Ann Heyman was Honored for A Lifetime Achievement Award. Both the Somerset Folk Harp festival and the Historical Harp Society of Ireland were recognizing Ann Heymnn with their Lifetime Achievement Awards this July. The decisions that each group reached independently. Somerset’s award honors Ann’s pioneering work with wire-strung harps and her importance to the harp community….
According to recent statistics, Co.Cork, Ireland has the lowest crime rate but the highest homicide rate of any other County in Ireland. There were 42 murders in the last five years despite any major gang activity in the city center. This would come as no surprise to the family of Sophie Tuscan du Plantier. Du Plantier’s…
Photo credit: “Boston Globe” President Joe Biden has nominated Massachusetts politician Claire Cronin as the new Ambassador to Ireland. The White House announced the much-speculated nomination in late June, with Ms Cronin set to become the first female holder of the office since Jean Kennedy Smith ended her term in 1998. Ms Cronin currently serves…
by Mattie Lennon The Australian Men’s Shed Association (AMSA) was established in 2007 by the Australian independent community-based Men’s Sheds to represent, support and promote the Men’s Shed movement. It was founded on the principle of sharing information between sheds and those communities wishing to establish and operate a Men’s Shed. It acts as a…
by Will Kenny I can safely claim to be making an understatement when I observe that the arrival and spread of the coronavirus has been disruptive. The last year has seen major impacts of COVID19 on economic conditions, social interactions, and virtually every other facet of our lives. And that disruption applies in every part…
A great St. Patrick’s tradition that has been held next to the Landmark Center in downtown St. Paul since 2010 and hosted by Larson King LLP, the largest law firm headquartered in the saintly city, has been put on hold for two years. The invitation-only tent party will resume next year according to Patrick O’Neill,…
by Mattie Lennon The fact that you are reading this probably means that you are Irish, have Irish ancestry, or have a deep interest in the Emerald Isle. Perhaps you are fluent in our first national language or you are like me and have the Cupla Focal. On the other hand you may want to learn…
Image courtesy of https://www.forbes.com/sites/karlaalindahao/2020/03/03/best-irish-whiskeys-for-st-patricks-day-2020 What that means is Ireland’s whiskey will now be marked with a special sign indicating “Geographic Indication”, as per the terms of the European Commission, and would list the product’s unique qualities and production methods. This change will see Irish whiskey given the same kind of geographical status afforded to products…
Important historical figures are frequently shadowed by the myths and legends attributed to them over the course of centuries, and St. Patrick is no exception. He is believed to have been born in the late fourth century, and is often confused with Palladius, a bishop who was sent by Pope Celestine in 431 to be…
The first St. Patrick’s Day parade took place not in Ireland but in the United States. Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York City on March 17, 1762. Along with their music the parade helped the soldiers reconnect with their Irish roots as well as fellow Irishmen serving in the English…