By Carl Sferrazza Anthony There's as much of the old sod in the White House as there is on its south lawn. The backgrounds of America's First Families are diverse: Nancy Reagan and Lady Bird Johnson have Spanish forebears; Herbert Hoover was Swiss and Canadian; Mamie Eisenhower was part Swedish while Ike was German; Martin Van Buren and the Roosevelts were Dutch; James … [Read more...] about Presidents & First Ladies of Irish Ancestry
History Archives
Daniel Shays and the 1786 Protest Against Economic and Civil Rights Injustices
By Ray Cavanaugh Though it was far from successful, Shays' Rebellion – which spanned several months during the latter part of 1786 and early 1787 – certainly captured everyone's attention. Some, such as Thomas Jefferson, felt that “a little rebellion now and then is a good thing.” But others, such as George Washington, considered it a serious threat to the stability of a … [Read more...] about Daniel Shays and the 1786 Protest Against Economic and Civil Rights Injustices
President Mary McAleese’s Address to 9/11 Heroes
Irish America honored the heroes and victims of 9/11 at its annual Top 100 event held on March 14, 2002 at The Plaza Hotel, New York City. The honorees came from every segment of the community – firefighters and police officers, ironworkers who cleared Ground Zero for rescue workers, and families who had lost loved ones. The guest speaker, President of Ireland Mary … [Read more...] about President Mary McAleese’s Address to 9/11 Heroes
Bobby Kennedy Has Been Turned into an Impossibly Perfect Hero. He deserves a better judgment
By Brian Dooley As Bobby Kennedy lay dying on a hotel kitchen floor, we’re told his last words were of concern for those around him who had also been shot. “Is everybody okay?” Kennedy asked. These noble, altruistic last conscious thoughts chime with how many people see him – a champion of the poor, “a good and decent man, who saw wrong and tried to … [Read more...] about Bobby Kennedy Has Been Turned into an Impossibly Perfect Hero. He deserves a better judgment
The Fighting Irish
When this year's postponed St. Patrick's Day parade is rescheduled, the New York Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion (the Fighting 69th Infantry Regiment), led by two Irish wolfhound mascots, will march up Fifth Avenue and mark its 169th year in the St. Patrick’s Day parade. The tradition began in New York City in 1762; when the first parade honoring the patron saint of Ireland … [Read more...] about The Fighting Irish