Lest We Forget: the Forgotten Irish American Soldiers of the Forgotten War

The conflict in Korea has been called “The Forgotten War.” The conflict lies buried in the shadows of the global magnitude and populism of World War II and the media scrutiny and violent class of ideologies that defined Vietnam. Even the then Commander-in-Chief President Truman appeared to trivialize the conflict by referring to it as [...]

After the Easter Rebellion, Justice turned her Back on Ireland

As the events following the Easter Rebellion in 1916 show, there may be a reason why the statue of Justice on the gate of London Castle looks at her sword rather than the scales of Truth and Fairness

March is Irish American Heritage Month

The following resolution declaring March 2013 as Irish American Heritage Month in New York was prepared by the Rockland County Hibernians and brought to the floor by NY State Senator David Carlucci and passed by the NY Senate. (Note President Obama also declared March as Irish American Heritage Month Nationally)   LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor [...]

Fr. Francis P. Duffy “…a very Irish, very Catholic, very American person”

Fr. Francis P. Duffy, the Regimental Chaplain of the 69th, has the distinction of being the most decorated Chaplain in the history of the United States. Fr. Duffy’s efforts were not just confined to the fields of WW I France, we was a tireless campaigner to see that Irish American and Catholic patriotism was recognized.

Faugh a Ballagh!

In December 1862, the American Civil War which at its start  both sides believed would last only for a few weeks and be decided with one major battle was now in its twentieth month and had seen numerous battles and already tens of thousands of lives lost.  Despites its numerically superiority in manpower, its overwhelming [...]

Wolfe Tone, “The Father of Irish Republicanism”

He was the most unlikely candidate to eventually earn the appellation of “The Father of Irish Republicanism.” He was Theobald Wolfe Tone.

The Other Side of the Copper

A famous journalist once observed that “Disinformation is most effective in a very narrow context.” He knew that when events, especially historical events, are taken out of context their meaning and significance can be completely distorted. Such is the case with the recent fascination of the media with the events concerning the NY Draft Riots [...]

Chief Francis O’Neill, a “Reel” Irish American Hero

When someone wants to quickly set an atmosphere of “Irishness”, whether it is a major motion picture or a local Irish restaurant, they invariably use the same element: music.  Music is an essential element of Celtic life; the harper, piper and the fiddler holding a place of honor and esteem.  Wherever the Irish have traveled [...]

The Irish (American) Rebels

Very few remember that nine of the men who signed the document that is arguably the greatest statement of freedom ever penned, the Declaration of Independance, were Irish Americans.

Matthew McGrath, ‘The Prince of Whales’

There once was a time when Irish giants roamed the earth; their feats of strength and courage becoming legendary. However, these were not the mythical Cuchulain, or Finn McCool; they were real men who pushed the boundary of what was thought to be humanly possible. They were known as “the Irish Whales” for their size and strength and they dominated the strength events of the Olympics for the first part of the twentieth century. This was in an age when Olympic athletes were held to a strict amateur code, there were no high priced endorsement contracts, and more than a few of these “gods of the arena” could be found pounding a beat on the streets of New York when not competing. None was more renowned among these giants than Matthew McGrath.

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