While the rest of Europe plunged into darkness with die fall of the Roman Empire, the light of learning and western civilization was kept flickering in Ireland, preserved in the monasteries established by the followers of St. Patrick. However, it would only be a matter of time before the "light" attracted the unwanted attention of those more interested in plunder than learning. A period of warming weather and a population explosion in what we now know as Scandinavia combined to unleash upon … [Read more...]

On the surface, the brothers Thomas Addis Emmet and Robert Emmet were the most unlikely of revolutionaries. They were born (Thomas Addis 1764, Robert 1778) into an affluent family of Ireland's Protestant ascendency. Their father was the State Physician of Ireland; firmly positioning the family as members of the British establishment. Yet the spirit of the enlightenment ran strong in the Emmet family; they were sympathetic to the struggle for independence of the American Colonies during the … [Read more...]

Lt. Michael P. Murphy was born May 7, 1976 in Smithtown, N.Y into a family where Irish traditions and the virtues of public service ran strong. His paternal grandfather was the quintessential “Irish American”, being literally born on the boat taking his family from Ireland to a new life in America. Murphy's grandfather would later serve as a member of the Fighting 69th in World War II. Murphy's father would volunteer for Viet Nam and be seriously wounded before returning home to a career as a … [Read more...]

At this joyous time of year, our hearts arefilled with the thoughts of “Peace on Earth”and “Good Will to Men” that inspire us toacts of charity and kindness. However, ofhow many people can it be said that theymaintained in their hearts true “GoodWill to Men” when “Peace on Earth”was replaced by the insanity of war, evengoing so far as to “Love thy neighbor”irrespective of what uniform they werewearing? Such a unique individual was Fr.Peter Whelan. Peter Whelan was born in 1802 in Loughnageer, … [Read more...]

During the Vietnam War, a soldier wounded on the battlefield had a better chance of survival than if he had been injured as a civilian in a car crash back home in the states. This remarkable statistic is due to the courage and dedication of the pilots and crews of the aeromedical helicopter evacuation unit, radio call sign “Dust Off”.  A four man crew of a pilot, copilot, medic and crew chief would fly helicopters into the thick of jungle and battle to load and evacuate patients often while … [Read more...]

Kevin Gerard Barry was born on January 20, 1902 at 8 Fleet Street Dublin, the fourth of seven children.  He spent several years of his childhood in County Carlow when his mother returned to her family’s home with her children upon the death of Barry’s father when Barry was just six years old.  Barry returned to Dublin to attend Belvedere College, where he was a member of their championship Rugby team in addition to becoming an enthusiastic player on the schools newly formed hurling team.  His … [Read more...]

That any country should have in its history an event known by the sorrowful name of “Bloody Sunday” is tragic.  That a country should have in the space of 59 years, less than an average lifetime,  three events called “Bloody Sunday” is truly horrific.  Yet, in each of these adversities the strength and resiliency of the Irish people has been proven.  The third and best known “Bloody Sunday” was when members of the British Parachute Regiment opened fire on unarmed protestors in the streets of … [Read more...]

On July 2, 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg was entering it’s pivotal second day. The Confederates were pushing on both flanks of the Union Line. An unauthorized advance by Union General Sickles exposed a salient in the Federal line which the Confederates were quick to seize upon. One of the areas of fiercest fighting has come down to history as “the Wheat Field”. Union Commander George Meade ordered the area to be reinforced in a desperate attempt to prevent a Confederate breakthrough; among … [Read more...]

The year 2013 marks the Two Hundred and Fifteenth anniversary of one of the watershed moments in the Irish struggle for freedom: the rebellion of 1798.  The extension of some of the penal laws in the early 1700’s to include Presbyterians in addition to Catholics in an attempt to suppress any religion but that of the state sponsored English Anglican Church had led both groups to find an unprecedented common cause against a tyrannical government. This common oppression help forge a new national … [Read more...]

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 a “policing action”, yet to those Americans actually called to serve it was one of the most brutal wars fought in one of the most inhospitable environments known … [Read more...]