• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Irish America

Irish America

Irish America

  • HOME
  • WHO WE ARE
    • ABOUT US
    • IRISH AMERICA TEAM
  • IN THIS ISSUE
  • HALL OF FAME
  • THE LISTS
    • BUSINESS 100
    • HALL OF FAME
    • HEALTH AND LIFE SCIENCES 50
    • WALL STREET 50
  • LIBRARY
  • TRAVEL
  • EVENTS

The Willis Clan

The Willis Family

By Mary Pat Kelly, Contributor
May 8, 2015

May 9, 2015 by Leave a Comment

The Willis Clan have carved out quite the reputation for their musical skills and now have a new reality TV show on TLC. There is a moment during a Willis Clan performance when the stage lights seem to go away and you’re swept into that ancient time and place where Irish music and dance were born as rituals that could bind a community together, banish fear and lift sorrow by … [Read more...] about The Willis Family

Primary Sidebar

Featured Video

Featured Podcast

News from the Irish Post

  • Woman and baby found dead in Co. Tipperary

    THE BODIES of a woman and a baby have been found at a property in Co. Tipperary. The discovery wa...

  • 'They all had names': Belfast City Council unveils plaque at workhouse Famine grave where 10,000 were buried

    BELFAST CITY COUNCIL has unveiled a plaque marking the spot of the city's last Famine grave, wher...

  • Fire causes extensive caused to commercial premises in Waterford city

    A LARGE fire has caused extensive damage to a commercial premises in Waterford city. Fire brigade...

  • Young man dies following collision in Co. Wexford

    A YOUNG man has died following a road traffic collision on Co. Wexford. The incident occurred on ...

May 10, 1869

The Transcontinental Railroad was completed. The first spikes were driven in 1863 during the Civil War, and over the following 6 year period, over 2,000 miles of track was laid entirely by hand over rugged terrain including the Sierra Nevada mountains. The Central Pacific Company built East from Sacramento, while the Union Pacific built West from Omaha, Nebraska. Both teams tried to beat the other’s record for track laying. The Central Pacific concocted a plan to lay 10 miles in a day. Eight Irish tracklayers put down 3,520 rails, while other workers laid 25,800 ties and drove 28,160 spikes in a single day. On May 10, 1869, at Promontory Summit, Utah, a golden spike was hammered into the final tie.

Footer

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Give a Gift
  • Newsletter

Additional

  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Terms of Use & Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2026 · IrishAmerica Child Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in