With a finish time of 2 hours 26 minutes, Shalane Flanagan (below) became the first American in 40 years to win the New York City Marathon in November. It was her first major international win after more than a decade of professional racing. Flanagan, who was raised in an Irish American household in Marblehead, MA, represented the U.S. at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, winning the … [Read more...] about First American Wins NY Marathon in 40 Years
Sports
Kurdish Refugee’s Croke Park Debut
History was made in Dublin’s Croke Park during the Lory Meagher Cup final in June, when the Leitrim senior hurling team took to the terrain for the first time against Warwickshire. Equally significant, however, was the presence of Iraq-born Iranian-Kurdish refugee Zemnako Moradi, who goes by Zak. It marked the first time an immigrant of that background lined out in a national … [Read more...] about Kurdish Refugee’s Croke Park Debut
Last Word:
Hurling’s U.S. Rules Are Bad for the Sport’s Success
Does adapting the game for American viewers ruin the traditions of the ancient Gaelic sport?
The Gaelic Players Association is an Irish not-for-profit organization that was created to advance the welfare and to protect the interests of the athletes that participate in Gaelic games at the county level. Since 1999, the GPA has fought for player’s rights and their well-being and … [Read more...] about Last Word:
Hurling’s U.S. Rules Are Bad for the Sport’s Success
Weekly Comment: Why I Won’t Be Going to Las Vegas
By Irish America Staff
August 25, 2017
August 25, 2017
Thomas Hauser, a biographer of Muhammad Ali, the author of the forthcoming There Will Always Be Boxing (University of Arkansas, November 2017), and a frequent Irish America contributor hasn’t hidden his views of the upcoming boxing spectacle between the Dublin-born UFC fighter Conor McGregor and American boxing champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr. He recently wrote … [Read more...] about Weekly Comment: Why I Won’t Be Going to Las Vegas
Washington Nationals Return to Irish Roots
Irish ambassador to the U.S. Anne Anderson joined the Washington Nationals baseball team at their home field of Nationals Park in May for Irish American Heritage Day, throwing out the first pitch of the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Before making the pitch, Anderson celebrated the stadium’s inaugural Irish Heritage evening alongside the team, which has always boasted a … [Read more...] about Washington Nationals Return to Irish Roots