On the afternoon of July 3, 1863 Pickett's Virginians charged the Bloody Angle at the Gettysburg battlefield. This was the main confederate attack to crack  the Union line. Defending the left side of the Bloody Angle was the 69th Pennsylvania, a volunteer Irish regiment from…

If your mind is anything like mine, you have wondered and imagined what important historical figures may have looked like in the flesh. Before the photograph came into play -- and even centuries before its forerunner, the Daguerrotype, came on the scene -- men and women of high status and important positions were posed for portraits by the best painters of their own days.…

Willie Walsh was every inch the typical Mayo man, hardworking and well disposed to help his fellow villagers, and indeed it was just such an act of kindness which brought about his early demise.

Willie had often spoken of his fear of dying, especially if the Ban Sidhe should…

Link to back cover blurb:

Against The Wind (on The Wild Geese)

Image of back cover:

A priceless film archive which includes extensive footage of the Easter Rising and its aftermath has been released online by British Pathé.

The multimedia resource has made its entire archive, consisting of 3,500 hours of coverage on 85,000 films, available on YouTube. For…

Brian Boru Country. Co. Clare

One thousand years ago tomorrow, on April 23rd 1014, Ireland's High King, Brian Boru of Thomond (Munster) fought and won…

We in The Wild Geese social network, now 13 months old, are experiencing a swell of interest and passion in exploring Irish ancestry among our growing membership. No surprise, considering that we as a community have already produced thousands of pages of content -- articles,…

Since my last blog post in December, many changes have occurred in my life.  The most unforeseen being that I am now back 'home' in my beloved Vermont!  A new town, from my living here three years ago, but still within "The Green Mountains" which is where I resided before.  And HERE is where my heart lies - in the most blissful of states.  Hiraeth no more!  This is what I had longed for during those dark, long, winter days of my last…

            In March of 2014 I traveled from Illinois to Ireland courtesy of Aer Lingus. As I followed our progress across the…

During his 1984 presidential visit to Ireland, a reporter asked Ronald Reagan what he thought of the groups who were protesting about various American policies. The president replied that it was good they lived in a country where they were allowed to protest.

Organizers…

About three decades and a half ago there was a pleasant bar where I used to drop in for a quiet pint.

That was a practice I have not participated in for several years. I am the worse for that. If I had continued with that pleasant pastime the water that has flowed under the…

Benton, Wisconsin is located on State Route 11 between Monroe to Dubuque. The town consists of well-maintained restaurants, bars, churches, garages and residential buildings.

Saint Patrick’s Church and graveyard is located at the east end of the main street. A shrine at the…

On Thursday April 17th, Toronto's St. James Cathedral was a sea of green scarves and ties as mourners lined the streets at the state funeral for Canada's former Finance Minister James Flaherty. 

Fondly known as the 'little leprechaun' with the big heart, Irish charm…

DOMHNAIGH -- On April 20, 1772, William Lawless, revolutionary and officer in Napolean's Irish Legion (a…

The Cúirt Literature Festival in Galway thrilled bibliophiles again this year.  Here is a recap of a few events that I was able to enjoy:

'Noir by Noir West'



This event was the launch of a collection of short fiction by 30 Irish authors.  The book’s…

See what the Emerald Isle has offer on foot. Walk along gigantic cliff faces, sandy dunes and beaches,…

Syracuse, N.Y. -- Syracuse is proud to host the Irish event of the year on Wednesday, 30 April 2014.

Featuring history, sports, film, music and song, this is an occasion not-to-be-missed -- combining the efforts, support…

Time for another Flash Contest!

This time, it's a Five for Five! In this case, the first five members who bring in five members each will receive "Live from the 33rd County" CD, featuring Mary…

"The obituary of Domnall Ua Neill in 980 is the first contemporary record of the term Árd-ri Erenn (High King of Ireland), which was to be given a spurious significance by the so-called ‘men of learning’ who shaped the pseudo-history of Ireland. From the mid 9th century “the doctrine of the High Kingship was being elaborated for the…