Thomas Fitzsimons was born at Ballikilty, County Wexford, Ireland in October of 1741 to Anthony Fitzsymons in the mid-1750s.  We know his mother's name was Jane, but we do not have a record of her maiden surname.  Fitzsimons immigrated to Philadelphia where his father…

In January 2015, Fordham University Press released "The Sons of Molly Maguire." Mark Bulik’s upcoming work is the latest in a line that characterizes Pennsylvania’s alleged “Molly Maguires” as Roman Catholic…

Search for the Facts

Mark Bulik’s upcoming work, "The Sons of Molly Maguire," is the latest in a long line that characterizes Pennsylvania’s Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) men charged as “Molly Maguires” as transplanted…

History, as written, is not always accurate. Revised versions of past events are often presented to support conclusions already reached - political or otherwise. Sadly, many of these revised versions are presented as fact in our school books like the discovery and conquest of…

Together, We Can Honor Their Extraordinary History

In Pennsylvania in the 1870s, tens of thousands of Irish Catholic men gathered together as members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. These Irishmen tried to…

On September 11, 2001, I was at work in my newly remodeled office at the State Department.  Following my normal routine, I was at my desk looking at the morning newspaper for any story that might require attention or action on my part for the noon press briefing that…

Excerpts from James Francis Smith’s The Civil War’s Valiant Irish

The Begining

The Derry native nodded to his brigadier commander, Joshua Owen. Not expecting nor receiving a return greeting, he didn’t bother to salute. O’Kane crossed to the most distant campfire, where Duffy and Devereux joined him. His first question was a repeat of one he asked every night.

“Is that bastid Welshman drunk or sober?”

Tonight, Duffy responded. “He’s well on his way, but not there…

The family homestead -- still in use and productive to this very day!

One of my most magnificent or poignant 'Great Irish Spots' would certainly have to be finding my 7 times Great-Grandfather's homestead where he settled in America after imigrating from Ireland.  In 1755, Robert Steen of The…

In 1875, St. Patrick's Day in Pennsylvania's Mahanoy City broke cold and clear. But conflict gripped the hard coal region. Festivities that honored Ireland’s patron saint would highlight a longstanding war between Irish priests under the authority of Archbishop James Frederick Wood and Irish Catholic men who marched under society banners

Long-buried accounts of those…

If you have seen seen the movie "Gettysburg," you might notice that during the climatic Pickett's Charge, behind the Union line at the Bloody Angle are two flags, the Regimental stars and stripes, and the state flag--green with a gold trim. This green flag was the only Pennsylvania flag not…

December 18, 2013, marked the 135^th anniversary of the execution of John Kehoe at Pottsville, Pennsylvania. On that day in 1878, newspapers country-wide reported the scheduled death of the “King of…

Irish-born soldier served the late Mike Flannery, George Washington and his adopted nation well

By 'Brigadier'

Reproduced by Anna Frances LevinEdward Hand,…

John Walsh, right, founder of Galway-based Doire Press, is the latest WG Member of the Day. John, a Derry…