(An 18th-century drawing of a Delaware River ferry boat)

February 1 is the Celtic feast of Imbolc, which signifies change or rebirth. In Luke’s Gospel, it is when Jesus was presented in the temple to begin his…

In the late 18th century, the Irish in America were some of the most ardent and loyal supporters of the cause of American independence from British rule. Recent scholarship has put the participation of the Irish and Scots-Irish in Washington’s Army at 40% and possibly more. A few of those…

Edward Hand was born in Clyduff, County Offaly, Ireland, on 31 December 1744 and was baptized in Shinrone.  His father was John Hand, a descendant of the Mag Fhlaithimh family which translates: Hand.  Edward completed his schooling with a medical certificate from Trinity College,…

Some ‘historians’ ignore facts in order to downsize their presentation. What is most egregious is when the contributions of the Irish are thus ‘written out’ as inconsequential. Take Washington’s Christmas crossing of the Delaware for example. The Irish around Trenton, like Paddy Colvin, who ran a Delaware…

Many Irish who contributed significantly to this nation have been undeservedly excluded from the pages of our school’s history books and their stories remain untold. One such is John Patton. Born in 1745 in County Sligo, John immigrated to Philadelphia about 1765. He met and married Jane Davis on 7 March…

When the rebels in Britain’s American colonies rose up against British rule in 1776, some of the most stalwart supporters of the cause of independence were the same Irish clans that had fought against the English / British rule of their own island for centuries. One of the septs that fought to the bitter end of…

By Liam Murphy

The last day of the American War for Independence was 25th November 1783, when, after an occupation of over seven years, the British evacuated New York City, and Washington, leading elements of the American Continental Army, entered the city in triumph.  To…

Recovering from a stroke provides a fellow time to consider his future. I plan to make 2 changes as my 83^rd BD rapidly approaches. …

Gustavus Conyngham is known to history as the “Dunkirk Pirate,” but that was the name the British gave him. It was not a name that he ever would have given himself. He thought of himself only as, Gustavus Conyngham, USN (United States Navy). He was never, in fact, a pirate. He was a commissioned officer in the new U.S…

It been a while since anyone held my feet to the fire over what I wrote, but Patrick O'Toole questioned some of the facts in my 7/5/16 blog America's Birthday and the Irish. I can assure you that none of the information I…

The Revolutionary War's final land engagement…

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That summer of 1781, a French fleet under the…

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…

As Christmas approached in 1776, George Washington and his…

by Bill McGimpsey

Alexander Hamilton died on the 12th of July, 1804. If he had not rowed his boat…

Excerpts from "Irish in the American Revolution," by James Francis Smith

1779

Dublin, Ireland…

An annual Commodore John Barry Book Award is established by the New York Council, Navy League of the Unites States for the purpose of recognizing significant contributions to American maritime literature and to encourage excellence in authorship. Such maritime literature should be…

The Battle of Perryville from a contemporary illustration.

MÁIRT -- On October 8, 1862, Irish-born…

When a real-estate agent has less foot traffic than desired, he remodels the house, paints it, gets rid of the clutter, adds features the competition doesn’t have, and reduces the price.

That’s what happened to Western Civilization. It endured a title change, a new cover, a price reduction, and new features to educate while telling an interest-gripping story.

Visit my blog www.theirish-americanstory.com for…