Irish America
Sean Kelly (1940 - 2022) What can you say about someone who’s read Finnegan’s Wake—twice—then fearlessly went on to teach that impenetrable tome? A serious Joycean, Sean Kelly was also a laugh-out-loud humorist, magazine editor, author, poet, scriptwriter, playwright, lyricist, radio actor, newspaper writer, ad guy, schoolteacher, and prolific hagiographer. He applied his … [Read more...] about Those We Lost July 2022
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
