"He was just a kid, he wasn't an enemy. This is what I signed up to do, to help people." –Pfc. Joseph Dwyer, 7th Cavalry ℘℘℘ As we go to press Pierce Brosnan's latest James Bond movie Die Another Day is set to open in the U.K. (May 2 and in the U.S., June 2). Brosnan wasn't interested in discussing 007, however, when he met with Irish America recently. The … [Read more...] about First Word: Operation James
Patricia Harty
First Word: The Things They Carried
"The Irish carry their culture around with them like snails with their houses on their backs." – Denis Clarke Let me start with an apology. I'm sorry if some of your favorites are not on this list. I'm sorry that some of my own favorites are not on this list. Indeed, there are one or two on this list that I don't think I would enjoy having a pint with. But overall I have to … [Read more...] about First Word: The Things They Carried
A Personal Odyssey
The making of the movie Bloody Sunday was a tremendous undertaking for all involved. For actor James Nesbitt it was the beginning of an extraordinary journey that become much more than just about acting. ℘℘℘ James Nesbitt is an actor who has had great success in comedic roles such as Adam in the TV series Cold Feet and the pig farmer in Waking Ned Devine, but his latest movie … [Read more...] about A Personal Odyssey
Last Word: Paul Hill
Paul Hill, who spent 15 years in jail having been falsely convicted of an IRA bombing, is concerned about the fate of three Irishmen arrested in Colombia for allegedly assisting FARC rebels in a guerrilla campaign against the state government . He spoke to Patricia Harty from Colombia in December. What are the chances of the three getting a fair trial? None. As far as I'm … [Read more...] about Last Word: Paul Hill
First Word: The Good Luck of Bad Luck
"Lady Luck generally woos those who earnestly, enthusiastically, unremittingly woo her." -- B.C. Forbes ℘℘℘ Much is said of the Luck of the Irish. What luck? you might ask. A look at our long history of trials and tribulations would surely say we were dogged by bad luck. As John Lennon wrote in a song entitled "The Luck of the Irish," "If you had the luck of the Irish, you'd … [Read more...] about First Word: The Good Luck of Bad Luck