World Irish Dance

World Irish Dance-Off

By Matthew Skwiat, Contributing Editor
June / July 2015

May 14, 2015 by </a> By Matthew Skwiat, Contributing Editor<br/><a href="https://irishamerica.com/archives/2015-archive/june-july-2015/">June / July 2015</a> Leave a Comment

Hairspray, fake wigs, and oodles of bling were on full display in front of 20,000 spectators for the 45th installment of the Irish World Dance Championships which took place in Montreal at the Palais des Congres in April. It marked the first time the event took place on Canadian soil and proved to be a massive crowd pleasing event that saw more than 5,000 competitors put their … [Read more...] about World Irish Dance-Off

Irish American of the Year: Michael Flatley

By Debbie McGoldrick, Contributor
April / May 2003

April 1, 2003 by </a> By Debbie McGoldrick, Contributor<br/> <a href="https://irishamerica.com/archives/2003-archive/april-may-2003/">April / May 2003</a> Leave a Comment

For what he has done for the world of Irish dance, Irish America is proud to honor Michael Flatley as our Irish American of the Year. Flatley talked to Debbie McGoldrick about his extraordinary journey and what's next on the cards. ℘℘℘ It's hard to remember the days when Irish stepdancing wasn't in vogue, when it wasn't scintillating and sublime and sexy, when it wasn't a … [Read more...] about Irish American of the Year: Michael Flatley

September 17, 1903

On this day in 1903, Irish American writer Frank O’Connor was born in Cork, Ireland. In 1918, O’Connor joined the Irish Republican Army and helped fight in the war for independence. However, he opposed the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921 and was imprisoned for being one of the Anti-Treaty combatants. After his release, O’Connor served briefly as a managing director at Dublin’s Abbey Theater, but then accepted a teaching position in the U.S. Many of O’Connor’s short stories were published in The New Yorker, for which he received much acclaim. His memoir, An Only Child, was also very successful.