Jeremiah O'Brien was born in 1744 in Kittery, in the district of Massachusetts that would later form the state of Maine, the eldest of six sons of Morris and Mary O'Brien—Irish Catholic immigrants from County Cork. In 1765, the family moved to Machias, a frontier settlement on the Maine coast. There, the O'Briens established a sawmill operation along the Machias River. There, … [Read more...] about Before the U.S. Navy, There Was O’Brien

Among the more persistent and insulting myths of the "Great Hunger" is the claim that the Irish "starved while surrounded by fish" because they were too ignorant or too stubborn to help themselves.  It's a narrative repeated in history books, classrooms, and casual conversation—a defaming simplification that distorts the truth of what our ancestors endured. Let's be clear: … [Read more...] about Starving in a Sea of Plenty: The Fish Story That Whitewashes the Irish Famine

Christmas is a time of tradition.  Every year, millions of Americans enact a tradition that few realize has its origins in Ireland and the mists of time: "the Laden Table." In pre-Christian Celtic Ireland, hospitality was more than just good manners; it was actually written into the law.  Under Brehon Law, all households were obliged to provide some measure of … [Read more...] about The Laden Table, an Irish Christmas Tradition

In the heart of Dublin stands St. Michan's Church, a haunting reminder of how history can live—or die—before our eyes. Founded in 1095 (and later refurbished in 1686), it was initially built to serve the Viking community on the north side of the River Liffey. Over the centuries, the church has borne witness to Ireland's evolving history—from the days of Strongbow to the Easter … [Read more...] about The Haunting Legacy of St. Michan’s: Where History Lived and Sadly Died

1882 was part of a period of political and social upheaval in Ireland known as the Land War, sparked by poor harvests, falling agricultural prices, and the long-standing abuses of the landlord system.  The Irish National Land League, founded by Michael Davitt and led by Charles Stewart Parnell, was orchestrating a resistance campaign against landlords, including rent strikes … [Read more...] about “The Greatest Murder in Ireland That Ever Was”, The Execution of Myles Joyce