Irish America

Ray Cavanaugh

Dion Boucicault: Drama and Melodrama in Both Art and Life

Ray Cavanaugh
IA Newsletter December 18, 2021

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For someone whose New York Times obituary described him as the 19th century's “most conspicuous” English-language dramatist, Dion Boucicault all but vanished in subsequent eras. During his career, though, his plays were sometimes wildly successful, and he also made an impact in the domain of copyright laws for dramatists. At the same time, he was liable to make unwise … [Read more...] about Dion Boucicault: Drama and Melodrama in Both Art and Life

Daniel Shays and the 1786 Protest Against Economic and Civil Rights Injustices

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By Ray Cavanaugh Though it was far from successful, Shays' Rebellion – which spanned several months during the latter part of 1786 and early 1787 – certainly captured everyone's attention. Some, such as Thomas Jefferson, felt that “a little rebellion now and then is a good thing.” But others, such as George Washington, considered it a serious threat to the stability of a … [Read more...] about Daniel Shays and the 1786 Protest Against Economic and Civil Rights Injustices

John McCarthy: The Father of Artificial Intelligence

By Ray Cavanaugh
Summer 2021

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Artificial intelligence is impacting the future of virtually every industry and every human being, and we owe it all to an Irishman named McCarthy. Few phrases evoke the rapid hi-tech acceleration of our era like “artificial intelligence” (also known by the somewhat less-threatening acronym of “AI”). Until very recently, this world, for better or worse, was ours. But, … [Read more...] about John McCarthy: The Father of Artificial Intelligence

Window on the Past: The Irish Bambino

By Ray Cavanaugh, Contributor
March / April 2020

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In late 1990s baseball, home runs were everywhere. The balls were allegedly juiced. The sluggers were definitely juiced. Players who had been lanky rookies would later display cartoon-sized muscles, thanks to a regimen of syringes in the posterior. Even hitters of mediocre power were expected to belt 15 home runs per season. About one century earlier, however, 15 round-trippers … [Read more...] about Window on the Past: The Irish Bambino

Window on the Past: Stampede of a New York Cowboy

By Ray Cavanaugh, Contributor
October / November 2019

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Calgary, nicknamed “Cowtown,” is home to the largest rodeo in the world, the Calgary Stampede, which annually draws millions of visitors. The first Calgary rodeo in 1912 was organized by a New Yorker with Irish roots, as Ray Cavanaugh explains. Cowboys seem like a self-assured lot. But Guy Weadick was more than self-assured; he was a bold visionary, and … [Read more...] about Window on the Past: Stampede of a New York Cowboy