Irish America
Stephen Downey (1937-2021) Speechwriter and communications consultant Stephen Downey died in early December 2021, aged 84. Married to lauded cabaret singer and musical theater actress KT Sullivan, Downey was a passionate supporter and aficionado of the arts, and served as president of both the Yeats Drama Society and the New York Browning Society. Born in Providence, Rhode … [Read more...] about Those We Lost
Seamus Deane (1920-2021) Academic and literary critic Seamus Deane died in May, at 81. Known for his talent for delivering comprehensive, articulate, engaging analyses completely off-the-cuff, Deane was a founder and chair of the University of Notre Dame’s Irish studies program, setting the precedent of quality for that field of study around the world. His Derry upbringing … [Read more...] about Those We Lost
You would think after all this time as editor of this magazine, I would cease to be surprised at the mighty achievements of Irish-Americans. We have showcased the measure of that success down through the years, and yet the honorees profiled in this issue give me pause. The incredible work that they do – in research institutions, clinics, hospitals, and other healthcare … [Read more...] about First Word: Inventing The Future of Medicine
Ivan Cooper (1944 – 2019) Irish civil rights activist Ivan Cooper died in late June, aged 75. A founding member of Northern Ireland’s Social Democratic and Labour party, Cooper is best known for his leadership of the anti-internment march in Derry that erupted into 1972’s Bloody Sunday. Born in Killaloo, County Derry, to a Protestant family, Cooper started out as a unionist, … [Read more...] about Those We Lost
“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” – Abraham Lincoln (quote on the home page of Rolling Thunder's website) The Rolling Thunder “Ride for Freedom” will ride through D.C. one last time on Sunday, May 26. After 31 straight years Artie Muller, founder and executive … [Read more...] about Rolling Thunder’s Last Ride
