When this year’s Rockland County St. Patrick’s Day Parade proceeds down Central Avenue in Pearl River, it will be led by Marine Corps veteran Francis T. Duffy. Frank was awarded the Silver Star for “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity” in a battle where Admiral Nimitz noted that “Uncommon Valor was a Common Virtue” indicates the high bar that Frank’s courage met … [Read more...] about The Irish Marines
History
The Sheas, Three Generations of Winter Olympics Greatness
Since the ancient past, societies have honored athletes. Athletic competition may have developed out of pragmatic concerns such as training warriors, but it was soon realized that certain individuals were gifted with exceptional talents. In the Ancient Olympic Games winning competitors were awarded Olive Wreaths and honored as human incarnations of Apollo; in modern … [Read more...] about The Sheas, Three Generations of Winter Olympics Greatness
A Christmas Candle in the Window
We have all seen the beautiful tradition of placing candles in the windows at Christmas time. This tradition of placing candles in the windows of homes during the Christmas season was brought to America by Irish immigrants in the 19th century. However, beyond mere decoration as Irish Americans these Christmas candles have a special significance. They reflect the fortitude and … [Read more...] about A Christmas Candle in the Window
Andrew Higgins, the Irish American ‘Noah’ of WW II
It is an iconic image of WW II, a photo taken on June 6, 1944 showing American soldiers exiting a landing craft coming ashore at Omaha beach. A few months later on October 20th, another photo captured the moment General Douglas MacArthur “returned” to the Philippines, wading ashore from a landing craft. Neither of these historic moments would have been possible without one man, … [Read more...] about Andrew Higgins, the Irish American ‘Noah’ of WW II
JOHN DEVOY, A LIFE GIVEN FOR IRELAND
In a mid-19th century classroom in one of Ireland's new "National Schools", pointed to as an example of a more "progressive" British policy in Ireland as they provided non-denominational education, a teacher faced a rebellion. One of his young students, a short, dark-haired son of a brewery clerk, refused to sing "God Save the Queen" as required at the start of the school day. … [Read more...] about JOHN DEVOY, A LIFE GIVEN FOR IRELAND