February's Winter Olympic Games were memorable for more than just the judging controversy in me pairs figure skating final. As host country, the United States won its highest ever number of medals, including gold medals for Irish-Americans Jim Shea, Sarah Hughes and Kelly Clark. Shea, a resident of Lake Placid, New York, won the skeleton competition, which involves racing a … [Read more...] about The Green and the Gold
Olympics
Olympic Roundup
Sonia's Silver Ireland brought home only one Olympic medal from the Sydney Games. The country's hopes for gold were dashed when runner Sonia O'Sullivan narrowly lost the woman's 5,000 meter race. She accepted the defeat gracefully and was visibly proud of her silver medal. Dolan Does It! Tom Dolan did it again. Following his Olympic success in 1996 the Irish-American … [Read more...] about Olympic Roundup
The Irish in Australia
Commencing with convicts, feared and despised, and followed by free immigrants and settlers, the Irish became the dynamic force in Australia's evolution into a nation. ℘℘℘ The eyes of the world were on Australia this past September, as Sydney hosted the 2000 Olympic Games. A close observer will have noted that many of the Australian athletes, including swimmer Susie … [Read more...] about The Irish in Australia
Hibernia: Going for the Gold
New York native Deirdre Murphy is the first woman cyclist ever to qualify Ireland for the Olympics. She talks to Sarah Curran about Ireland, her Olympic dream, and her strategy for Sydney. ℘℘℘ Deirdre Murphy arrives at the café where we had arranged to hold an interview in the most appropriate way – on a bicycle. She hops off her bike and proceeds to pull from her bag … [Read more...] about Hibernia: Going for the Gold