You won’t find it listed in most Irish travel books and I have yet to see a travel website that mentions it. But in my book, Inishmurray Island is the greatest place in Ireland, perhaps on Earth. Because I always strive to be a traveler…

Back in the 1980s I was a music reviewer (under the name Adelle Cooper)  for three local papers in Calgary, Alberta, while also an entertainment booker (first agency to book Motley Crue…

When the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) marched up Fifth Avenue in New York’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade it should have been crystal clear, if it wasn't already, that this parade is incompatible with any serious effort to support Irish freedom. The PSNI is the…

In the late 19th century and early 20th century, an Irish literary revival occurred as a means of establishing cultural nationalism, and Irish literary talent bloomed. As a result, culturally significant…

As a schoolboy some 65 years ago, I was often asked for directions to the famous Turoe Stone (2 miles up the road) by French, German and British ‘tourists’. Intriguing winter fireside stories recalled remnants of a local ancient ‘city’ cum royal site enclosed within the same…

The Wild Geese in NYC is launching, with an April 2 evening performance of the world premier musical "Transport," at New York's Irish Repertory Theatre.

With 'Transport,' we're formally kicking off our group's efforts to promote outstanding Irish cultural venues and events in metro New York.…

I knew it was somewhere on the mountain, part of a ruined monastic site. It’s a tiny, boatshaped, Celtic Christian church. I set out on a damp day to find it, climbing the narrow roads above  Smerwick Harbour. I was seventeen then, on a scholarship to the Corca Dhuibhne Gaeltacht…

Alternative isn’t a word that springs to mind when I think about St. Patrick’s Day. For me -- and probably millions of other Irish-Americans -- the 17th of March has always been a day marked by traditions that border on the cliche.…

War in the Shadows: The Irish-American Fenians Who Bombed Victorian…

James Kennedy McGuire, the “boy mayor” of Syracuse, NY, is…

By John Bruton

I remember, as a child, playing over and over again our old 78-rpm records of John McCormack’s songs, which had been the property of my late grand uncle and namesake. Many of the songs…

Did you have an 'epic' St. Patrick's Day? You might need a Bloody Viking right about now...



2 oz Boru Irish Vodka

6 oz Tomato juice

1 tsp HP sauce

1 tsp Horseradish

1 tsp Lemon juice

Dash hot sauce of choice

Shake black…

For many people, Ireland evokes images of thatched cottages, warm smiles and pints of Guinness. I won't dispute these images, because I've seen each of these things in abundance in my visits. For others, certain areas of Ireland denote Irishness, and would be considered a…

Who’s looking for a great Irish pub in Boston? My favorite Irish place, stateside, is The Burren — a restaurant/pub in Somerville, MA (metro-Boston). Of course there is good food at The Burren, but the way they pour a pint of Guinness rivals the best pubs in the "old sod." Just…

Growing up in Chicago, Illinois, it wasn't St. Patrick's Day unless we saw the movie "The Quiet Man."  There were the parties,  the parade and the dying of the Chicago River green but until the whole family sat together and watched The Quiet Man it really wasn't St. Patrick's Day. …

I recently saw this fun flowchart graphic from the folks at TheIrishStore.com.  I wanted to share it here for your enjoyment (you can click the image to enlarge it a bit, by the way).…

I hope this finds you well and in good form for St Patrick's weekend.

I just want to let you know about my newly composed work "The Torch Still Burns…

The Kate Mullany National Historic Site is producing a new musical about Troy, New York, labor pioneer Kate Mullany. Don't Iron While the Strike is Hot! will premiere at Russell Sage College in Troy on May 14 and 15 with both matinees and evening…

I so enjoyed my interviews and interactions with US Genealogist Megan Smolenyak I thought you might enjoy them too. Last year we transferred them from the old website. Below are the links to my articles as well a  a promotional video for her book "Hey America Your Roots our…

After the Erie Canal was finished, many Irish people settled west of Syracuse on a hill overlooking the canal. This area became known as Tipperary Hill. When the city first installed traffic signal lights in 1925, they placed one at a major intersection in the main business…