Irish America

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s Irish and the
Founding of the State

By Tom Deignan

December/ January 2021

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Joe Biden's nail-biting Pennsylvania win was just the latest episode in Pennsylvania's rich Irish American history. You can take the boy out of Scranton.  But Scranton still helped put its most famous Irish Catholic boy – Joe Biden – into the White House. The 2020 presidential election famously came down to a handful of states – including Pennsylvania. That’s where … [Read more...] about Pennsylvania’s Irish and the
Founding of the State

GAA in the USA

By Dave Lewis, Editorial Assistant
November / December 2018

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The passion, competition, and camaraderie of supporters and players of Gaelic games were on display at the USGAA Finals in Philadelphia over Labor Day Weekend. ℘℘℘ September is traditionally the last month of the GAA season as the best of the best in Ireland play each other in the All-Ireland Finals. September is also the time of USGAA Finals, a competition that pits the best … [Read more...] about GAA in the USA

Ghosts Beneath the Rails

By Lois Puglionesi, Contributor
June / July 2004

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William Watson never believed in ghosts. But the legend of 57 Irish railroad workers buried in a common grave has haunted the Springfield, Pennsylvania resident and history professor since the day he discovered the story of Duffy's Cut some years ago. Watson, the chairman of history and politics at Immaculata University in Chester County, was going through his grandfather's … [Read more...] about Ghosts Beneath the Rails

Tom Ridge: Security Office

By Irish America Staff
April / May 2002

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Tom Ridge resigned as governor of Pennsylvania on October 5, 2001 and assumed the position of Head of Homeland Security three days later. His state had been touched by the September 11 tragedies when one of the four hijacked airliners crashed in western Pennsylvania, killing all 44 people aboard. In discussing the new appointee, President Bush described him as "a distinguished … [Read more...] about Tom Ridge: Security Office

Photo Album:
Catherine’s Family

Submitted by Neal Moran, North Brunswick, New Jersey
June / July 2001

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Catherine Flannely was born in Porturlin, County Mayo, Ireland around 1835. She married Anthony Moran from the nearby village of Baralty. Catherine and Anthony immigrated to America in the 1860s and settled in a small coal mining town near Scranton, Pennsylvania. They had twelve children. She is pictured here, along with her daughter Mary Ann and son-in-law Edward Donnelly. … [Read more...] about Photo Album:
Catherine’s Family