Does the diaspora matter? That was the key issue of discussion at the U.S.-Ireland Forum. The first ever conference on the Irish diaspora was held in New York City in November. It drew upwards of 1,000 people over two days, and was hailed as a great success. Growing up in Ireland I don’t think that we ever really understood the concept of Irish America, or indeed, … [Read more...] about The First Word: The Diaspora
Patricia Harty
The First Word: Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears
My god, what they went through to get here. Whenever I forget the lot of early Irish immigrants to America, something pulls me back. As I write this, I have open in front of me a book called Forgotten Ellis Island: The Extraordinary Story of America’s Immigrant Hospital by Lorie Conway. (Smithsonian Books). Lorie’s book is dedicated to her son Max “whose great-grandfather … [Read more...] about The First Word: Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears
Sive and the Ghosts of Ireland’s Past
It was Frank McCourt who first brought Sive to New York. A friend at the Irish Players, a 1950s New York theater group, now defunct, that showcased Irish classics, requested that he carry her over. And so the playwright John B. Keane traveled up to Limerick from Listowel to hand Sive over to Frank, who dutifully carried her across the water. The National players decided not … [Read more...] about Sive and the Ghosts of Ireland’s Past
The First Word: We’ve Come a Long Way
“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
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