As we enter this July 4th weekend, there will be many programs rightly celebrating the accomplishments of the American Revolution and the Founding Fathers. As Americans have a lot to take pride in. Our revolution was one of the few in history not to be followed by a military dictatorship. The government that it gave rise to, while not perfect, is one of the few that realizes … [Read more...] about “Let the Shamrock be Entwined with the Laurels of the Revolution”
History
Lt. Col. Joseph Jeremiah McCarthy, “A hero at every campaign and everything he did”
The recent HBO Mini-Series The Pacific has brought a long overdue recognition to the sacrifices and hardships endured by the U.S. Marines in the Second World War. These battles were fought on isolated islands that one would struggle to locate on a map: Guadalcanal, Roi-Namur, Saipan-Tinian, Peleliu, Okinawa. Combat was often at point blank range; not only did the men involved … [Read more...] about Lt. Col. Joseph Jeremiah McCarthy, “A hero at every campaign and everything he did”
Brian Boru, the only true Ard Ri of Ireland
While the rest of Europe plunged into darkness with the 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 … [Read more...] about Brian Boru, the only true Ard Ri of Ireland
Myles Keogh, A True Hero Hidden in Myth
Few moments in American history are more mythologized or more debated than those of the Seventh Cavalry at the Little Big Horn. Myth has the power to preserve the names of people who would otherwise be forgotten, but often at the price of losing the true person. One example of this is Irish American Captain Myles Keogh. Keogh was born on March 25,1840 in Leighlinbridge, … [Read more...] about Myles Keogh, A True Hero Hidden in Myth
John Ford, father of “The Quiet Man”
For many Irish Americans, the watching of John Ford’s ‘The Quiet Man” is as much a part of the tradition of St. Patrick’s Day as Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life” is a part of Christmas. Both movies, depict an idealized time and place that was much simpler than today, or in fact ever was, but the basic themes of the importance of values and friendship still speak to us. … [Read more...] about John Ford, father of “The Quiet Man”