The Gaelic American

The Irish of Medal of Honor Grove

This Memorial Day, we pause to reflect the generations of American veterans stretching back to their first engagement at Lexington and Concord in 1775. From this earliest action to the present day, the Irish of the United States have been over-represented in the U.S. Armed Forces. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the citations given in America's highest...

RI Unveiling Plaque for Hunger Strikers

On Sunday, May 21st at 1pm, the Rhode Island 1916 Commemoration Committee will unveil a plaque dedicated to the 1981 hunger strikers at the Famine Memorial site located along the Providence River Greenway. Speakers include Committee Chair James McGetrick, Tricia McIver, MD, keynote speaker Sinn Fein MLA Pat Sheehan (who was on the 1981 Hunger Strike), followed by AOH...

An Gorta Mór – Staten Island

During the period of 1845-1850, over a million Irish people died of starvation and disease, while many more were forced to emigrate to faraway shores. The widespread starvation was caused by the feudal system the British government imposed, in which the Irish people were forced to hand over their food as rent to their absentee landlords, while the Irish...

Ireland Passes ‘Hate Speech’ Legislation

This past week, the Republic of Ireland passed the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill which has brought the ire of free speech advocates, notably Twitter CEO Elon Musk, who described the legislation as "a massive attack on free speech." Readers should be aware that there is a distinct difference in the concept of...

Clarke Lecture in Brooklyn

On Tuesday, April 25, at 8pm, at American Legion McFadden Brothers Post (290 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn) the Brooklyn Gaelic League will host a lecture by Dr. Ruán O’Donnell, one of Ireland’s leading historians. O’Donnell will speak about Thomas J. Clarke, a rebel leader in 1916, who previously lived in New York and founded the Brooklyn Gaelic League with...

Biden Appeals for Continued Peace

United States President Joe Biden has been in Ireland for the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement and to visit his ancestral homes in Dundalk, Co. Louth, and Ballina, Co. Mayo. At the University of Ulster Belfast campus he gave a compelling speech, saying in part, "... this very campus is situated in an intersection where conflict and...

Legacy of the Good Friday Agreement

The Good Friday Agreement (GFA) was signed 25 years ago today, successfully bringing an end to much of the political violence of The Troubles, the release of political prisoners, and restoring a regional government for the North at Stormont. However, economic deprivation and societal division are still widespread throughout the Six Counties, police harassment of republicans continues, and the...

2023 American Easter Rising Commemorations

AOH Presenting FFAI Grants in Belfast

Hibernians will follow a St. Patrick week of key meetings with Irish and British political leaders in Washington and New York, by presenting more than $160,000 dollars in Freedom for all Ireland (FFAI) grants this Saturday, April 1st. Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) National President Danny O’Connell will join FFAI Chair Martin Galvin, to present these awards during a...

Myths & Legends: St. Patrick’s Day Traditions

Each year around March 17, the name of St. Patrick appears in every major publication in the civilized world - sometimes with honor and sometimes with scorn - often due to the conduct of those who celebrate his memory at affairs which bear his name. Of the many things written about this holy man, some are true, some misleading,...