Following on the heels of the very successful run of Tom Murphy's Bailegangaire, Irish Repertory of Chicago's 2004 season resumes in June with the world premiere staging of A Dublin Bloom, an adaptation of James Joyce's Ulysses. This production is Irish Rep's contribution to the worldwide "Bloomsday 100" celebration, marking one hundred years since the most famous day in … [Read more...] about Colombia Three Are Acquitted
Politics
John Hume Retires
John Hume, often known as the "architect of the peace process" who vowed to spill sweat not blood, has retired from political life. His announcement came weeks after his opponent, the Democratic Unionist leader Rev. Ian Paisley, said that he was retiring. At 67 years old, Hume has suffered ongoing health problems since 1999. Hume, a founding member of the SDLP (Social … [Read more...] about John Hume Retires
Irish Troops Land in Liberia
A rapid reaction force of 450 Irish soldiers landed in Liberia as part of the U.N.'s 15,000-strong military intervention in the war-torn West African country. The troops will take part in a peace enforcement mission that is expected to last between three and four years. It is the Irish Army's first U.N. engagement since the peacekeeping mission in Lebanon came to a close last … [Read more...] about Irish Troops Land in Liberia
Irish Family in the U.S. Faces Deportation
The holiday season was a tense one, to say the least, for the McAllister family. Days before Thanksgiving, federal agents raided their New Jersey home in the dead of night. Before Christmas, it became a distinct possibility that all six Belfast natives would be deported. Now, the McAllisters are awaiting a crucial decision from an appeals court in Philadelphia. When that … [Read more...] about Irish Family in the U.S. Faces Deportation
James Kenny Named New Ambassador to Ireland
The new ambassador to Ireland, James Kenny, traces his family's roots to County Mayo. But the red-haired partner in Chicago's Kenny Construction Co. is not one to spend time at Mayo Association dances or Irish-American events in general. Kenny's modern-day credentials as a dependable fundraiser for Republican politicians, including President Bush and his father, appear to have … [Read more...] about James Kenny Named New Ambassador to Ireland