Do you remember this old song?

Come single belle and beau, onto me pay attention -

Don't ever fall in love, it's the devil's own invention.

For once I fell in love with a maiden so bewitching

Miss Henrietta Bell out of Captain Kelly's kitchen -

With me toora loora la, toora loora…

This is an article I wrote for my site about Coffin Ships and the Potato Famine:

http://www.irishamericanjournal.com/2017/08/coffin-ships.html

"In 1958 in his book 'A Nation of Immigrants,' John F. Kennedy wrote about the…

Pleased to see my book "Turn Out the Light' was chosen as a finalist in the Eric Hoffer 2018 Book Awards. http://www.hofferaward.com/

https://www.amazon.com/author/johnabrennan

“If music be the…

When I was asked to write a series of poems for an art exhibition in Australia earlier this year, I embarked on a dark voyage of discovery into the lives of Irish immigrant children 150 years ago.

Image: 'Image Above: Falling' by Jane Theau (2017)

There is a special brand of human misery so steeped…

We are indeed saddened to announce that Maryann Tracy, a founding member of TheWildGeese.irish and one of our earliest staff members, died September 6 in Syracuse at the age of 63. Maryann began her tenure with us in February 2012 as part of the small team that helped us transition from TheWildGeese.com,…

When at 18 or 20, or in my case 24, you fly away on the adventure of a lifetime, you aren't thinking of your future self. When I first winged my way to Australia, I had no inkling where it would lead. Or all the losses it would lead to. For me. For my future husband. For our future children. For our…

Arts PR unlimited announces Daniel P. Quinn is available for Book Signing Appearances for "Exits & Entrances: Producing Off-Broadway and Beyond, " at colleges, universities and bookstores in the United States.

Exits & Entrances was a selection of the week in NJ Ink by The Star…

I am surely not the first Irish emigrant to have heard these words from their heartbroken mother. Guilt at the impact of my decision to leave Ireland and grief at the loss of my beloved mother are central themes in my poetry collection…

Hell, not just "Psycho." It’s better than "The Innocents," "The Evil Dead," "Paranormal Activity" and "The House of the Devil." It’s even better than "The Exorcist," "Let the Right One In" and…

The Syracuse Contemporary Irish Film Festival (SCIFF) kicks off its inaugural festival, June 22- 24th, at the Everson Museum of Art, located at 401 Harrison St, Syracuse, NY 13202. 

Syracuse has always held strong to its…

In April 2004 I was launching my first novel at the Irish cultural centre in Hammersmith, London, when a lady came over to me and shook my hand.

“I think I may be your cousin,” she said. “My name is Ethna Herron. You look a bit like my people and I thought I just had to say.” She…

Quiet determination -- I think that's what he had.  He was passionate about the Irish language, Irish history and culture, the Irish way of life.

Above, oil painting of Patrick Pearse at Ros Muc, Connemara

He saw what the English education system was doing, trying to stamp…

The oldest harp on which the ‘official’ national emblem of  Ireland is based is housed in the Long Room at Trinity College, Dublin. Two other medieval harps that have also been preserved from that era, are housed in The Museum of Scotland: The Queen Mary Harp 15th century - and the Lamont Harp [date being…

A clean “Memory Slate,” brought to this earth,

Shining and new on the day of our birth.

A special place to chronicle and store,

Experiences formative, new and enticing.

Many of them significant to ourselves alone.

The bantam, downy and…

"Tinteán Tréigthe no.32", 42 x 42cm, oil painting on canvas by Eoin Mac Lochlainn, 2017

It’s Irish Language Week in Ireland this week so I've written my post in Irish. But please scroll down to read the English translation down below, if you wish. 

Tá scéailín deas agam daoibh faoin bpictiúr seo ag barr.…

One of the many events held during 2016 to honour those who took part in the Easter Rising 100 years before was a stage play From the Backbone Out, which told the story of Richard O’Carroll, a labour leader and a member of the Irish Volunteers.

O’Carroll who…

LAST TIME ON THIS CONTINENT FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE!

(Leaving for a new assignment in Amman, Jordan, on February 9)

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17 - 7:30 P.M.

Scandinavia House - 58 Park Avenue

Songs from Broadway, Opera, Folk Songs, Religious Stuff and Things He Makes…

During the past year I had the privilege and honour to be commissioned to write a new orchestral suite for 1916 by Roscommon County Council. The suite, called IRISHMEN AND IRISHWOMEN, is of eight movements

1. IRISHMEN AND IRISHWOMEN,

2. Raising The Flag, 

3.…

Anna Margaret Ross (née McKittrick; 8 December 1860–2 February 1939), was an Irish writer,  who used the nom de plume Amanda McKittrick Ros. She was born in Drumaness, County Down, on December 8, 1860.  She holds the dubious distinction of being called by critics "one of the world's worst poets" due…