“Rise again, rise again / Tho’ your heart, it be broken / Your life about to end / No matter what you’ve lost / A home, a love, a friend / Be like the Mary Ellen Carter / Rise again.” – Words from the “The Mary Ellen Carter” as sung by Tommy Makem. (The Mary Ellen was a ship). We have a plethora of features in this issue and a fresh new look to celebrate the beginning of our … [Read more...] about The First Word: We’ve Come a Long Way
Patricia Harty
Governor Martin O’Malley’s March
Youngest mayor of a large city at 37, governor at 43; it’s possible that Martin O’Malley, fueled by family, Jesuit ideals and Irish history, will march all the way to the White House. Martin O’Malley is easy on the eye – very easy on the eye. He’s handsome, young, and he’s got talent. He paid his way through college playing music – Irish music. His band, O’Malley’s March, has … [Read more...] about Governor Martin O’Malley’s March
The First Word: The Might Green
“The Irish courage, spirit and humor so clearly shown by our immigrant forebears are going to be even more crucial to meet the challenges of the financial markets of the 21st century.” – Donald Donahue, Chairman-elect and CEO, The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation. Who knew that the Irish would be so good with money? It’s not as if we have had a lot of … [Read more...] about The First Word: The Might Green
The First Word: That Time of Year!
Mórtas Cine. Pride in our heritage! It's that time of year, and thought we don't need an occasion to feel pleased to be Irish, it's kind of nice to be the center of attention as the St. Patrick's season rolls around. We can look forward to reruns of The Quiet Man, watch the Irish Tenors and The Celtic Women, and enjoy Visions of Ireland, which showcases scenery that is so … [Read more...] about The First Word: That Time of Year!
Mother, Life, Landscape, and the Connection
Edna O’Brien returns to world of The Country Girls in The Light of Evening, with the mother-daughter relationship as the main theme. "A writer’s life is like an athlete’s life. You train every day of your life and even then it may not be as good as one had hoped,” says Edna O’Brien, who has written 20 books. Her latest, The Light of Evening, tells the story of Eleanora, a … [Read more...] about Mother, Life, Landscape, and the Connection