this St. Patrick's Day season but not of hope. The end of the IRA cease-fire on February 9 and the subsequent bombings in London have cast a shadow over the celebrations of our Irish heritage, but all is not lost. Moves afoot as we went to press could certainly help change this gloomy scenario. By all accounts President Clinton is playing a … [Read more...] about The First Word: A Whisper of Hope in Northern Ireland
Northern Hikes, Bikes & Paddles
By Pam Martin and John Kernaghan
Winding their way around Northern Ireland, a Canadian couple found unspoiled landscapes, historic ruins, beaches, and trails. The Ulster Way, conceived in 1946 by civil servant Wilfrid Capper as a 626-mile circuit connecting a string of youth hostels, has something of a mythical allure. “It’s a fantasy,” one guide noted, largely because a third of it is on connecting roads, … [Read more...] about Northern Hikes, Bikes & Paddles