Sunday, March 16, 2008

Proposition 3-17


Just in time for St. Patrick's Day, Guinness is sponsoring a site gathering names for Petition 3-17 in support of making March 17 an official holiday in the United States.
Last time I checked, they had 258,974 names on their way to their goal of one million people. The site has already been noted by the Washington Post, the Boston Herald and U. S. News & World Report, among others.
One wonders about the reaction of those opposed to the stereotype connecting the Irish and alcohol, not to mention that of people who concentrate on the religious aspects of the day. Erin go Bragh, everyone!

Saturday, February 9, 2008

American Irish Historical Society to Reopen




According to the American Irish Historical Society's site their "headquarters will formally reopen on March 16, 2008 after a two-year restoration and renovation. There will be a series of cultural and scholarly events in Spring 2008. The library and archives of the society are scheduled to reopen to members and scholars in September 2008. "


The society is located at 991 Fifth Avenue, across from the Metropolitan Musem of Art.

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Profile of Ireland at N.Y. Times Site


I came across this page about Ireland on the New York Times website this afternoon. It does a nice job of linking to information about the country in a variety of sources--including World Factbook, the U.S. State Department, the World Bank, articles from the Times and many others. It's worth a look.

Saturday, February 2, 2008

The Fighting 69th, by Sean Michael Flynn


The New York Irish History Roundtable has had a number of programs relating to the Fighting 69th, including a tour last April of the 69th Regiment Armory conducted by NYIHR President Charles Laverty.

NYIHRers might be interested in the recent book The Fighting 69th: One Remarkable National Guard Unit's Journey from Ground Zero to Baghdad, by Sean Michael Flynn, which deals with the more recent history of the regiment.

Friday, February 1, 2008

John O'Connor Graduate Scholarship, 2007-2008



John O’Connor Graduate Scholarship for 2007- 2008


For distinguished graduate work in the history of theIrish in the New York City area.
Open to graduate students at the masters and doctoral levels.

Deadline: submissions should be postmarked by June 14, 2008.

The John O’Connor Scholarship includes a $1000 award for distinguishedgraduate work in the form of scholarly unpublished writing covering anyaspect of the history of the Irish in the New York City area.Submissions should be primarily historical in character. Work completed in related disciplines in the humanities and social sciences will be considered.

Winning submission may be published in the journal, New York Irish History.
Submissions may be in any standard scholarly format and should be atleast 4000 words in length, exclusive of notes and references. They must be typed double-spaced, and stapled. Three copies should be sent.

Please include a one-page resume, a one-page faculty-advisor recommendation, and a stamped self-addressed envelope.

Submissions should be postmarked no later than June 14, 2008.Applicants should send three (3) copies of their work to:
New York Irish History RoundtableScholarship Committee
Post Office Box 2087
Church Street Station
New York, NY 10008-2087

New York Irish in Wikipedia


Wikipedia covers just about everything, so it is not surprising that the Irish in New York have an entry. However, at present, it's quite short and needs to be expanded, so if you are an authority on some aspect of this subject, feel free to edit the entry. It does have a decent list of cross-reference to other Wikipedia articles, and a smallish list of external websites. This list now includes the New York Irish History Roundtable.

The Irish General: Thomas Francis Meagher


The University of Oklahoma Press recently published a new biography of General Thomas Francis Meagher. The publisher says that, "The Irish General first recalls Meagher’s life from his boyhood and leadership of Young Ireland in the revolution of 1848, to his exile in Tasmania and escape to New York, where he found fame as an orator and as editor of the Irish News. He served in the Civil War—viewing the Union Army as training for a future Irish revolutionary force—and rose to the rank of brigadier general leading the famous Irish Brigade. Wylie traces Meagher’s military career in detail through the Seven Days battles, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville.

"Wylie then recounts Meagher’s final years as acting governor of Montana Territory, sorting historical truth from false claims made against him regarding the militia he formed to combat attacking American Indians, and plumbing the mystery surrounding his death."