Historical Happenings

The term Iberian, as used by ancient authors, referred to the peninsula occupied by Spain and Portugal and may have come from the peninsula's second longest river called Iber by the Greeks. Hecataeus of Miletus, an early Greek geographer and world map-maker was the first known to use the term Iberia at about 500 BC. The term also refers to the all the inhabitants of the Iberian peninsula, regardless of ethnic differences (Pre-Indo-European and Celtic). By the 6th century, the Iberians living on the eastern and southern coasts of the Peninsula traded across the Mediterranean and absorbed … [Read more...] about THE IRISH-SPANISH CONNECTION

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, and some false. St. Patrick was Italian; St. Patrick drove the snakes from Ireland; St. Patrick was the first to bring Christianity to Ireland - all of these statements are false! Let’s take them one at a time. Some claim St. Patrick to be Italian because he was … [Read more...] about St. Patrick’s Day Traditions

Prior to the American Civil War, the regular Army was small reflecting the logic that America was best defended by volunteer militia units. Many were little more than glorified fraternal organizations, filled with men who liked to parade, drink and sometimes drill. There were groups like the German Black Sharp-shooters and Hungarian Kossuth Rifles among others. Not to be outdone, the Irish formed the O'Connell Guards, Irish Rifles and Irish Zouaves. In New York, the more serious of these units were mustered into a formal state militia as was done in many states across the U.S. On October 12, … [Read more...] about THE IRISH BRIGADE COMES HOME

You saw it; I saw it; in fact, almost everyone on the planet saw it. I’m not talking about the moon or the sun, but something a whole lot brighter – at least for the Irish. It was the magnificent Waterford Crystal Ball atop Times Square in New York City that has become an icon of introducing a new year to millions of celebrants. Regardless of what time zone you may be in, you saw it, but did you know the connection of the Irish with that unique celebration? New Year’s Eve in Times Square had been celebrated for many years as crowds assembled to cheer at midnight. In 1888, an Irishman … [Read more...] about THE IRISH NEW YEAR’S EVE

Rory O'Connor was born in Dublin in 1883. He was educated at St. Mary’s College and Clongowes Wood College, Dublin with his close friend, Kevin O’Higgins. After College, he worked as a railway engineer in Ireland, then moved to Canada in 1911 to work as a railway engineer. He became active in the Fenian Brotherhood and returned to Ireland in 1915 at Joseph Plunkett's request. He joined the Ancient Order of Hibernians and served in the GPO in the Easter Rising as an intelligence officer. He was wounded during reconnaissance at the College of Surgeons and was interned after the surrender. … [Read more...] about SENSELESS DEATH IN DECEMBER