I’ve had many people ask about the picture on my author page where I’m standing against a gray stone wall on a windswept day in the middle of an Irish field with what are obviously the ruins of a monastery behind me. Observant people have said to themselves, “Wait, there’s a ruined…

Just over 200 years ago this past January came a climactic moment in military history with numerous surprising Irish connections.  The battle fought by Andrew Jackson that saved New Orleans also brought closure to a…

Éamon de Valera is a man that has enjoyed iconic status in the Irish history books for more reasons than being one of the Leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising. He was born in New York in 1882 to a Irish mother and a Spanish father. His mother originated from Bruree, Limerick, and his…

LUAIN -- On March 30, 1873, Richard Church (right), of County Cork, soldier, sometimes called the "liberator of Greece," died in Athens. Church was born in Cork in 1784. As a young man he ran off to join the British army. As ensign in the 13th (Somersetshire) Light Infantry he…

With the push of an aul’ button or two, The Wild Geese Irish Social Network, aka TheWildGeese.com, has been reborn, becoming TheWildGeese.Irish. (Try typing it in your browser. It works!)

Finally, we have digitally married The Wild Geese to the Irish…

I spent ten blissful days on the western coast of Ireland last October, and I’ll tell you why I returned to the misty, velvet shores of the area where I once spent a year: my second novel is set in the area and I felt it was important to reinvigorate my standing amongst the land and its people before I embarked upon the book’s promotion. In order to do…

Joseph Mary Plunkett (Seosamh Máire Pluincéid) is one of the least known leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising. He is perhaps one of a the few people that Seán Mac Diarmada trusted in…

There are a number of extraordinary people who contribute to Ireland and to Irish communities abroad. The Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad honors the work they do.  The award is presented by the President of Ireland…

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Today we leave for Co. Clare, about an hour’s drive to Lisdoonvarna, You will visit the magnificent Cliffs of Moher; take a walk on these unspoiled cliffs there since the dawn of time. Stop by the visitor’s center and learn the history of these cliffs see photos of them long ago, A suburb gift store, a restaurant for lunch. We will take you to Doolin a small village on the coast And you will visit the Doolin Cave. From the moment you descend over 80ft…

Today, you are off down memory lane to the town that founded the famous Claddagh Ring “The village of Claddagh” you will visit the museum and lean all about the story behind this now famous ring worn by many Irish from all over the world You will see different styles of the ring only sold in Claddagh village. The village was once a small fishing town, and has changed very…

We will meet you at shannon and take you to Glaway City; you will check into the foster ct, a family owned hotel in Glway Square. After some refreshments and rest you will spend an evening at Oranmore Castle for a mediveil feast at 500 yr old castle while listening to  bards playing fiddles and flutes,eating fresh food, finish the evening with fables of long ago.…

In 1983 I was New York Commerce Commissioner under the late Governor Mario Cuomo. In that post I also headed up the I LOVE NY campaign. 1983 was an anniversary year for I LOVE NY, perhaps its 10th, and I decided to visit the Irish Tourism Board in Dublin. They were the original consultants for the campaign and therefore the principal source of its success. What I found was that the Board had far surpassed the stage it was at ten years earlier and there was much to learn from this highly…

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There is a certain type of Irishman who looms large in fiction: The "haunted man," the "angry man," the "tortured man," the "violent man," the "quiet man." He is a cliche ... but a cliche born of so much truth it is a bit like encountering an old friend when he shambles onto…

James Smith was born in Ireland's province of Ulster in 1719 and went to the American colonies as a boy. A member of the Continental Congress 1776-1778,  he  served in the war of independence as a Colonel of the Pennsylvania Militia from 1775-1776. Smith died on 11 July 1806. He was also a…

Growing up I was told, "Listen to the Story tellers, the weavers of dreams and history, legends and traditions. The Seanchaí will take you places you may only touch or see through the magic of their words."  I listened and absorbed. I became a loom on which they built each…

James Connolly (Séamas Ó Conghaile) is one of the handful of men who share the dubious honour of being placed in the iconic status categories in the Irish history books based on his involvement in the Easter Rising 1916 as well as his role in the Trade Union movement.  He was born in Cowgate 1868 to Irish…

LUAIN -- On March 23, 1862, Irish-born Union General James Shields (left: pictured during the Mexican…

Legend has it that the ancient Irish game of Fidchell (literally translated as ‘Wood Wisdom’) was invented in the 9^th century by Lugh, the Irish god of light, master druid and warrior – predating the game of chess as we know it by c300 years!  Fidchell would have played…