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
Politics
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
Northern Ireland in Crisis?
The more things change, the more they stay the same, was one cynic's response to the election results in Northern Ireland on November 26, which resulted in overwhelming victories for Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Gerry Adams's Sinn Féin Party. Other, less cynical observers point out that the majority of voters, 70 percent, chose to support pro-Agreement … [Read more...] about Northern Ireland in Crisis?