By Kevin O'Beirne

Michael Corcoran was the commander of the 69th New York State Militia regiment, which fought at the battle of 1st Bull Run in July of 1861. Corcoran was captured by the rebels at that battle and was held prisoner for 13 months, until his exchange in August '62. One hundred and thirty-five years ago this November he formed an…

The regiment that Robert E. Lee christened is going strong at 150

PART 1 IN A TWO-PART SERIES

By Lt. Col. Kenneth H. Powers, NYARNG (Ret.)…

National Museum of Ireland The flag of Dillon's Regiment, Irish Brigade of France.

By Joseph E. Gannon Managing Editor…

On Dec. 3, 1154, the day after the death of Pope Anastasius IV, the freshly gathered conclave of cardinals unanimously elected the Bishop of Albano as Anastasius' successor. The bishop of this Italian see, 25 miles southwest of Rome, was not Italian, though. His name was Nicholas Breakspear. The new…

(Above: F. Otto Becker's colorful 1896 lithograph of "Custer's Last Fight.")

Part 1: The 'Greening' of the 7th Cavalry

By Robert Doyle…

  By Joseph Gannon

 The Minstrel boy to the war is gone,

in the ranks of death you will find him.

His father's sword he hath girded on,

and his wild harp slung behind him.

It would be hard to find a life that more perfectly illustrates the grit, determination, and…

By Christine Kinealy   

Being on the twelfth day of July, eighteen and forty-nine,

The pagans of this country did together combine, 

To…

By Brian C. Pohanka

Now I like Garryowen,

When I hear it at home,

But it's not half so sweet …

 By Joseph E. Gannon

By John J. Concannon

By a stroke of good fortune, I became involved in an Irish/Irish American book writing project that is dear to my heart.

(Left: "Brothers of Ireland" by Don Troiani depicts the 69th New York and 9th Massachusetts Infantry regiments in battle at Gaines Mill,…

By Kevin O'Beirne, Kevin P. Gorman, and Joseph E. Gannon

(Left: Historical Art Prints - The 69 PA withstands Pickett's onslaught in "Rock of Erin" by Don…

By Gerald A. Regan

Still, the Republic is peaceful, except . . . at moments when someone (either British secret service or Protestant Loyalist) has decided that the South should be reminded that the terrorist shouldn't have any sympathizers anywhere. Bloody Friday, May 17,…

By Joseph E. Gannon

Mary Harris "Mother" Jones was not your typical senior-citizen. At age 100, already well-established as one of the greatest labor leaders in American history, she was still giving tycoons heart-burn, still earning the title as "the…

By Joe Gannon…

By Joseph Gannon

Many men become known as heroes for their bravery in battle, for their willingness to face death in an effort to kill the enemy and obtain an objective, or for helping win the war for their country.

They are often celebrated by millions of their countrymen and…

Left, Marine Pfc. John Patrick White, born in Caherdaniel, County Kerry.

Five of the 28 Irish-born GIs who perished in the Korean War were born in County Kerry, including Marine Pfc. John Patrick White (left). Four were born in Cork, Roscommon and Limerick. Mayo was the birthplace for three, Leitrim and Antrim two,…

By Pat Hickey

No textbook tells the story of James J. Shields, but his personal story and resume are among the most impressive of any American, in any era.

(Left: "Churubusco" by James Walker, 1819-1889. James Shields fought there during the Mexican War.)

Shields'…

By Joseph E. Gannon

As hundreds of 'embedded' war correspondents traveled across Iraq in 2003, WGT remembered a 19th century Irish-American correspondent whose reports on a Turkish massacre shocked the entire world, compelling world leaders to place humanitarian concerns above geopolitical ones. Ohio native…

One armed man cannot resist a multitude, nor one army conquer countless legions; but not all the armies of all the empires of earth can crush the spirit of one true man. And that one man will prevail. -- Terence MacSwiney

Probably no man outside of Michael Collins was as responsible for getting England to agree to peace talks in 1921 as Terence…

Ah! Why, Patrick Sarsfield, did we let your ship sail

Away to the French Flanders from the green Innisfail.

For far from your country you lie cold and low:

Ah? Why Patrick Sarsfield, ah, why did you go.

We prayed, Patrick Sarsfield, to see you sail home,

Your flag waving victory across the white…