New York looms large in the history of the Irish. For the Irish-American -- particularly the 19th century Irish-American -- New York City was, in almost every way possible, the gateway city of America. Vast, foreign, dangerous, the city consumed migrants and emigrants alike. Decade after decade the people…

One day during our just completed two-week vacation to Ireland my wife, Lindy, and I had another of those thoroughly enjoyable “only in Ireland” experiences that make traveling there such a joy. We stayed in a 200-year-old cottage in the little town of Ardfinnan…

Fionn mac Cumhaill is a main character from ancient Irish legend from the 3^rd century AD. He was a warrior, a chieftain, a poet and seer. Often referred to as Finn McColl, Finn MacCoul, Finn Mac Cool, Finn McCul, Fin McCool or Fionn…

The distance between Inverin and Clifden is approximately sixty kilometers. It’s a visually inspiring hour-long ride through undulating midlands with grass as soft as velvet, gray stone walls that split the landscape, and bubbling intermittent streams as you glide along a two-lane road that cuts through a…

I leave for New York this week in preparation of the film screenings that take place from New York to Detroit through Philly, Baltimore, Hamilton in Canada and Rochester. We have produced two feature films based on true stories from the Famine era. The first, "The Minnitts of Anabeg," will screen in the Aisling Center in Yonkers on Wednesday, July 15. "The Cormack Brothers" screens on July 22.

We are screening to an Irish-American audience at this stage, taking the films and their…

When the Black and Tans were first deployed in Ireland in March 1920, they soon proved themselves to be a pretty brutal bunch. They were liberal with the use of their rifles, were often drunk and even engaged in arson and robbery.

The Tans were ex-servicemen, many of them scarred from their time in the…

AOINE -- On July 5, 1812, Frederick Maning (pictured), who would become beloved in New Zealand by its native Maori people, was born in Johnville, County Dublin. Maning immigrated to Australia with his father in 1824 and then to New Zealand on his own in 1833, when few Europeans were…

The Cormack Brothers is a 111-minute feature film completed this year, shot in Tipperary.  It tells the story of two brothers wrongfully hanged for murder in 1858 after a local land agent was shot and killed.  They were reburied in 1910 in their home parish of Loughmore. 

Made on a micro budget, with the support of the parish…

This very interesting post from Claire Fullerton inspired me to write this one.

In the last 5 years or so my Dad has done a ton of work on genealogy. He has done both his side and my Mom's side. It's been…

The ‘Wild West’ judges are lined up and raring to go! Knowing their mettle and commitment to promoting Irish culture, we are confident that “justice” will be a lot fairer, if a tad more considered, than that meted out in Tombstone or the OK Corral. ;-)

Speaking of 'swift' justice, by the way, our judges have requested additional time to more carefully…

This rare surname spelling is one of a group of variants such as Jul(l)ie, Jewley, Juely and Julee, which are first recorded in England in the early 17th Century. They derive from the Old French "Jolif", through the Middle English "Jolly", a nickname for a person of happy and cheerful disposition. The name may also be associated with the Old Norse-Viking "Jol", a variant of "Yule", the midwinter festival which celebrated the end of the shortening of the days. In this case the name would have…

"Hey boy, who am I going to leave these hands to when I’m gone?”

A long silence…then the words were repeated, louder and more animated.

“I say, who will I leave them to, eh? I think I’ll leave them to science.”

Again, the words fell on deaf ears and were greeted with total silence…

Those immortal words were uttered by my father, Mal, as he…

James Daly, executed leader of the Connaught Rangers mutiny in India.

DEARDAOIN -- On June 28, 1920, at Wellington barracks in Jullundar, India, 350 Irish members of the famous…

Many ancient brooches have been found in Ireland, but the Tara Brooch is the most impressive and best preserved. Found in 1850, this Celtic designed Tara Brooch dates back to A.D. 700, the Iron Age. If you are ever in Dublin take a visit to the National Museum of Ireland where this brooch is on…

I grew up on Dublin's northside, in Stoneybatter - one of the five ancient roads to Tara. Now, I live in Wicklow, but still feel the draw of my old hometown. Here's why ...

A friendly nod, a bit of wit,

A pint of plain, that's part of it.

Canal bank walks and side-street strolls

In the shadow of Vikings and brave…

MÁIRT -- On June 22, 1922, Field Marshal Sir Henry Wilson was shot and killed by two IRA  men in London. Wilson was an Irish native, born in County Longford, and a long-time…

How much does $1 million weigh? That  depends on the denomination of the bills you use. Since there are 490 notes in a pound, if you used $1 bills it would weigh 2,040.8 pounds, but if you used $100 bills it would weigh only 20.4 pounds.

That is, there are 3/4's of a pound of cotton in each pound of dollar bills.  This same source also says that are 454 bills in a pound of currency. 

So when you watch TV or a movie and there is a payoff in a suitcase or a duffle/gym bag....will…

I gaze upon a lonely beach, two figures walking all alone,

Slowly the sun settles in the west, remnants of daylight shone.

From my vantage I see two shadows moving on the beach,

Strolling slowly just within darkness’ reach.

I watch the pair moving slowly along,

And listen carefully, I can hear their song.

A lifetime of love and…

Maud Gonne was born in Tongham, near Surrey, England in 1865 to Captain Thomas Gonne of the 17^th Light Dragoons and his wife Edith Firth Cook. Edith belonged to the wealthy Cooke family, manufacturers of silk, linen, and  cotton goods. Her Grandfather was also…